Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Invasive Spices/Archive

Suspected sockpuppets
Suspected block evasion by Invasive Spices ("IS") indef-blocked by admin/clerk on 6 Nov. Evidence: 1) plant-theme new username relatable to Invasive species 2) editing emphasis on plant taxonomy/genome/diseases/pests in scientific jargon 3) user Flora and fauna man ("FFM") is not "new" but shows skilled editing technique; user IS had > 22,000 edits since 2020 4) similar jargon-heavy wording in edits: FFM - pineapple genome and Carex genome vs IS sorghum genome. 5) unnecessary redlinking of minor species: FFM - here vs. IS for coconut species, journals and publishers. Zefr (talk) 05:42, 4 December 2023 (UTC)
 * - please provide a translation in English what is meant by a) "exclusively proxy use" for IS, b) these two as "likely" having "direct overlap in IP". The SPI was simply to understand if blocked IS is now editing as Flora. Thanks. Zefr (talk) 23:04, 4 December 2023 (UTC)
 * and - my reply above was to  who I mistakenly thought was  the checkuser clerk.  seems to think FFM and Stamp boy are collaborating. It's confusing to several people. I don't think we have the answer yet whether indef-blocked IS created a new account called FFM, and has returned to editing. This should result in something more severe than a declaration of an alternative account on FFM's talk page. Agree, Izno? If either of you has a simple explanation or a more precise solution, I would be grateful for it here please. Many thanks. Zefr (talk) 00:07, 5 December 2023 (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

 * - seems plausible but would like CU to confirm. Thanks, Spicy (talk) 20:38, 4 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Don't see a relation. Invasive Spices is exclusively proxy use. Flora does not appear to be using proxies and is on a different continent from the proxies being used in the other case. Do have these two as given the overlap in interest and direct overlap in IP and (modestly common) UA  And the user names. Probably just needs a warning and/or telling to declare the alternative account. Izno (talk) 22:23, 4 December 2023 (UTC)
 * To answer your second question, CheckUsers make statements of probability that are on a spectrum. I found a second user that appears likely to be the same as FFM. Sometimes that's how checking works - we find other cases of potential abuse and should curb the behavior when it's identified.
 * To answer the first, proxy in this context means proxy server, which is used to hide the user's true Internet address when they connect to another service such as Wikipedia. Exclusive means they aren't using anything but that kind of system to connect to Wikipedia. Izno (talk) 23:18, 4 December 2023 (UTC)
 * @Zefr, you misinterpreted. is clearly marked by the use of the sock list template as being connected to FFM by use of the likely template and is additionally not any sort of clerk. Hence the warning made by MarioGom who  a clerk and who did  misinterpret my comments, as that was the context in which I supported a warning.
 * My comment "don't see a relation" was a strictly technical comment based on the use of the CheckUser tool and was followed by the rationale as to why. It may be the case the two accounts FFM and Invasive Spices are related, but it would need to be a judgement call based on behavioral analysis of onwiki material. To me, the technical evidence is a big reason not to think those two accounts are operated by the same person, and the diffs you've provided are certainly not smoking guns. Izno (talk) 00:19, 5 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Warned. Closing. MarioGom (talk) 22:55, 4 December 2023 (UTC)
 * , I believe you meant to ping ? Spicy (talk) 23:09, 4 December 2023 (UTC)