Redmond, WA (AHN) - Microsoft Xbox gamers in the habit of tampering with their online scores are at risk of losing it, and damaging their online profile, for good.

In response to the seemingly significant number of hackers who get into the Xbox Live Gamerscore system and inflate their points, Xbox Live programming director Larry Hryb stated that any attempts to alter the accumulated points and achievements would lead to the gamer's points to be reset to zero.

"Today we took action on some of the accounts we have identified as the most serious offenders who have violated the Xbox Live Terms of Use by tampering with their Gamerscore and achievements," said Hryb.

On his blog, Hryb, under the name Major Nelson, had previously addressed those who alter their scores, warning them about potential consequences.

"I strongly urge you not to tamper with your Gamerscore and achievements," CNet News quoted Hryb. "If you do decide to employ some nefarious techniques to artificially increase your Gamerscore or obtain achievements by manipulating the Xbox software without playing the game, bad things will happen."

Upon discover of score tampering, the gamer's profile would be branded as that of a cheater, in plain view of every other player in the gaming community.

PC World explains that the profile of a player caught cheating would, instead of their scores, show the question "What happened to their Gamerscrore?", in bold fonts, and underneath would be the statement "They've been caught cheating."

The display on the profile would be permanent, according to Microsoft.

With regard to possibly mistaken indictments, or punishment of innocent gamers, the company explained that they "look for abnormal achievement and gamerscrore activity using criteria that identifies users who have used external means to earn achievements without really playing the game."

Those who "meet the criteria 100%" are the gamers they will be focusing on.