I Got Hardware Banned on Valorant After Accidentally Running a Cheat Program

I was recently banned from Valorant, and I believe the punishment is far too harsh for what actually happened. A friend of mine sent me a so-called “FPS boost” tool, which I trusted and ran on my PC. I had absolutely no idea that the software was actually a cheat. I never intended to cheat, and the moment I realized what had happened, it was already too late—my account had been permanently banned, and even worse, I received a hardware (motherboard-level) ban.

I’m fully aware that cheating is against the rules, and I apologize for unknowingly violating the terms. But I also feel it’s unfair to impose a hardware ban on someone who didn’t knowingly use illegal tools.

I would like to request that Riot Games reconsider my case and at least provide clarity on the duration of the ban. I am not asking for special treatment—only for a second chance and a review of the situation. Please lift the hardware ban or allow me to return to the game on a new device. I’ve learned my lesson and would never take such risks again.