Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Branflakes452701/Archive

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Branflakes452701

Branflakes452701 (talk+ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)

06 August 2017

Suspected sockpuppets

Persistent disruptive editing with generic edit summaries despite repeated requests to stop or abide by guidelines; note that all four accounts edit entirely on mobile with mostly generic short edit summaries, often making repeated incremental edits on single pages, such as [1][2][3], etc. Also note strong similarities in topics of interest (Russian political parties and politics as well as Middle East conflicts, with some exceptions: MacTheSlayer has almost identical editing habits except for focusing entirely on non-Russian parties, whereas Chase Moylan has an editing history that more explicitly focuses on military topics.) Mélencron (talk) 04:39, 6 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

25 October 2017

Suspected sockpuppets

WP:DUCK; same as User:Swimmer123456789, attempting to update Bundestag diagrams [4][5] (sometimes erroneously) Mélencron (talk) 15:48, 25 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, this should have been filed at Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Branflakes452701. Mélencron (talk) 15:48, 25 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Also the same as User:President B., who uploaded the diagram inserted by the IP to Wikipedia here, though that account is already blocked on en.wp. Mélencron (talk) 15:53, 25 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

This case is being reviewed by Sir Sputnik as part of the clerk training process. Please allow them to process the entire case without interference, and pose any questions or concerns either on their Talk page or on this page if more appropriate.

Sir Sputnik -  Done. ~Oshwah~(talk) (contribs) 00:20, 26 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
  • tagging and closing. Sir Sputnik (talk) 00:26, 26 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
  • Pink clock Awaiting administrative action - I don't know how I managed to miss the fact that the master account isn't blocked here. Since there continuing to edit disruptively, both while logged out and using alternate accounts, please block the master account indefinitely as well. Sir Sputnik (talk) 03:43, 26 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Master is  Blocked but awaiting tags. TonyBallioni (talk) 13:28, 26 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

  • Now we're actually done. Tagging and closing. Sir Sputnik (talk) 15:26, 26 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

27 October 2017

Suspected sockpuppets

Resumption of identical unhelpful behavior (see previous case); commons:Special:Contributions/Politics123456789 uploaded an image used by the IP here on the same article mentioned in the previous case, not long after release of block on IP. Mélencron (talk) 19:54, 27 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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Agree that the IP needs to be banned too, since it now seems to constitute the bulk on unconstructive edits. Would suggest the IP be blocked indefinitely as otherwise we're creating an incentive to rotate between the IP and sockpuppet accounts. Maswimelleu (talk) 20:30, 27 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

  •  Blocked and tagged,  IP blocked. @Maswimelleu: We nearly never indef IPs, especially dynamic ones. GABgab 03:30, 28 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

28 November 2017

Suspected sockpuppets

Identical disruptive behavior/interests (adding ideologies using Google Books searches, often excessively/improperly cited/not political ideologies), e.g. on Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko (resembles Polticalswimmer1 (talk · contribs)), Pirate Party (Iceland) (resembles 67.165.17.94 (talk · contribs · WHOIS)), Yabloko (resembles 67.165.17.94 (talk · contribs · WHOIS)); see article histories for specific edits. Mélencron (talk) 21:23, 28 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

See also: Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchive967#Persistent disruptive behavior by IP 67.165.17.94 Mélencron (talk) 23:35, 28 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed to socks in the archive. Blocked, tagged, closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 16:14, 2 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

15 December 2017

Suspected sockpuppets

All IPs listed above are within the IPv6 range 2601:44:80:8332::/64; all contributions within that range since the beginning of the year appear to be from the same individual, so likely no collateral damage.

Behavior matches that described in past SPIs, with persistent edits related to Ukrainian/Russian elections and political parties, as well as to other countries', often with the edit summary "Added information" or "Added correct information" which is very often reverted by other users for introducing factual errors or being otherwise problematic; see also Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/IncidentArchive967#Persistent disruptive behavior by IP 67.165.17.94 for a description of past behavior. The IP address with which this user was previously associated, 67.165.17.94 (talk · contribs · WHOIS), was blocked for 3 months as a result of the last SPI filed. Mélencron (talk) 22:09, 15 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Requesting a procedural close as the range has been blocked for a month for disruptive behavior on Catalan politics-related articles. Mélencron (talk) 15:37, 23 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

