Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Bitterpillsandalcohol/Archive

04 September 2015

 * Suspected sockpuppets




 * User compare report Auto-generated every hour.
 * Editor interaction utility

In February I made some AWB edits to remove the primary/unreliable source findmypast.co.uk from a large number of pages. There were a couple of editors who were not thrilled with that decision (unsurprisingly), but they never made a huge deal of it.

Every month or so one or two of these edits would be reverted. I figured it was just someone who was watching the page and finally got around to seeing what the new change was and not liking it. It was happening in small enough batches, and far enough between incidents, that I did not really care.

However, in the past three days I have received no less than 80 notifications from the above accounts saying that my edits were being reverted. This goes beyond coincidences and watchlists and smacks blatantly of socking/meating/paid editing from the company. All of the accounts other than Dhollis474839, Hollisjay62, Wjeddin, and Kwiltshire (who I have named as the primary since they were the first created of the accounts I know about) were created in the last three days, and all of the accounts have made few (if any) edits outside of reverting me.

I know that the IPs can't be linked to any of the above accounts via CU, but I've listed them here as well since they've made about half of the edits. Primefac (talk) 15:15, 4 September 2015 (UTC)

Comments by other users
''Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.''

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * Looks like is already dealing with this, so I'll stop.--Bbb23 (talk) 19:05, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * It's back to me. Ponyo is eating, and I'm working. No fool Ponyo.--Bbb23 (talk) 19:16, 4 September 2015 (UTC)


 * The following accounts are ✅:
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. I blocked for 72 hours only those IPs that have edited today. We're probably going to have problems with both new named accounts and IPs. We might want to consider an edit filter. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 20:29, 4 September 2015 (UTC)

16 September 2015

 * Suspected sockpuppets




 * User compare report Auto-generated every hour.
 * Editor interaction utility

More single-shot let's-undo-Prime's-edits accounts, though these had the sense to not directly undo my edits. A few IPs were in there as well, but they're in the same general range as the previous ones and don't appear to have edited since the 1-4 September range.

As a side note, I'm finding a rather odd trend of these socks all changing "British" to "English" in the articles that they edited. It's another sign of a socking account. This has led me to believe is also a sock, but since 20 is the limit and the evidence is minimal I'll leave the checking of that account to the CU's discretion. Primefac (talk) 19:46, 16 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Where does this 20 limit come from?--Bbb23 (talk) 22:58, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * , on the instructions for filling out the SPI, it says that it can handle up to sock20 and ip20. I figured they wouldn't say that if the template could handle more. I belatedly realized that I could just add the checkuser template after using the creation template. Primefac (talk) 23:32, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Ah. I never even noticed that. I think it's an artificial cap, and I've started a discussion on changing the template. In the meantime, although I appreciate your efforts to comply with the "rules", you should be able to create an SPI with 20 socks and then add more to the list afterwards. I don't believe the template cap is intended to prevent that. Of course if you create a report with too many socks, you may make a clerk or CheckUser blanch and not want to deal with it. Seriously, you should list as many socks for which you have evidence.--Bbb23 (talk) 00:14, 20 September 2015 (UTC)
 * , what I've given is all I've got (the number of accounts being rather convenient); I didn't find any more this time around but will definitely be keeping my eyes open. is getting in contact with findmypast to see if they know anything more about these socks. Primefac (talk) 00:27, 20 September 2015 (UTC)

Comments by other users
''Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.''


 * All of the accounts have undone an edit that had previously removed unreliable sources. They have done few to no edits outside of reverting edits made by me, other than changing "British" to "English" in the body text. Many of these edits, despite not saying specifically that they are "undo" edits, show the addition of whitespace that was previously removed during my original edits. I have given one edit per sock as requested, though 95% of the edits are all the same.
 * Trillionstarz
 * Carparksno3
 * Jaytanner15
 * Stonethrow888
 * Quilldavid15
 * Jojosscd
 * Arthurjohnson023
 * Stevebrenning7
 * Johnsgotacobon
 * Littlewoozy
 * Fdavis34
 * Zoody68
 * Cuthbert5
 * Blottojimbo
 * Swatsonx
 * Twinklestar84950
 * Ttbowling
 * Kreolehoogy
 * Stainonstain
 * Qdavis56
 * Pauldavies46
 * Primefac (talk) 14:28, 19 September 2015 (UTC)


 * As a note, it was that originally noticed the similarities between Trillionstarz and  in the original SPI that I posted, with those accounts also exhibiting the same behaviour as these socks. Primefac (talk) 14:32, 19 September 2015 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * - In order to facilitate and expedite your request, please provide diffs to support your case. Please give two or more diffs meeting the following format:
 * 1) At least one diff is from the sockmaster (or an account already blocked as a confirmed sockpuppet of the sockmaster), showing the behaviour characteristic of the sockmaster.
 * 2) At least one diff per suspected sockpuppet, showing the suspected sockpuppet emulating the behaviour of the sockmaster given in the first diff.
 * 3) In situations where it is not immediately obvious from the diffs what the characteristic behaviour is, a short explanation must be provided. Around one sentence is enough for this.  Vanjagenije   (talk)  09:59, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * - Fdavis34 and Ttbowling are stale. Others should be CU checked.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  16:09, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * The following accounts are ✅:
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I've blocked all the above accounts. Please tag them and also retag all the socks currently tagged with the wrong master. Thanks very much.--Bbb23 (talk) 22:55, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅. Closing.  Vanjagenije  (talk)  23:08, 19 September 2015 (UTC)