Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Essay editor/Archive

Suspected sockpuppets




Evidence submitted by Singularity42
On September 28, 2009, Essay editor re-created Rob Eastman III (since I can't look at the deleted contributions, I don't know if they were the one who created it the first time) - one day after the account was created. Essay editor appears to be a WP:SPA for this article. There is virtually no coverage about this individual, and appears to be a subtle attempt to promote the individual. (The article is now at AfD due to lack of notability.)

99.61.4.28 is the only other substantial editor to the Rob Eastman III, adding content similar to Essay editor.

On October 31, 2009, Wiki publishing was created. They immediately created Optipictual Art, an article about an art medium only used by a single, relatively minor artist. The article appears to be a subtle attempt to promote the artist. (The article is now at AfD due to lack of notability.)

99.61.4.28 has also made some edits to Optipictual Art.

Wiki publishing went on to create a series of article promoting a non-notable lawyer, Gerald Wolfe. Most have been deleted, but Financial Relief Method is currently at AfD due to lack of notability. As you can see, the article is a subtle (or not-so-subtle depending on how you look at it) attempt to promote the lawyer. I can't comment on the deleted articles, but 99.61.4.28 has been active at Financial Relief Method, acting similarly to Wiki publishing (using similar edit summaries, remvoing AfD templates in a similar manner, etc.)

All three of the articles use the same method for promoting individuals. They use press-releases, official websites and blogs, business/artist directories, and other less-reliable sources as references that either don't support what the references are for, and/or do not support notability.

Given the similar uses of the articles, the similar approaches of the two accounts, their connection through 99.61.4.28, the otherwise non-notability of all of their article subjects, and the diverse subjects, I believe this is some type of agency being used to promote individuals through Wikipedia, operating out of 99.61.4.28.

131.96.89.69 is the odd one to the pattern. This IP has only contributed to Optipictual Art. Given the lack of notability of the subject, the obvious other attempts at promoting this individual through Wikipedia, and the type of content added, this IP is either connected to the Essay editor / Wiki publishing promotion group or is in some other way connected to the article's subject. Singularity42 (talk) 18:20, 21 November 2009 (UTC)

Comments by accused parties
See Defending yourself against claims.

CheckUser requests
Requested by Singularity42 (talk) 18:20, 21 November 2009 (UTC)

I am requesting a Checkuser because I believe these accounts are being used as an ongoing attempt by an individual or group of individuals to use Wikipedia as a promotional tool for their clients. As such, there is a good chance that there are more than just these two accounts. Singularity42 (talk) 18:20, 21 November 2009 (UTC)

. Peter Symonds ( talk ) 20:15, 21 November 2009 (UTC)

Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments

 * The following appear to all work at the same company:
 * . Brandon (talk) 22:14, 21 November 2009 (UTC)
 * . Brandon (talk) 22:14, 21 November 2009 (UTC)
 * . Brandon (talk) 22:14, 21 November 2009 (UTC)
 * . Brandon (talk) 22:14, 21 November 2009 (UTC)
 * . Brandon (talk) 22:14, 21 November 2009 (UTC)

Conclusions
All registered accounts indefinitely blocked and tagged. IP blocked 3 months. MuZemike 00:39, 22 November 2009 (UTC)