23 December 2017

Suspected sockpuppets

This is clearly the same guy, making the same edits on the same articles using the same edit summaries. Due to the ammount of edits I'm not adding diffs, but the different accounts' contribution logs instead, which nonetheless show it matches the behaviour described in the initial report: [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] and so on. Many edits with the edit summary "Added information", very often reverted by other users for introducing factual errors or being otherwise problematic. This was already reported today here by another user, which resulted in the IP accounts from the 2601:44:80:8332/* range being blocked. However, right after the edit he seems to be using the History1245789 account to skip his block (editing Junts per Catalunya at 15:46) despite the IP accounts being blocked at 15:35. He engaged in the same disruptive behaviour that was the motive behind the block. Impru20 (talk) 16:02, 23 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Note that History1245789 has now been indefinitely blocked for being a vandalism-only account. Impru20 (talk) 18:14, 23 December 2017 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

23 January 2018

Suspected sockpuppets

IP accounts from the same IP range (2601:44:80:8332:) engaging in disruptive activity in Catalan politics-related articles (again). Again, showing in edit summary the characteristic "Added information" or "Deleted information" ([11]) when introducing factual errors and/or performing otherwise problematic edits. Again, caring little in other users reverting it. Also of noting is that this IP range was blocked for a month on 23 December 2017 as reported by user Mélencron in the 15 December 2017 case; looks like it has engaged in newly disruptive activity once the block has been lifted. The entire range should be blocked again, as blocking individual IP accounts would be worthless, as he keeps constantly changing it. Impru20 (talk) 20:59, 23 January 2018 (UTC) Impru20 (talk) 20:59, 23 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

  • The IP range is blocked. Closing. Sro23 (talk) 22:08, 23 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

05 March 2018

Suspected sockpuppets

Previously reported in the case filed on 23 January 2018, but account was not connected to English Wikipedia at the time. Identical behavior: focus on Russian politics (e.g. Communist Party of the Russian Federation and Yabloko), restoration of sock edits to Reform Party (Iceland), similarly on Parliament of Catalonia, vague edit summaries ("Added information", "Deleted information", etc.) Mélencron (talk) 12:58, 5 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Aside from the evidence provided by Mélencron, also take as evidence the "1234" numbering in the account's name, mirrorring what already seems a common practice for usernames of previous socks. Impru20 (talk) 13:21, 5 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

03 May 2018

Suspected sockpuppets

Similar focus on politics of Ukraine/Russia/Israel (see first few edits), generic edit summaries ("Added information/Deleted information"), additions/deletions of political ideologies within infoboxes, username follows patterns of previous accounts Mélencron (talk) 18:20, 3 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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  • Comment I was about to open a new SPI before noticing there was one open already. User seems to be very active on Catalan-related articles, which mirrors previously seen behaviour. Same evidence as provided by Mélencron: mostly generic edit summaries with the distinct "added/deleted information" summary, very aggresive editing behaviour, focus on parliamentary and government articles, username following similar patterns of previous accounts (i.e. Disneylover1234, Swimminglover1 or the pattern of various accounts of using a "12...9" numbering). Looks like WP:DUCK. Impru20talk 15:58, 26 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

  • Pink clock Awaiting administrative action - Per evidence provided. Please indef sock. Sro23 (talk) 01:33, 30 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]
  •  Blocked and tagged. NinjaRobotPirate (talk) 05:10, 30 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]

07 June 2018

Suspected sockpuppets

WP:DUCK (restoration of sock edits on National Assembly (France), focus on Ukrainian/Russian politics, generic username matches previous accounts Mélencron (talk) 04:15, 7 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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As per Mélencron. Further evidence would be:
  1. All user's edits tagged as Mobile edit, Mobile web edit, a similar pattern as seen for previous socks.
  2. User account created on 5 June 2018, right a few days after a previous sock, Pizzalover12, was blocked (on 30 May).
  3. Persistent interactions with edits from previous socks: Pizzalover12, Smartcreative1234, Disneylover1234, Polticalswimmer1 as well as several IP accounts.
  4. User has tried to blank this SPI. This is similar to a previous sock (Polticalswimmer1) also attempting to erase a SPI on him.
  5. User has personally tried to contact another an admin who has been involved in previous SPIs on Branflakes452701, Vanjagenije, to try to seek help to reject this SPI. This is similar to a previous personal address made by Pizzalover12 in my talk page on 27 May, where he suddenly reverted some of his edits I had contested in Parliament of Catalonia and stated to me that "I hope that our disagreement didn’t cause anything to happen". In that case, that came right after I had brought evidence to the SPI on Pizzalover12 on 26 May. Impru20talk 11:23, 7 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

