Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Thenightchicagodied/Archive

14 May 2013

 * Suspected sockpuppets




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The article has seen a series of edit reverts from the sock-master account. This have been almost always followed by random Copyedit by unrelated IPs in the next couple minutes which masks the original revert. The copyedits have also been very similar - All have been line breaks and subsequent reformatting. 1, 1a and 1b; 2, 2a and 2b; 3, 3a and 3b.

The most clear cut evidence of Sockpuppetry can be seen in the following talk page edits - a, b and c. The last word of Eyeteststar in the comment, and its subsequent editing by Thenightchicagodied is enough to raise eyebrows. TheOriginalSoni (talk) 06:04, 14 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Comment The account also seems to be a sock of the same person. TheOriginalSoni (talk) 06:12, 14 May 2013 (UTC)


 * 4 4a; 5, 5a, 5b; 6, 6a and 6b give further evidence of the same behaviour. TheOriginalSoni (talk) 06:44, 14 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Also, seems to be also related. TheOriginalSoni (talk) 06:44, 14 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Yet another likely sock found. came back to editing after 4 years only to edit this article. While their actions are not exactly the same as the current one, d and e seem a clear indication of the same. TheOriginalSoni (talk) 07:05, 14 May 2013 (UTC)
 * I don't think DarkAsSin is a sockpuppet. She has the same username on Reddit and is not a Suburban Express sockpuppet. 2602:306:c4ad:4709:21f:5bff:febf:e186 vandalized my user page and is likely a Suburban Express sockpuppet too. What are these long anonymous IPs(?)/editors? AlmostGrad (talk) 07:14, 14 May 2013 (UTC)
 * My internet presence can be verified by searching my username; and as AlmostGrad said, I am the same person as darkassin on Reddit. I'm just rather conservative when it comes to Wikipedia edits and will generally only make minor language corrections. The original copy that I changed seemed more like an advertisement, and I signed in specifically so the edit could be attributed to me. Normally, I don't bother. DarkAsSin (talk) 12:59, 14 May 2013 (UTC)

Comments by other users
''Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.''
 * Take a look at User:Joshuabcohen too. NorthBySouthBaranof (talk) 06:14, 14 May 2013 (UTC)
 * And User:Hammondsorgan. Clear evidence of mass single-purpose account sockpuppetry going on here. I've requested semi-protection. NorthBySouthBaranof (talk) 06:19, 14 May 2013 (UTC)


 * This archived recent sockpuppet investigation page is also relevant. Additional suspected sockpuppets from there:




 * I don't know if external evidence (evidence external to Wikipedia edits/behavior) is admissible here, but I know the Suburban Express guy from the UIUC subreddit (from where all the reddit/lawsuits controversy originated, information about which he is continually deleting from Suburban Express' Wikipedia page), and the behavior of these suspected sockpuppet accounts here exactly mirrors his behavior there - tens of new sockpuppet accounts pretending to be different people and posting only about Suburban Express. (I have an admitted COI with Suburban Express from the UIUC subreddit.) AlmostGrad (talk) 06:42, 14 May 2013 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * I've blocked the sock account indef, master 1 week, letting someone else decide about the IPs. Rschen7754 06:08, 14 May 2013 (UTC)
 * - - to find sleepers - note similar signature patterns on the newest account. Rschen7754 06:14, 14 May 2013 (UTC)
 * ✅: Thenightchicagodied, Eyeteststar and Joshuabcohen are either the same person, or at least they know one another. Hammondsorgan is related as well.  and I didn't see any sleepers. ​—DoRD (talk)​ 12:28, 14 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Got the two accounts, will let someone make a decision on the IPs. Rschen7754 12:30, 14 May 2013 (UTC)
 * CU didn't pick up DarkAsSin, so will consider that unrelated for now. Leaving the IPs be for now as the article is semiprotected, and they're likely dynamic. Closing. Rschen7754 08:21, 17 May 2013 (UTC)

