Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/NewFranco/Archive

12 September 2013

 * Suspected sockpuppets




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

This is a weird soap opera, and I've been sitting on this possible sock for a while, waiting to see what became of it. I am confident there is ample behavioral evidence to warrant a more thorough look. This user's familiarity with Wikipedia suggests that this might be part of long-term campaign of disruption, which is minorly supported by the fact that NewFranco's account was created in November 2011, and that some of the first few edits made by both Squidville1 and NewFranco were article redirects, which is kind of a ballsy trial for a new editor, instead of fixing typos and whatnot. While the NewFranco account is "retired" as of August 14, 2013, I suggest that might be for the purpose of throwing the dogs off their scent. I first encountered NewFranco after some back-and-forth with IP 99.229.41.79 over the International Broadcast section at The Fairly OddParents (if memory serves me). A propos of nothing, the IP asks on my talk page, "Who are you from? the United Kingdom?" NewFranco attempts to clarify this line of stupidity on behalf of the IP editor. Meanwhile, 99.229.41.79 denies any link to NewFranco here.

Modus operandi:
 * User seems heavily involved at Religion in national symbols, and other articles where flags are important, such as at List of municipal flags of Hokkaidō or List of French Flags.
 * Users tends to force lengthy International Broadcast lists into TV articles.
 * Sidekick (TV series) Seems to be a common battleground. During March and May 2013, 99.229.41.79 added a wall of International broadcast data to Sidekick (TV series)  This information was deleted by Trivialist for not conforming to MOS:TV.  This might have been the inciting event, but I do not know. 99.229.41.79 reverts Trivialist deletion NewFranco reverts GeorgeOfThePurpleBananas' deletion 174.89.25.75 reverts JSH-alive's deletion Squidville pastes the table at Talk:Sidekick (TV series) a propos of nothing.
 * Users interact with/operate around each other: NewFranco whacks 99.229.41.79 with a trout NewFranco and 99.229.41.79 both pepper me with stupid questions oh, and Trivialist, too NewFranco and Squidville1 see eye-to-eye on an issue Squidville1 posts on NewFranco's talk page. A strange interaction between Squidville1, another user named Filmmaking, and NewFranco. Kind of reeks of good hand/bad hand sockpuppetry/trolling.
 * Other evidence: 99.229.41.79 geolocates to Mississuaga, Ontario, Canada. 174.89.25.75 geolocates to Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
 * Other evidence: Squidville1 asks if we should have a memorial day for users that have been hacked, 99.229.41.79 asks an ominous question about hacked admin accounts (side note, IP initiated a password reset request for my account at about the same time). Squidville1 complains about me, even though we've only had one direct interaction AFAIK.
 * Other evidence: Poor grammar, misspellings, an almost confused and (probably deliberate) inability to communicate.
 * Editor Interaction Analyzer:

I think that should suffice to demonstrate enough behavioral evidence to warrant the investigation. I'd also like to request we check for sleepers because this user is far too familiar with Wikipedia for this to be the extent of their disruptions.

Thanks! Cyphoidbomb (talk) 04:37, 12 September 2013 (UTC)

Response to Bbb23: I think that Squidville1's complaint of me on the Jimbo Wales page, after I'd reverted a single of his/her edits suggests a beef with me from earlier, and NewFranco is a prime suspect considering their interwoven fields of interest, and their childlike rebellious hijinx. Further, IP 174 and Squidville1 both responded to this SPI within 12 minutes of one another. Regardless, I don't have any need to pursue this so long as their future edits are constructive, competent and fit in with consensus. My only problem with NewFranco and his IP sock/meatpuppet(s) was that they were forcing ponderous International Broadcast lists against consensus, essentially trying to take ownership of those articles. That said, I yield. Thanks for the hard work! Cyphoidbomb (talk) 19:33, 28 September 2013 (UTC)

Comments by other users
''Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.''
 * I'm not a bad user, i'm a newbie, I have nothing to do and not familiar with him and other Ip address. I've not abused accounts. I'm in a good faith editor. The IP address from other people. 174.89.25.75 (talk) 10:50, 12 September 2013 (UTC)
 * I don't make any bad behaviours, I'm just wanna edit because I'm interested in articles. I'm a good faith editor I have nothing to do with these IP addresses. Sorry for the poor grammar, misspellings and other things. I'm really old. Squidville1 (talk) 11:02, 12 September 2013 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments
I've spent way too long looking at this report. Bottom line is I come away with insufficient behavioral evidence to link the two named accounts. NewFranco appears to be more disruptive than Squidville1, so it's a good thing that they stopped editing. Mostly what I see is a lot of incompetence and bad English. Clearly, there is some linkage on the flag issues and adding national anthem entries to Religion in national symbols, although there Squidville1 seems more aggressive. NewFranco got hung up on some very odd faith-related and motto things, which I believe led to a very silly AIV report on User:Huon. I didn't pay too much attention to the IPs, although my sense is that they were tied more to NewFranco than to Squidville1. I'm not going to close this yet in case Cyphoidbomb, who did a remarkable job collecting data, wants to comment or another admin sees things differently.--Bbb23 (talk) 18:08, 28 September 2013 (UTC)
 * per my comments. Bbb23 (talk) 14:59, 29 September 2013 (UTC)