  •  Additional information needed - @Mélencron: In order to facilitate and expedite your request, please provide diffs to support your case. Please give two or more diffs meeting the following format:
  1. At least one diff is from the sockmaster (or an account already blocked as a confirmed sockpuppet of the sockmaster), showing the behaviour characteristic of the sockmaster.
  2. At least one diff per suspected sockpuppet, showing the suspected sockpuppet emulating the behaviour of the sockmaster given in the first diff.
  3. In situations where it is not immediately obvious from the diffs what the characteristic behaviour is, a short explanation must be provided. Around one sentence is enough for this. Vanjagenije (talk) 12:23, 7 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

26 July 2018

Suspected sockpuppets


Similar focus on Ukraine/Russia/Israel/Slovenia/Turkey politics as previous accounts as well as high level of interaction with previous socks (Partyfan1, Pizzalover12, Smartcreative1234, History1245789, Disneylover1234 or Branflakes452701; this is specially notorious in the case of Partyfan1 and Pizzalover12, the latest confirmed socks). All edits tagged as "Mobile edit, Mobile web edit" as previous accounts. Note that the account's first edit was on 14:39, 8 June 2018, right after the block of the last confirmed sock, Partyfan1, on 15:13, 7 June 2018. An analysis on some of the interactions show the account either expanding or amending content added/edited by previous accounts, including (but not limited to) the following edits:

Some of the previously notable behavioural parameters have changed (username no longer matches previous accounts and has stopped commenting the "added/deleted information" into edit summaries), but this could be due to the repeated investigations showing these as evidence motivating a change in behaviour in order to disguise it. Nonetheless, the amount of evidence would make it desirable for a confirmation on whether this is a sock account or not. Impru20talk 16:39, 26 July 2018 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed, blocked, tagged, closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 17:04, 26 July 2018 (UTC)[reply]

29 July 2018

Suspected sockpuppets


Looks like a duck, related to a previous report on 26 July. Account was created at 22:11, 28 July 2018, shortly after the previous confirmed sock account, Social Studies Rules, was blocked at 17:01, 26 July 2018 (note that this in itself is a pattern similar to other previous accounts). It has immediately started editing two of the same articles that were previously edited by Social Studies Rules: National Assembly (Slovenia) and Slovenian National Party; worth noting is that one of the account's first edits was to party re-establish and expand on one of the previous account's edits at National Assembly (Slovenia) (diff1 diff2). Interaction with Social Studies Rules is virtually 100% of the new account's edits so far ([16]). Also note that these do not seem to be edits conducted by a newbie, as they are very specific and precocious, and that it looks as if the user had it very clear what to edit and how. Also follows similar pattern of previous accounts of editing entirely on mobile. Confirmation from a CheckUser would be appreciated.

By the way, it has been nearly one year already with at least 6 confirmed socks and a further 5 suspected and blocked ones, and from continuous evidence and the user's well-known persistence we can guess out that this will not end anytime soon. I am wondering whether a report at WP:LTA should be filled as well. Impru20talk 12:59, 29 July 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Note that further edits from the account as of 14:26, 29 July 2018 (UTC) (diff diff) confirm focus on Central/East European politics (Slovakia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Hungary...), similarly to some of the previous accounts. Impru20talk 14:26, 29 July 2018 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

07 August 2018

Suspected sockpuppets


Again, account created immediately following a previous block (account created at 21:40, 4 August 2018; latest confirmed socks blocked at 23:18, 30 July 2018 and 23:19, 30 July 2018). Again the mobile edits and the focus on Central/Eastern Europe politics, with a special focus on Slovenia. Editing patterns clearly show that they are too precocious for a newbie, showing a similar behaviour as previous socks: among others, that of editing parties' ideologies with poor sources as well as the party composition of parliamentary assemblies (diff1 diff2), as well as showing a similar formatting of refs as previous socks (diff1 diff2). Note that with a low editing history as of yet they have several interactions already with the edits of various socks: namely Social Studies Rules, Partyfan1 and Disneylover1234.

Given previous confirmed sockpuppetry abuse and the duck signs in here, CU confirmation would be appreciated. Impru20talk 17:14, 7 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed, blocked and tagged. @Impru20: Being a duck is not a good justification for requesting a CU. Please keep that in mind in the future. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 18:51, 8 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

11 August 2018

Suspected sockpuppets


As per WP:DUCK, with exact same patterns as explained in latest reports: account created only a few days after last block, mobile edits, knows exactly where to edit and how and focuses on Slovenian politics (specifically, Slovenian government formation, a topic in which latest socks had been involved as well). Multiple interactions with previous socks: Fishing2018, The Greatness of Public Speaking, Social Studies Rules or Partyfan1. Of noting is that the user claims to like Real Madrid and soccer (check both username and user page), but all of their edits are focused on Slovenian politics. Note that CU have in the past found additional undetected sleep accounts that had went unnoticed (here). Impru20talk 22:03, 11 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

  •  Blocked and tagged. GABgab 00:46, 12 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

15 August 2018

Suspected sockpuppets


WP:DUCK. Similar editing style and focus: mobile edits, adding of poorly sourced information on political party articles, focus on Eastern countries politics and very precocious editing. Interactions match with previous socks Fishing2018, Social Studies Rules and Pizzalover12. There is also a noticeable pattern similar to recent sock accounts of creating a blank user page very shortly after creation.

