Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Josh Rumage/Archive

Evidence submitted by Nymf
Josh Rumage was just blocked for bad uploads. Another one of this user's trademarks was to add unsourced or vaguely/unreliably sourced categories. So yesterday this IP pops up and starts adding these categories to the same articles that Josh Rumage has been editing.

Could be a coincidence, but if you do a whois on this IP it will tell you that it's an "Adams CATV, Inc" IP. A quick Google on this will tell you that this company is located in Pennsylvania. Yet another Google for the user's name, will lead you to a Facebook page which places this user in that very same state.

So it's a duck, but if possible, a CU to find any possible sleeper accounts would be nice. Nymf hideliho! 14:34, 15 October 2010 (UTC)

Comments by accused parties
See Defending yourself against claims.

Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments
IP blocked per WP:DUCK; no CU was used here. –MuZemike 00:51, 16 October 2010 (UTC)

Evidence submitted by Nymf
IP is back editing after the previous block expired. The IP seems stable, so can we get a longer block? Nymf hideliho! 16:57, 31 October 2010 (UTC) Nymf hideliho! 16:57, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

Comments by accused parties
See Defending yourself against claims.

Clerk, patrolling admin and checkuser comments

 * Blocked one month. —  Hello Annyong  (say whaaat?!) 18:46, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

26 December 2010

 * Suspected sockpuppets




 * User compare report Auto-generated every six hours.

''Please list evidence below this line. Remember to sign at the end of your section with 4 tilde characters " ~ "''

User:Josh Rumage was blocked in October for various copyright violations. User also had a habit of adding unsourced categories to various biographies regarding the subject's alleged religion, political affiliation, and supposed activism. His/her obsession seems to be about adding these categories to articles even if there's no text or source to support it. There are various warnings on both Josh and Selma's user's talk page regarding these actions.

After editing under various IP addresses (including 68.70.27.96, 66.194.51.34, and numerous others), I believe Josh Rumage created the User:Selma Simpson account on December 1 to continue the same behavior that got them blocked previously. Both Josh and Selma routinely replace free images with non-free images they have uploaded. Both have edited a number of the same articles including Sylvia Sidney, Dennie Moore (an article Josh created and that both editors have worked on fairly extensively), and Elizabeth Montgomery. In the case of the Elizabeth Montgomery article, both Josh and Selma added that Montgomery was a health activist and California Republican despite there being no text or source to support such an assertion. In fact, the text states Montgomery was a liberal.

Both users also use rather vague, simply worded and sometimes misleading edit summaries such as "I added a years active slot" (see Selma and Josh) or "I fixed an error" (Selma and Josh).  Pinkadelica ♣  03:18, 26 December 2010 (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
✅, blocked and tagged. Also. –MuZemike 03:21, 26 December 2010 (UTC)

30 March 2011

 * Suspected sockpuppets




 * User compare report Auto-generated every hour.

''Please list evidence below this line. Remember to sign at the end of your section with 4 tilde characters " ~ "''

It appears that Josh Rumage is back using the named account, Michaela Power 2011 and the IP address 68.70.27.96 to add unsourced categories regarding subjects' religion, political affiliation and activism (which aren't particularity unsourced but usually aren't need). All users use similarly worded edit summaries (compare Josh Rummage's edit summary and Michaela Power 2011's and "I added a Years Active slot" by Josh and "I fixed the years active slot" by Michaela). Both named users also have a habit of uploading images for old movies and old movie actors without the proper rationale (see User talk:Michaela Power 2011 and User talk:Josh Rumage for various warnings). Both Michaela Power 2011 and 68.70.27.96 also edit the same articles that Josh has adding similar poorly/unsourced content to including: Marsha Hunt, Barbara Stanwyck, Sylvia Sidney, and Laraine Day (to name just a few). Another article of interest is Dennie Moore which Josh created and continuously adds poorly sourced content to.  Pinkadelica ♣  00:38, 30 March 2011 (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

 * Per WP:DUCK I've blocked and tagged the account. The IP has been blocked before per checkuser, and the autoblock seems to have kicked on again. —  Hello Annyong  (say whaaat?!) 02:55, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

26 April 2011

 * Suspected sockpuppets




 * User compare report Auto-generated every hour.

''Please list evidence below this line. Remember to sign at the end of your section with 4 tilde characters " ~ "''

James Sempier and IP 66.194.51.34 appear to be banned user Josh Rumage evading his/her block. Josh's MO includes adding unsourced categories regarding religion and alleged activism to articles of mainly deceased actors. Both users have added similar content to Laraine Day (as James and a currently blocked/tag IP). The user usually targets the same articles including Rue McClanahan and Fay Wray, which is why I have them watchlisted. A confirmed socks Michaela Power 2011 and James Sempier also use similarly worded edit summaries worded in the first person explaining such actions as leaving a signature.  Pinkadelica ♣  19:35, 26 April 2011 (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
✅ the following are the same:
 * TN X Man 13:12, 27 April 2011 (UTC)
 * Blocked all the confirmed accounts. —  Hello Annyong  (say whaaat?!) 02:08, 28 April 2011 (UTC)
 * TN X Man 13:12, 27 April 2011 (UTC)
 * Blocked all the confirmed accounts. —  Hello Annyong  (say whaaat?!) 02:08, 28 April 2011 (UTC)
 * Blocked all the confirmed accounts. —  Hello Annyong  (say whaaat?!) 02:08, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

22 May 2011

 * Suspected sockpuppets




 * User compare report Auto-generated every hour.