22 May 2013

 * Suspected sockpuppets




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The behaviour patterns of this new account are nearly identical with the previous SPI on the master. Their COI to the article is very self apparent, and both of its major edits have been shadily masked by another CE by a random IP (one of them hours later, so I guess I'll let that pass.) Requesting CU to search for any other related accounts, as well as to look into the numerous IPs, all possibly from the same editor. [I've listed only a few here] TheOriginalSoni (talk) 20:33, 22 May 2013 (UTC) TheOriginalSoni (talk) 20:33, 22 May 2013 (UTC)

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


 * Adding diffs - Blanking talk page, Removing sourced content on the same company on another page and the subsequent CE, and this.
 * Nearly all of the edits of this account have the identical behaviour as the banned Socks, especially the removal and CE behaviour which I noted in the last investigation. There is no doubt that this account is clearly related. TheOriginalSoni (talk) 05:16, 25 May 2013 (UTC)

Upon expiration of this user's week long ban for Sockpuppetry, this user was blocked for Personal attacks or harassment: after release of previous block and as  Technical 13 (talk) 18:43, 29 May 2013 (UTC)


 * More socks vandalizing/edit-warring on the Suburban Express entry in the Streisand Effect article:, . -- AlmostGrad (talk) 20:50, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Also, which can be traced to Allerton Coach Company, which has the same owner as Suburban Express. -- AlmostGrad (talk) 22:47, 29 May 2013 (UTC)


 * I don't have time to investigate, but someone should take a look at to see if they're a sock too (blocked for username). Legoktm (talk) 22:44, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Also, vandalizing and engaging in personal attacks on the Streisand Effect page.


 * Someone also check too please. TheOriginalSoni (talk) 03:21, 30 May 2013 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * Rschen7754 07:08, 24 May 2013 (UTC)
 * - --Rschen7754 07:09, 24 May 2013 (UTC)
 * I've blocked one IP. Reaper Eternal (talk) 18:48, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * ✅ all named users plus . I also blocked a couple of ranges. ​—DoRD (talk)​ 23:06, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Closing. Rschen7754 05:16, 30 May 2013 (UTC)

02 June 2014

 * Suspected sockpuppets




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-174.146.29.31 is probably a sockpuppet controlled by the owner of Suburban Express. He was permanently blocked from editing Wikipedia because he was harassing users with the account User:Arri_at_Suburban_Express. Additionally, 602:306:C561:A2A9:21F:5BFF:FEBF:E186, and possibly several of the other IPs that have been active on the Suburban Express article may be sockpuppets.

-One of the edits he made is attacking User:AlmostGrad, which is located here. The owner frequently does on Wikipedia and on the Internet. For example, the owner created a page on his website that to harass the user and attack their contributions to Wikipedia as seen here. http://i.imgur.com/qyt3vlV.png

-He is performing questionable edits on the Peoria Charter, Wikipedia page. Peoria Charter is a company that competes with Suburban Express. For example, he tries to remove relevant information about the company here. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peoria_Charter_Coach_Company&diff=prev&oldid=611175442. Also, he was involved in nominating the article for deletion. On the talk page of Peoria Charter, which is a competing bus company, the IP says it is "Non-notable, promo piece, etc". .

-74.146.29.31 criticizes sources such as Ars Technica, BoingBoing, and Techdirt as being click-dependent blogs on the Suburban Express talk page.,In the following edit, User: Arri_at_Suburban_Express refers to Ars Technica as a "low quality blog". He also attacks User: AlmostGrad too. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:N2e&diff=prev&oldid=580469584

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

Complainant's statements above are interesting, but I do not own any bus company. I see that I am not the only discussing Ars in the talk section of Suburban Express. I'm sure that topic has come up other places as well. Complainant would have you believe that I am responsible for all mentions of Ars? As for the other claims, they are really tenuous.