Aside from this, I'm requesting a CU due to a previous investigation detecting an unspotted account created to evade an incoming block (check it here), and also because the account of The Olympian of Sports was created at 22:20, 11 August 2018, which means that it was created right before the previous sock was blocked (at 00:46, 12 August 2018), but after the previous SPI was filled (at 22:03, 11 August 2018). A CU would possibly detect any account created as an attempt to circumvent any block resulting from the SPI. Impru20talk 19:58, 15 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

  • I'm adding Krosklo to the list as well so that someone may confirm whether this account could be related either to The Olympian of Sports or to any of the socks in the archive. I'm not 100% sure that they are the same, but I just spotted this amount of evidence which raised some serious suspicions to me:
  1. Krosklo is the original creator of the Strength is in Unity (coalition) article at 09:03, 18 July 2018. The article was then moved by an uninvolved user to draft space as undersourced, but then it was recovered, worked on and re-submitted for creation by The Olympian of Sports (diff). The Olympian of Sports has also worked on previous articles created by Krosklo: State for the People (diff1 diff2) and New Georgia (political party) (diff1 diff2).
  2. This behaviour of improving on some of Krosklo's creations has been mirrored by two confirmed socks: namely Social Studies Rules, who did it at Alliance of Patriots of Georgia (diff1 diff2) and Pizzalover12 at New Political Center — Girchi (diff1 diff2). This has also happened the other way around (i.e. an article created by Pizzalover12 on a Georgian party, Georgian March, saw Krosklo later creating an article on that party's leader (diff), then adding the link to the article (diff). Also note how Georgian March has also been edited by Social Studies Rules and The Olympian of Sports).
  3. All edits by Krosklo are, similarly, mobile edits. Focus of editing seems to be Georgian politics, which is one (though not the only one) of the topic areas frequented by previous sockpuppets.
  4. Most suspicious of all is the timing of Krosklo's editing activity with that of several socks. The account was somewhat active throughout 2016 and early 2017, but there was a long period without activity between 13 January 2017 and 5 September 2017 (aside from two isolated edits in June 2017) and then from 18 September 2017 to 14 June 2018. The current sockmaster account, Branflakes452701, was created on 17 July 2017, but stopped editing on 29 July 2017 after being imposed a 2 week-block. On 30 July 2017, a new sock account, Politicalswimmer1, was created, which endured until being blocked on 10 August 2017. On 5 September 2017, Krosklo started editing again, until being blocked for 1 month on 18 September 2017 due to copyright violations. A new sock, Swimmer123456789, was created on 21 September 2017, until blocked on 30 September. The period spanning from there until Krosklo's re-activation in June/July this year was full of SPIs on a large amount of sock accounts being created.
  5. Krosklo's last period of activity is concurrent in time with one of the sockpuppets, Social Studies Rules. Their interactions are limited, but interesting: on Alliance of Patriots of Georgia, Krosklo was seemingly involved on a promotional copyvio issue on late May 2016. I cannot see the diffs in the history because these have been deleted, but according to the edit reverting such promotional copyvio, it had something to do with the www.patriot.ge website. Then, on July 2018, Social Studies Rules makes several edits adding a lot of references... with many of them happening to be from that same website (diff).
  6. Finally, the Krosklo account has existed since 13 December 2015, much earlier than Branflakes452701's creation at 17 July 2017. Interestingly enough, Branflakes' editing history, being brief but precocious, mirrors the one of a sockpuppet, not that of a sockmaster. The amount of sock activity that we have seen from this person so far could very well hint at previous, yet undetected, sock activity. It would be possible for Branflakes to be yet another sock and not the sockmaster, who would be elsewhere.
While Krosklo's behaviour differs somewhat from what we have seen so far on this SPI (most specially, because it would mean that there is a relatively quiet and unblocked account coexisting with the never-ending preocious sockpuppets), I think this is too much evidence to be regarded as mere coincidence. However, I am puzzled: in the event that these were all the same person, it would mean that the Krosklo account has repeteadly avoided detection by CU. In the event that these were different people, then I'm intrigued at this degree of coordination between Krosklo and some of the socks without any on-wiki direct interaction. Impru20talk 22:32, 15 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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  • Ha, I was just coming here to report the same user completely independently of the above report. It has their editing pattern (including the blank user page) written all over it, especially given their second-ever edit was something very similar to what Social Studies Rule had been edit warring over before being identified as being a sock. Number 57 21:40, 15 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
    • I would be mildly surprised if Krosklo was the same user (I repeatedly dealt with their copyright violations, and ended up blocking them for it in September last year). Unlike SSR, who responded (aggressively) to comments, Krolko never once commented on any form of talk page. Number 57 22:40, 15 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
      • @Number 57: I was about to contact you on your talk after checking Krosklo's talk page (which incidentally led me to this), then I saw this. I was also initially surprised at this hypothesis precisely because of the account's behaviour, but I then kept digging further and discovered enough evidence of a potential coordination to, at least, bring this here so that someone else could confirm it or not. Impru20talk 22:59, 15 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
      • In this case, I think a courtesy notice in Krosklo's talk page about this SPI would proceed, so that they have a chance to defend themselves and/or expose their arguments if they wish to. Impru20talk 23:07, 15 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
  • @Bbb23: Just wondering why The Olympian of Sports hasn't been blocked after being confirmed as a sock? Cheers, Number 57 08:33, 21 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