''Please list evidence below this line. Remember to sign at the end of your section with 4 tilde characters " ~ "''

Blocked user Josh Rumage is back editing under IPs that have yet to be blocked. User is attempting to add content to Laraine Day (a favorite target of theirs) yet again regarding her supposed political affiliation. (S)he left this message on the talk page of 68.70.27.96 (that is currently blocked for a year) yesterday. Today, under the IP 74.47.65.164, the user proceeded to make at least one of the changes they claim needs to be made. (S)he then changed IPs to 67.85.130.197 to make additional changes. After MuZemike protected the page, 67.85.130.197 made an edit request to include the content that 68.70.27.96 (Josh) is attempting to have added.  Pinkadelica ♣  23:29, 22 May 2011 (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

 * Both IPs blocked 3 months for evasion. —  Hello Annyong  (say whaaat?!) 01:00, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

18 July 2011

 * Suspected sockpuppets


 * User compare report Auto-generated every hour.

Josh Rumage is back hitting his favorite target articles (ie Laraine Day, Barbara Stanwyck, etc.), and back to messing around with categories, photos & content regarding subjects political affiliations. User previously stated they were going to wait their block out, but it appears the temptation got to be too much.  Pinkadelica ♣  14:37, 18 July 2011 (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

 * IP blocked 1 month. —  Hello Annyong  (say whaaat?!) 02:15, 19 July 2011 (UTC)

31 March 2012

 * Suspected sockpuppets




 * User compare report Auto-generated every hour.

Per WP:DUCK, I believe the newly created account Caren Marsh Doll is Josh Rumage based on behavior. User:Caren Marsh Doll created Caren Marsh Doll on 30 March which IP user 68.70.27.96 (an IP Josh uses repeatedly when it is not blocked) proceeded to edit repeatedly only twenty minutes or so after creation. Further, Caren Marsh Doll uses edit summaries that are similarly worded to Josh (see Example 1 vs. Example 2). Area both the IP and new user have edited in are also consistent with Josh's area of interest (ie 1940s era actresses/actors, adding poorly sourced content to articles to support religious/political related categories)  Pinkadelica ♣  04:54, 31 March 2012 (UTC)
 * Another editor has expressed concerns that this account is a sock of the putative master here, and after looking around I have to agree that there is quacking. Have already uw-famoused the account, and I believe the master and previous socks are stale though? The Bushranger One ping only 04:55, 31 March 2012 (UTC)
 * Thanks for blocking Caren Marsh Doll based on the user name. I think there's enough behavioral evidence to link Josh to the IP. I think the IP is static, his "confession" is still on the page as is his promise not to return to Wikipedia. Suggest long term block of that IP. Not sure if the article Caren Marsh Doll should be zapped as well. It was rechecked by another user but Josh is known for uploading copyrighted material and using unreliable sources.  Pinkadelica ♣  05:03, 31 March 2012 (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

 * ✅ - A l is o n  ❤ 07:43, 31 March 2012 (UTC)


 * Already blocked. -- DQ  (ʞlɐʇ)  06:58, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

13 May 2012

 * Suspected sockpuppets




 * User compare report Auto-generated every hour.

Reporting new user per WP:DUCK. Carlton's behavior is very similar to Josh's - both users are targeting the same subjects (namely Marsha Hunt (actress) and Laraine Day which is on my watchlist) adding the same poorly sourced content about subject's religious and political affiliations and "swapping" images. Carlton also seems keen on adding categories regarding religion political leanings despite there being no mention of it in the text of the article. Edit summaries are also similar in nature. Note another one of Josh's now-blocked IP socks' edit summary about swapping a pic in the infobox with one of Carlton's recent edit summaries. Both are nearly identical in phrasing. Further, Josh is about the only user I've seen who is seemingly obsessed with "swapping" images out to these same articles.  Pinkadelica ♣  23:18, 13 May 2012 (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
✅ as being the same as. Blocked an IP too. TN X Man 18:03, 14 May 2012 (UTC)
 * Blocked and tagged. ​—DoRD (talk)​ 18:32, 14 May 2012 (UTC)

16 April 2013

 * Suspected sockpuppets




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

Users adding/changing same content as Josh Rummage socks (mainly addition of political cats, changing infobox images). User:Need of Improvement added the same content with the exact same (unreliable) source to Lana Turner here as another blocked sock of Josh's, 369goosberrypatch on August 12, 2012. The rest of the socks use the same edit summary "replaced lead image" which is similar to wording used by another sock, User:DinahIsMyGal. The article Dennie Moore‎ (edited by User:Who Is At The Door) is also a frequent target for Josh as he created the article and returns to tweak it.  Pinkadelica ♣  19:12, 16 April 2013 (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

 * Another administrator and I independently found some of these accounts, and when I ran a check, the list turned out much longer. These accounts are ✅ matches to one another:
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)
 * ​—DoRD (talk)​ 02:05, 22 April 2013 (UTC)


 * Tagged and closing. Rschen7754 06:44, 22 April 2013 (UTC)