Jump to content

Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/MetroEarth/Archive

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


MetroEarth

MetroEarth (talk+ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)

22 March 2023[edit]

Suspected sockpuppets[edit]

The Editor interaction utility lays things out pretty clearly - a group of accounts and IPs all editing a group of userspace sandboxes, plus some mainspace articles. Almost all edits are in the topic areas of metro rail systems (mostly Boston plus world lists) and US college sports; several sandboxes are almost identical. All of the IPs geolocate to the same metro area.

I want to note that this does not seem to be someone acting maliciously - none of the multiple accounts appear to be used to evade sanctions or other bad behavior, and the rare occasions where there are overlaps appear to be a case of WP:LOGOUT rather than intentional subterfuge.

However, there is a NOTHERE/CIR issue here that needs addressed. This editor has created ten accounts in as many months, most of which are active for just hours or days, and appears on a number of different IPs when logged out. This makes it near impossible to communicate with them. That's a significant issue given that the mainspace edits tend to be of poor quality, and the sandboxes are mostly non-encyclopediac topics such as a list of every death in the TV show "24". The editor has ignored multiple notices instructing them to stick to one account (1, 2, 3), so I think an SPI is necessary to corral their editing.

Two other IP addresses, 38.104.186.130 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log) and 146.115.16.202 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log), also overlap at times with this editor. One of those two IPs is noted as {{Shared IP edu}}, and the other is almost certainly the same school based on significant overlap over several years. While other people than this editor are using the school IPs, a {{schoolblock}} may be worthwhile given the string of talk page notices both have accumulated.

@Chipmunkdavis: Courtesy ping since you've warned this editor for using multiple accounts before. Pi.1415926535 (talk) 01:04, 22 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users[edit]

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

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments[edit]

  • I blocked and tagged Metroman20, the only named account who's edited in the last 90 days, and I blocked 108.26.210.240, the only IP who's edited recently, for 3 months. Closing. Bbb23 (talk) 00:24, 21 April 2023 (UTC)[reply]

18 December 2023[edit]

Suspected sockpuppets[edit]

Once again, the interaction makes it pretty clear. Same pattern of editing sandboxes created by other socks, same interest in rapid transit lines and college athletics. Only the first two socks have edited recently; however, Felingate23 (who was not blocked in the previous SPI due to no recent edits) and 108.26.210.240 (blocked 3 months) have returned after gaps of several months, so I recommend blocking all accounts. Pi.1415926535 (talk) 00:34, 18 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users[edit]

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

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments[edit]

They're  Possible to each other, and have no overlap with the historical account info, but I think the evidence is sufficient to issue blocks here. The other two accounts remain stale. No comment about the IPs. Izno (talk) 07:07, 18 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

  • All IPs are blocked. Unblocked accounts are stale. Closing. Vanjagenije (talk) 12:44, 13 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Sockpuppet_investigations/MetroEarth/Archive&oldid=1197087562"