Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/The Kazanchis

Suspected sockpuppets
The suspected sock account was created after Marcus Collins (author) was draftified and the master was. The suspected sock account immediately started editing the draft, and based on, they do not seem unfamiliar with Wikipedia. GSS &#x202F;&#128172; 18:04, 17 May 2024 (UTC)

There also seems to be a case of meat puppetry. The master uploaded File:Panduka Mahendra Jayasekera.jpg and File:Panduka Mahendra Jayasekera.jpg from Flickr, and both images were added on Flickr by "Chinthaka DG" just two days before being uploaded to Commons. Then, user Chinthaka1701 was created the same day Mahendra Jayasekera (now in draft) was created by the master. GSS &#x202F;&#128172; 18:24, 17 May 2024 (UTC)

Denseem was registered just two days before David Merriman (now in draft) was created by the master. On the same day the article was created, Denseem uploaded File:David Merriman. on set.jpg as their own work. GSS &#x202F;&#128172; 18:42, 17 May 2024 (UTC)

User has made no edits on en-wiki, but they uploaded File:Marcus Collins.jpg as their own work on Commons just a day before Marcus Collins (author) was created by the master. The master then used this image when they published the article. This indicates a strong possibility of proxy/meatpuppetry. GSS &#x202F;&#128172; 07:51, 18 May 2024 (UTC)

Comments by other users

 * Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.

GSS initially said that me is unfamiliar with Wikipedia. When I started to challenge them, they changed their mind and edited this for a second time in a tone I am familiar. The Kazanchis (talk) 08:34, 18 May 2024 (UTC)
 * If you read my initial report here, one can clearly understand what I meant. Your edits and your knowledge of creating articles clearly indicate that you are not a brand new user. You first gammed the "autoconfirmed status" and then created your first. GSS &#x202F;&#128172; 08:42, 18 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Is Wikipedia something difficult science to understand??? I have been here for 2 months! You edit for paid means not everyone else do the same like you do! [[User:The Kazanchis|suspicions on

]] (talk) 08:45, 18 May 2024 (UTC)

Mahendra Jayasekera article is on my radar because of this SPI. Per the outcome of that SPI, I believe User:Chinthaka1701 and User:Shehani98 could be sockpuppets of User:DefineDream. Behavioural similarities include
 * Comments by Chanakal
 * Wimal Weerawansa article: Shehani98 v DefineDream
 * Random pointless, cosmetic edits: DefineDream v Chinthaka1701

I share GSS's suspicions on suspicions on The Kazanchis's UPE behaviour. Cheers! Chanaka L ( talk ) 11:43, 18 May 2024 (UTC)


 * Their behavior and insistence clearly indicate a strong conflict of interest. I moved their pages to the draft space and warned them for edit warring, but nothing worked. Immediately after I requested move protection on the drafts, they moved them back to the main namespace to avoid the protection, despite being issued a uw-3rr warning. This shows how desperate they are to get these articles published. Those articles are not yet ready for the main namespace and must be draftified or nominated for deletion. The other SPI was closed by with "no action on The Kazanchis for the time being", but I believe it is time to block them for their behavior, UPE, and meatpuppetry. I'm not sure if CU will help with technical similarities, but behaviorally they appear to be a group of undisclosed paid editors. GSS &#x202F;&#128172; 12:10, 18 May 2024 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * The following accounts are ✅ to each other:


 * They are to WP:Sockpuppet investigations/DefineDream (same uncommon geolocation and overlap on a wide range).
 * Otherwise, the accounts listed in this SPI appear technically ❌ to each other (which doesn't rule out the possibility of UPE meatpuppetry). Spicy (talk) 14:40, 9 June 2024 (UTC)