Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Mapalazoo/Archive

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

31 October 2012

Suspected sockpuppets

• 167.29.4.150 (talk⁺ · tag · contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RBLs · proxy check · block user · spi block · block log · cross-wiki contribs · CheckUser (log))

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I haven't seen a user who has exhibited these exact traits before so I don't have a specific user to compare this to, but this user is exhibiting a lot of activity usually seen by socks. Mapalazoo made this comment to the feedback dashboard. He later made a similar comment on Ironholds' talk page where he claimed to be a new user. On his talk page he made comments asking questions about speedy deletion where he showed knowledge of DB-A7 that many new users don't have, but asked the question in the way to hide his knowledge. He later asked what an edit conflict was. All of this would be fine, except he recently transcluded an RfA where he claimed to have previously edited under an unnamed account and had written a Featured Article. If that was legitimately true, he would have immediately made some connection to the account and would have known all of the information that he asked about. The behavior that many socks exhibit and Mapalazoo is also exhibiting is behavior where a sockpuppet acts like a new user in order to obscure their knowledge of Wikipedia.

I added the IP address because the user has used the IP at least once [1] and it might help in finding the master. Ryan Vesey 21:51, 31 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I will note that the user has made a claim of using a clean start for safety reason and outing of his previous account [2]. This might be a reason against checkuser, I'll let a clerk or CU evaluate that. Ryan Vesey 21:54, 31 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I'm withdrawing my own CU request per the statement of the user about possible physical danger, but I wouldn't be opposed to a more experienced person at SPI or a clerk to reinstate a CU request. Ryan Vesey 21:59, 31 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I apologize for the seemingly endless edits by me here, but I would like to clarify that I am withdrawing the CU request solely to be extremely cautious in regards to personal danger. The information shown there makes me even more certain that this user is a sock of someone and I believe that the behavioral evidence here alone is enough to prove this is a sock. Ryan Vesey 22:02, 31 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

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

• Vesey, shush! Do not attempt to outhink the Checkuser. If I think this chap is at genuine risk, I am of course not going to post anything here. Elen of the Roads (talk) 22:20, 31 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]
• On hold. Need to follow something up. Elen of the Roads (talk) 22:54, 31 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

• I have blocked the Mapalazoo account, as its behaviour is just too hinky for someone trying to avoid a stalker. If he would care to provide myself or BASC some more information about this supposed previous account, the matter can be looked at further. --Elen of the Roads (talk) 01:34, 4 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]