Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Purplehippo458/Archive

Suspected sockpuppets

 * Added by UW Dawgs, see Comments by other users
 * Added by UW Dawgs, see Comments by other users


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

This is not a slam-dunk, nor a case for the naive duck test, but Shaun Sm is an account that popped up immediately after Michael Sayman was nominated for deletion. If this is not sockpuppetry, then there may be off-wiki coordination by proponents.

There is also off-wiki coordination by opponents, because showed up out of nowhere to nominate the article for deletion, but that is not relevant to this report (just coordination both ways).

Please check Shaun Sm as a sockpuppet to support keeping the article. Robert McClenon (talk) 02:43, 31 January 2021 (UTC)

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

I added User:AstronautElvis to CheckUser.

Apologies on any bad form re adding AstronautElvis to the existing SPI, but there is going to be confusion no matter what. Purplehippo458 appears to have created the 2nd and 3rd version of the Michael Sayman article days after each went through AfD, there is a new DR, while both ANI and WP:SALT are likely to follow which may reference this SPI. So intent was to consolidate documentation, rather than create a second SPI.

The 1st version of Michael Sayman Articles for deletion/Michael Sayman was "Closed as delete" on 11 November 2018. It appears that Purplehippo458 recreated the article three days later on 14 November 2018. and also implicitedly confirmed in those comments re "This is a case of WP:TOOSOON. With regard to the matter of recreation of the article three days after deletion discussion, my sense is WP:SALT is going too far. However, User Purplehippo458 should be blocked indefinitely. "

The 2nd AfD was closed on 12 January 2021. Purplehippo458 again recreated the 3rd version of the article 18 days later on 11:31, 30 January 2021‎. And that 3rd version is substantially identical to the final state of the 2nd version.

After the 3rd version was tagged with AfD at 12:22, 30 January 2021‎, new SPA Shaun Sm is created at 18:28, 30 January 2021‎ and then immediately makes 8 edits to add citations which has the obvious appearance to trying to "rescue" from AfD. An hour later, Purplehippo458 makes the next edit to add citations which may or may not be a transition.

Purplehippo458 was active in November 2018, then dormant, and resumed in January 2021 with substantially all of their edits made to ensure there is always a Michael Sayman article recreated in spite of AfDs.

AstronautElvis was created in 2018 and has made 17 edits all-time. with 4 in June 2018, 4 in March 2020, 1 in August 2020, and now 8 in the last 24 hours where 7 are focused on objecting to the 3rd Sayman AfD or objecting to a G4 speedy delete tag.

The Editor Interaction Utility shows Shaun SM, AstronautElvis, and Purplehippo458 making edits <10 mins apart on 3 different Sayman articles. Given that these three all have low edit counts, have similar dormant/then active patterns, and are hyper-protective of the new 3rd version of an obscure article has the clear appearance of offline collusion at minimum.

Without soliciting comment from the CheckUser, AstronautElvis states he is "on leave of absence working at Zinier in Silicon Valley" and has attended "Taylor Mill Christian Academy, Feather River Adventist School, Fountainview Academy, and Walla Walla University" and the "University of St Andrews in Scotland" which may speak to similar edu/corp/geo IPs. UW Dawgs (talk) 04:14, 1 February 2021 (UTC)
 * Comment to closing admin: User:Caveman Caveman Caveman's first article created was recreation of prior AfD Alma Anaya article. This seems like a WP:PROMO WP:NOTHERE and possibly WP:PAID ring. And Jenny R. Yang creation strongly suggests "Paddington, City of Westminster, United Kingdom".


 * And this coordinated activity from both old and new SPAs, includes "Shaun Sm" creating an account and within 2 minutes beginning to edit the Sayman article and then 16 minutes later using their 4th ever to add marketing materials taken verbatim from Sayman's new book which will go on sale on September 21, 2021. Seems clearly to be coordinated, pre-planned, and WP:PROMO. UW Dawgs (talk) 08:25, 1 February 2021 (UTC)

Hi all, I'm happy to talk to anyone and fully cooperate with your investigation. I am not a sock puppet, and would be happy to verify that in any way you would like. AstronautElvis (talk) 05:45, 1 February 2021 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * - Given near singular focus of these two accounts and the timing of their edits, please check to confirm. Sir Sputnik (talk) 04:16, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * The results are a little fishy, but I'd still call it ❌. However, Shaun Sm is ✅ to the following:
 * These accounts all seem to share an interest in politics, but I suspect this could be public computers. No matter what it is, I'd be surprised if these people didn't know each other. NinjaRobotPirate (talk) 10:10, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * AstronautElvis is to Shaun Sm and the rest based on geolocation (it's close but not exact), but different user agents. AstronautElvis appears ❌ to the accused master.  ~Oshwah~  (talk)  (contribs)   05:02, 1 February 2021 (UTC)
 * These accounts all seem to share an interest in politics, but I suspect this could be public computers. No matter what it is, I'd be surprised if these people didn't know each other. NinjaRobotPirate (talk) 10:10, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * AstronautElvis is to Shaun Sm and the rest based on geolocation (it's close but not exact), but different user agents. AstronautElvis appears ❌ to the accused master.  ~Oshwah~  (talk)  (contribs)   05:02, 1 February 2021 (UTC)
 * These accounts all seem to share an interest in politics, but I suspect this could be public computers. No matter what it is, I'd be surprised if these people didn't know each other. NinjaRobotPirate (talk) 10:10, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
 * AstronautElvis is to Shaun Sm and the rest based on geolocation (it's close but not exact), but different user agents. AstronautElvis appears ❌ to the accused master.  ~Oshwah~  (talk)  (contribs)   05:02, 1 February 2021 (UTC)


 * Thoughts:
 * I do not see enough overlap between the confirmed socks to be comfortable blocking them, especially given NRP's comment about public computers. I agree that they all seem interested in politics, but nothing there looks especially coordinated to me, and frankly I don't see any reason for one person to operate all of those accounts.
 * I suspect that there is some kind of off-wiki communication going on between Purplehippo (who is without question an SPA with respect to Sayman), Shaun Sm, and AstronautElvis, but I do not believe there is sufficient proof of that to take any action.
 * Closing without action. GeneralNotability (talk) 03:31, 21 February 2021 (UTC)