If someone would tell me how to do an Afd correctly, I'll be able to nominate the Peoria Charter Coach article correctly. That article reads like a sales brochure. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.146.5.102 (talk) 14:30, 2 June 2014 (UTC)


 * 174.146.5.102 (talk should be investigated also. He practically says in the above comment that he is the same person that was using 174.146.29.31. Also, like the other sockpuppets, he has made a disruptive edit to the Peoria Charter Wikipedia page that removed useful information. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peoria_Charter_Coach_Company&diff=prev&oldid=611233857 and appears to be harassing User:AlmostGrad with the comments he makes. Gulugawa (talk) 18:05, 2 June 2014 (UTC)


 * You're joking around, right? Vast conspiracy? No. Dynamic IP addressing? Yes. 174.146.117.235 (talk) 16:30, 2 June 2014 (UTC)


 * Comment: Probable block-evading socks of blocked User:Arri at Suburban Express, the owner of Suburban Express, are edit-warring on the articles of competitors Peoria Charter Coach Company and Lincoln Land express, trying to add negative information or restore unsourced negative content, and are also editing the Suburban Express article. AlmostGrad (talk) 17:02, 3 June 2014 (UTC)


 * There is no question whatsoever that these IPs are actively defending this particular corporation and are clearly WP:QUACKing like a heard of Canadian geese. In Suburban Express, the effort to whitewash the article, even going so far as to remove accurate information from the lead section, is blatant. Coretheapple (talk) 14:20, 3 June 2014 (UTC)
 * I think you may be overstating the situation a bit. What is your motivation? Shortly after you posted your meritless claims on the Suburban Express page, there was section blanking of unflattering information at the Peoria Charter Coach article from an IP address registered to Peoria Charter Coach. As for the Suburban Express page, there was one recent minor edit, which you reverted. Do you work for Peoria Charter? Your actions suggest that you do. Or perhaps you are acting as a meatpuppet for one of the users (Gulugawa, AlmostGrad) who are actively working on three related articles. 174.153.41.80 (talk) 14:57, 3 June 2014 (UTC)
 * That's right, I'm the WP:QUACKing SPI and in-your-face sock, you're the established user. Coretheapple (talk) 15:58, 3 June 2014 (UTC)

I compiled a list of IPs that have been participating in questionable activities on the Peoria Charter Coach Company and Suburban Express pages. So far, it appears over 30 IPs are sockpuppets and that some of them are from several years ago. The list of IPs and evidence is here. Gulugawa (talk) 14:05, 4 June 2014 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * The named accounts are and checkusers only link IPs to accounts in rare circumstances. This will need to be reviewed and decided on a behavioural basis.--Jezebel's Ponyo bons mots  23:08, 2 June 2014 (UTC)
 * With the account blocked, and many wireless IPs we can't block without a massive rangeblock, i'm closing this case. -- DQ   (ʞlɐʇ)  03:31, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

28 October 2015

 * Suspected sockpuppets




 * User compare report Auto-generated every hour.
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162.220.89.246 has made questionable edits to the Suburban Express and Dennis Toeppen Wikipedia pages. The IP has a clear COI, and uses language similar to the blocked users Arri_at_Suburban_Express and Thenightchicagodied

Both the IP users have similar goals of trying to use Wikipedia as a way to make the bus company Suburban Express look better while launching personal attacks I managed to link both of them together by tracing their IP addresses.

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dennis_Toeppen&diff=prev&oldid=683101726

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Dennis_Toeppen&diff=prev&oldid=620426663

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Suburban_Express&diff=prev&oldid=620424498

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Suburban_Express&diff=prev&oldid=620425836

Here are examples of blocked user Arri_at_Suburban_Express attacking other editors and trying to make Suburban Express look better.

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:24.15.78.1&oldid=580323275

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:N2e&diff=prev&oldid=580469584

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Suburban_Express&diff=prev&oldid=580484544

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Drmies&diff=prev&oldid=580509986 Gulugawa (talk) 01:15, 28 October 2015 (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

 * There's nothing to be done here. Closing. Bbb23 (talk) 14:26, 28 October 2015 (UTC)