The following accounts are  Confirmed related:

The following accounts are Red X Unrelated to the above accounts:

By the way, adding "WP:DUCK" to the start of the report doesn't really add anything useful. It's best if you stick to the actual information. --Deskana (talk) 16:35, 19 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Deskana: If I had my way, the duck essay would be deleted. I hate reports that say duck over and over again. BTW, I removed the unregistered account from your list.--Bbb23 (talk) 17:04, 19 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
@Bbb23: That unregistered account showed up in the check. I noticed it was unregistered, and since renamed accounts often show up like that in checks I looked at the global rename log but didn't see anything there, so I listed it here for safety's sake. Do you know why it was there? I agree with you about the essay, by the way. :-) --Deskana (talk) 19:18, 19 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
@Deskana: It's not uncommon for unregistered (and not renamed) accounts to show up in the check. It just means the user started the process of registration but didn't complete it. I believe this happens when the user does the first of the two steps but not the second.--Bbb23 (talk) 19:23, 19 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I prefer not to do the blocking when I've run the check as a separation of powers, but the account started editing again, so I blocked both accounts indefinitely. The case is now resolved. --Deskana (talk) 08:51, 21 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

28 August 2018

Suspected sockpuppets


New account that starts editing Georgian presidential election, 2018 where the last sock, User:The Olympian of Sports, left off. Another behavioural trait of this sockmaster is creating a blank userpage, which Snowflakes Winter has already done (see another previous sock User:Social Studies Rules). Number 57 21:50, 28 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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I am joining Number 57's concerns. Editing pattern looks similar, with the all-mobile editing all over again as well as the account being created shortly after the previous SPI resulted in the blocking of two other accounts. Also, check interactions with The Olympian of Sports. Impru20talk 09:43, 31 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

19 September 2018

Suspected sockpuppets

Username pattern + over lap and edit warring here and here CHRISSYMAD ❯❯❯¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 19:55, 19 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed + Loving Dragons (talk+ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki). Blocked, tagged, closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 23:58, 19 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]


20 September 2018

Suspected sockpuppets


As with The Smart Mind, obsessed with assigning ideologies to right-wing groups. Edit warring on the same article. ​ Bradv 00:07, 20 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

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Doesn't seem to have any behavioral resemblance to me – possibly a second sockpuppeteer. Mélencron (talk) 15:04, 7 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Agree with this one. Could be another sockpuppeteer, but does not resemble previous behaviour seen in this SPI. Impru20talk 15:13, 7 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

Closing with no further action.--Bbb23 (talk) 15:20, 21 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

28 September 2018

Suspected sockpuppets


Similar editing behaviour, all-mobile edits, focus on legislative assemblies' infoboxes ([17] [18]), most noticeably those of East European countries or ongoing elections. Interactions with The Smart Mind (involving a similar edit at Riksdag, [19] [20]) and, noticeably, with House of Gingerbread (with similar edits as well: [21] [22] [23], [24] [25]). Account created at 11:41, 24 September 2018, shortly after two other socks had been blocked ([26] [27]). The username pattern also looks similar to the most recent sockpuppets (involving very short sentences, typically built around nouns and/or adjectives). Impru20talk 15:37, 28 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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Attempts to add green liberalism as an ideology/edits to Alliance 90/The Greens also line up with past behavior: see [28][29] and compare to behavior of previous socks on Reform Party (Iceland) as one example. Mélencron (talk) 15:17, 21 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed, blocked, tagged, closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 15:34, 21 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

