Throwing more projectiles than your inventory maximum during a short window. Skin and Inventory Unlockers
Moving too fast or carrying more bags than possible.
Once you've identified the likely cause, remove it and then clean up your installation.
If you want, I can write a short checklist you can follow step-by-step to verify your account and remove risky software. payday 2 how to know if you have a cheater tag top
Sometimes the game isn't 100% sure. You might see a tag that says This usually happens when you pick up an impossible amount of bags too quickly or spawn an item that the host's game didn't register. This tag can go away if the suspicion clears, unlike a hard "Cheater" tag.
If you are instantly kicked from every lobby you join, or see a message like "You have been kicked," it's a strong indicator that you have an active tag. The host likely has the "Auto-Kick Cheaters" option enabled, which is the default setting.
Sometimes, Payday 2 is just buggy. You might get the cheater tag without actually cheating. Throwing more projectiles than your inventory maximum during
Because the game does not show the red text to you on your own screen, you must use indirect methods or third-party tools to confirm if you are flagged. 1. You Get Instantly Kicked from Lobbies
This is the most frequent reason for an otherwise honest player to see the tag. For example, the game might flag you if you equip a weapon skin that, by default, comes with a specific sight, but you do not own the DLC that allows that attachment to be used independently. The game's detection sees "attachment from unowned DLC" and triggers the flag. Using skins, masks, or weapon modifications that you have not legitimately unlocked or purchased is a primary cause for the "CHEATER" tag.
If you recently used a cheat engine to unlock all weapons or attachments, but you don't have the achievements for those items, the game will tag you. Check your Steam achievements. If you are using a weapon that requires "The Secretary" achievement (Hitman 2 DLC) but you don't own the DLC or have the achievement, you will be tagged instantly. If you want, I can write a short
Dropping more doctor bags, ammo crates, or body bag cases than your chosen skills allow.
According to a Reddit user, the game can't detect actual cheats, only cracked DLCs. Some possible causes of a cheater tag include: Guide :: Cheater Tag Explanation - Steam Community
If your name is and says [CHEATER] on the scoreboard, you are flagged. This is almost always caused by an inventory discrepancy (placing items you don't have) rather than a deliberate ban by the developers.