Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Ledfords/Archive

Suspected sockpuppets



 * Tools: Editor interaction utility • Interaction Timeline • User compare report Auto-generated every hour.

In the past 24 hours, these accounts have each created edit requests at Talk:Cell membrane. Each request asks for one or more detailed factual changes to the article with no supporting sources. . (There are more - as I was writing this up, it seemed like every time I refreshed the page, a new account with a new request came up.) In one case, one of the accounts did a piped signature showing their name but directing to one of the other accounts. I'm not entirely sure what's going on here, but they're pretty clearly the same person and all editing the same page with more or less the same requests. &#8209;&#8209; El Hef  ( Meep? ) 23:37, 9 July 2018 (UTC)

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

A simple case of WP:DUCK I think.  IWI  ( chat ) 00:16, 10 July 2018 (UTC)
 * , in light of the comments below, and while awaiting confirmation, please remove the SPI notices that you left on the users' talk pages. Thanks. —DoRD (talk)​ 14:43, 10 July 2018 (UTC)
 * I have dropped a note at User talk:Ledfords. Have to be offline for an hour. Can someone similar welcome/inform the other accounts in the meantime. Abecedare (talk) 14:54, 10 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Okay then, will do that. Didn't think of that.  IWI  ( chat ) 15:14, 10 July 2018 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * I have had to semi-protect the article talkpage for a day since the above listed accounts activities were truly disruptive. I am convinced that these are quacking sock/meatpuppets but rather than just blocking-and-moving-on, it would be good if a checkuser (or, experienced editor aware of the article history or LTAs active in the area) could identify master/sleeper accounts so that the semi-protection can be lifted asap without resumption of the disruption. Abecedare (talk) 01:20, 10 July 2018 (UTC)
 * , a quick glance at the edit requests, combined with the usernames, makes me think that this may be some sort of class project. —DoRD (talk)​ 11:59, 10 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the input, User:DoRD. I'll try removing the current protection and see if the editors are willing to discuss their suggested edits. Cheers. Abecedare (talk) 14:36, 10 July 2018 (UTC)
 * All accounts welcomed and requested to discuss issues on article talk-page. No new accounts, edits or disruption. Case seems ready to close. Abecedare (talk) 23:29, 10 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Closing without action per above. Sro23 (talk) 04:28, 12 July 2018 (UTC)