28 October 2018

Suspected sockpuppets

Overlaps with recent activity by Flags and Capitals (talk · contribs) and Social Studies Rules (talk · contribs) on Turkish political articles, Movement for Change (Greece), focus on recent elections as with most other socks, continued edits to Russian political articles like United Russia (matches House of Gingerbread (talk · contribs) as well here) Mélencron (talk) 19:30, 28 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims. Behavioural patterns also match those of previous socks: all-mobile edits, account created shortly after blocking of previous sock, as well as similar edits on a number of pages (particularly, Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick: this and this). They also created a blank userpage, mirroring a behaviour noticed in some of the previous accounts. Impru20talk 20:19, 28 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

04 November 2018

Suspected sockpuppets

Newly-created account updating the composition of legislative bodies to reflect the eventual formation of governments after recent elections, as similar to the behavior of much earlier socks on Bundestag (67.165.17.94 (talk · contribs · WHOIS) and Swimminglover1 (talk · contribs)), Parliament of Catalonia (as Pizzalover12 (talk · contribs)), etc. Circumstantial evidence also suggests that their edit summaries are similar to those of other recently-created and blocked socks. Mélencron (talk) 04:49, 4 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed, blocked, tagged, closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 21:21, 18 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]


16 November 2018

Suspected sockpuppets

New user with almost identical editing patterns to previous socks (focus on Israeli politics articles, return to editing recent election-related articles especially in Europe, similar username pattern to other reported sock in open SPI). Mélencron (talk) 00:19, 16 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

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I must agree with both this and the previous report; the all mobile edits and editing patterns are similar. Further, it looks like they did spot the previous report on Moderate Right, as the account stopped all activity just before it was reported as a sockpuppet. There are interactions with Flags and Capitals, The Smart Mind and The Olympian of Sports which seem to imply a continuity in editing. Impru20talk 20:51, 18 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed, blocked, tagged, closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 21:21, 18 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

03 January 2019

Suspected sockpuppets


Suspiciously precocious editing for an account created only on 29 December, with several edits on articles previously edited by other Branflakes' socks (particularly Social Studies Rules) or with a similar focus (most notably Israeli politics, such as noted for Conservative King). This also includes an apparent knowledge on how to upload files to Commons ([30]), all of which involving direct uploads from parliament tool just as performed by previous socks ([31] [32] [33], etc). The all-mobile edits and the particular naming style, as well as a pattern of updating the composition of legislative bodies (as seen for Knesset, Parliament of Andalusia, United States House of Representatives or United States Senate) or the editing of political party articles with a focus on infoboxes (as seen for Israel Resilience Party, New Right (Israel), Israeli Labor Party or the creation of the Telem (Israeli political party) article) also match previously-seen patterns. Impru20talk 19:36, 3 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

  •  Confirmed, blocked, tagged, closing. Bbb23 (talk) 19:50, 3 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

16 January 2019

Suspected sockpuppets


All mobile edits; precocious editing (clearly knowing what to edit and how), with similar editing patterns and topical focus as seen in previous socks (party politics and legislative body composition-related edits, with a special mention to ongoing events, such as the recent government formation processes in Sweden and Andalusia); account created at 13:43, 4 January 2019 (previous sock blocked shortly before at 19:50, 3 January 2019. Other specifics:

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed, blocked, tagged, closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 23:32, 16 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

20 January 2019

Suspected sockpuppets


All mobile edits again; all edits up to now focus on legislative bodies composition, be it through the editing of political party articles or in the parliament articles themselves ([36]). Most notably, the account took off from Riksdag, one of the articles where the previous account had been active only a few days previously, focusing on same areas as Election Vote ([37])). The account was created at 15:23, 17 January 2019 just a couple hours after the blocking of Election Vote at 23:31, 16 January 2019. Impru20talk 23:02, 20 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

21 February 2019

Suspected sockpuppets


All mobile edits, similar cryptic naming style, heavy focus on articles for parliamentary houses, political parties and ongoing elections (check contributions), account created when a previous SPI was open and shortly before it the previous reported sock account blocked (account creation log, previous SPI). They have also uploaded parliamentary diagrams (check), under a similar style than those uploaded by previous socks (take this as an example). User has also created a blank user page, mirroring a behaviour seen in some of the previous accounts when they were not spotted soon enough. Recently, it has focused on the 2019 Israeli legislative election article, one of the most popular articles edited by some of the most recent socks (namely, Libertarian Wing, Flags and Capitals and Social Studies Rules; the latter of which, one of the most prolific socks in terms of edit count, became involved in other Israeli politics-related articles shortly before its blocking (check contributions)). Impru20talk 13:49, 21 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed, blocked, tagged, closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 14:05, 21 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

25 February 2019

Suspected sockpuppets


Account created at 22:58, 22 February 2019, shortly after the blocking of the previous sock at 14:04, 21 February 2019; all mobile edits, similar cryptic naming style, as well as the typical heavy focus on articles for parliamentary houses, political parties and ongoing elections (contributions). Plus, the account has basically continued with the editing activity conducted by the previous account, with a particular focus on the ongoing 2019 Moldovan parliamentary election (take this close interaction activity). Impru20talk 20:17, 25 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Further, just to have it recorded for the sake of any possible future incidence, the user has exhibited some similar behaviour as previous accounts when directly confronted by others on their edits at their own talk page. While most of the time the accounts have tried to avoid any direct confrontation with anyone, once it happens the user typically resorts to deleting the comments/warnings/etc posted at their talk page: this can compare to this, this, this or this. Impru20talk 20:34, 25 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

Iceberg Pole is  Confirmed to Libertarian Wing and Democracy Always Wins.  Blocked and tagged.
 — Berean Hunter (talk) 17:15, 26 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

30 March 2019

Suspected sockpuppets


Same behaviour as previously reported for other accounts: all mobile edits, recently-created yet clearly precocious account ([38] [39]), focus on articles related to political parties (with a special interest in parliamentary strength, [40] [41] [42]) and ongoing elections (currently focused on 2019 Ukrainian presidential election and 2019 Slovak presidential election), similar cryptic naming style as previous accounts, as well as near-immediate creation of a blank user page (this is similar to behaviour seen in some confirmed socks). It also looks like the account is attempting canvassing in order to influence the outcome of a discussion at Talk:2019 Ukrainian presidential election#Petro Poroshenko color ([43]), after trying to overrule consensus there by unilaterally imposing their own edits ([44]). Impru20talk 23:00, 30 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

  •  Blocked and tagged, closing. Sro23 (talk) 01:11, 31 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]

18 April 2019

Suspected sockpuppets

Similar behaviour to the last blocked sockpuppet – obsession with parliamentary strength[45][46][47] and ongoing elections, plus the creation of a blank userpage. Number 57 20:34, 19 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed to each other and to the master via Congressional Man, Euroleader1 and Iceberg Pole

 Blocked and tagged
 — Berean Hunter (talk) 01:49, 20 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]

19 May 2019

Suspected sockpuppets

WP:DUCK; newly-registered account reflecting the exact same types of behaviors as past socks (very consistent focus on recent/future elections, e.g. 2019 Austrian legislative election/2019 Austrian legislative election, repeated attempts to reinstate erroneous information despite reverts/explanations from other editors as consistent with similarly disruptive behavior in the case archive Mélencron (talk) 20:02, 19 May 2019 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed plus Freedom and Prosperity (talk+ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki).  Blocked and tagged.
 — Berean Hunter (talk) 01:06, 22 May 2019 (UTC)[reply]

28 July 2019

Suspected sockpuppets

Another WP:DUCK with behaviour matching previous Branflakes socks – creation of a blank user page, one of the first edits was on a Catalan politics-related article, followed by the usual parliamentary strength-type edits. All edits are mobile web ones, etc etc. Pinging Berean Hunter as the closer of the last few reports on this sockmaster. Number 57 19:26, 28 July 2019 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed to the socks in the archive.  Blocked and tagged.
 — Berean Hunter (talk) 20:07, 28 July 2019 (UTC)[reply]

12 August 2019

Suspected sockpuppets

Another WP:DUCK with behaviour matching previous Branflakes socks – nonsense username, parliamentary strength obsession, all edits are mobile web ones, etc etc. Pinging Berean Hunter as the closer of the last few reports on this sockmaster. Number 57 20:21, 12 August 2019 (UTC)[reply]

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I don’t understand why you do this. I have waited patiently for my block to end and when it ended I edited Wikipedia again and then I was blocked again for no reason. Why do you keep doing this? When can I edit Wikipedia peacefully without getting blocked. I keep making accounts because you keep blocking me for no reason. I wait for my block to end and then I edit and then I get blocked again. When can I edit Wikipedia in peace? - Realm Table (talk) 20:51, 12 August 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@Realm Table: You did not wait patiently for your block to end. You were blocked for two weeks on 29 July 2017. You then created Polticalswimmer1 (talk · contribs) and started editing from that account the next day.
If you are serious about wanting to edit properly, then you need to request an unblock from your original account. Number 57 12:03, 13 August 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 Confirmed,  Blocked and tagged.
 — Berean Hunter (talk) 14:28, 13 August 2019 (UTC)[reply]

9 March 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Another WP:DUCK with behaviour matching previous Branflakes socks – creation of a blank user page, followed by the usual parliamentary strength-type edits. All edits are mobile web ones, etc etc. Pinging Berean Hunter as the closer of the last few reports on this sockmaster. Number 57 02:17, 9 March 2020 (UTC)[reply]

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I’m sorry, but when I last edited Wikipedia, I wouldn’t and I didn’t violate the block that was placed last month and I waited till my expiration date, which ended yesterday and then edited again and now I’m getting blocked again. I create multiple accounts because I get blocked constantly and I waited till my block was finished. When can I start to edit normally without being blocked constantly. When will this stop, I’m serious about editing Wikipedia and I’m willing to follow the rules to not get blocked, but even when I edit normally, I still get blocked. When can I edit Wikipedia in peace? Please tell me and I will obey.- FellowFly (talk) 05:19, 9 March 2020 (UTC)[reply]

You would have had to request an unblock from your original account instead of keeping creating new ones; however, this would have been valid had you not been creating sockpuppets from almost three years as of now, as I am not sure any admin would have any reason to accept such an unblock request in this situation. Further, considering that your blocks were due to behavioural concers which only keep growing because of the persistent sockpuppetry, you may be well beyond any chance of redemption now. Not sure if the standard offer could apply, but surely not through such a blatant sockpuppetry. Impru20talk 10:27, 9 March 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

  •  Confirmed,  Blocked and tagged ST47 (talk) 12:08, 9 March 2020 (UTC)[reply]

14 March 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Same focus of edits as Branflakes; parliamentary strength,[48][49][50], parliamentary diagrams,[51] recent elections, all edits are mobile web edits, etc.

Also seems to be active as Magical Bottle (talk · contribs) (who has created the standard Branflakes blank userpage) – the IP is adding images created by Magical Bottle on Commons (like adding this image four minutes after it was created). Magical Bottle has also reverted changes to an image added by the most recent Branflakes sock, FellowFly).[52] Number 57 19:30, 14 March 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Pinging Berean Hunter as the closer of the last few reports on this sockmaster. Number 57 19:31, 14 March 2020 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

Magical Bottle is  Confirmed and blocked without tags. Closing.--Bbb23 (talk) 23:56, 15 March 2020 (UTC)[reply]

18 May 2020

Suspected sockpuppets


Usual obsession with parliamentary strength,[53][54] with particular focus on Spain[55][56] and Israel[57][58] (including Israeli political parties – returning to many of the articles that the last identified sock (an IP) was editing). Many of the edits are mobile web edits. Number 57 08:56, 18 May 2020 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

10 June 2020

Suspected sockpuppets


Usual obsession with parliamentary strength, both on articles on legislatures[59][60] and political parties.[61][62] and a focus on Israel. All edits are Mobile web edits. Number 57 14:35, 10 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

  • Behaviourally, they are identical to Branflakes. I wonder whether they are just editing from a new location? Number 57 11:47, 11 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

  • Red X Unrelated on a technical level. Location and UA make it really unlikely that this is the same individual as before. Maxim(talk) 20:21, 10 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]
  • Closing per the above. TheSandDoctor Talk 04:12, 19 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

03 February 2021

Suspected sockpuppets


The usual obssession with parliamentary strength[63]][64][65][66] and Israeli politics (most recent edits), plus all edits being mobile web edits. Number 57 23:23, 3 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

  • As they've admitted to being a Branflakes sock,[67] I've blocked them. Number 57 09:11, 5 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

17 February 2021

Suspected sockpuppets


Usual obsession with Israeli politics, parliamentary strength[68][69][70] and a some clear overlap with another recently uncovered sock, Bluegrass35 (talk · contribs). Almost all edits are Mobile web edits, which is also standard for Branflakes socks.

Note that Branflakes recently requested an unban, which was rejected an WP:AN due to their continued socking. Number 57 14:56, 17 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

  • Number 57 I'd like to ask you please stop requesting a CU be run on this account. Closing with no action given the technical evidence. Sro23 (talk) 03:44, 14 March 2021 (UTC)[reply]

13 July 2021

Suspected sockpuppets


Behaviour suggests this is a Branflakes sock, including multiple reverts on a current election article in a short time period (reported for 3RR breach here), all edits being mobile web edits, use of urls in edit summaries etc. Username is also similar to one of Branflakes' previous socks (User:FellowFly) and this does not appear to be a new user. Number 57 15:00, 13 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

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