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The suspected sock puppets page is where Wikipedians discuss if a fellow Wikipedian has violated Wikipedia's policy on sock puppets. Cases on this page are evaluated primarily on the basis of behavioral evidence, and the editors and administrators who look at the reports typically do not have the ability to determine what IP addresses Wikipedia editors are using. If you believe your case requires an IP check, please go to requests for checkuser.

Sometimes users who appear to work with a common agenda are not sockpuppets (one user, multiple accounts), but multiple users editing with the sole purpose of backing each other up, often called "meatpuppets." Meatpuppets are not regular Wikipedians who happen to agree with each other; they are accounts set up by separate individuals for the sole purpose of supporting one another. For the purposes of upholding policy, Wikipedia does not distinguish between meatpuppets and sockpuppets. Please see Wikipedia:Sock puppetry.

Contents

Administrators

Administrators, please see Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets/Administrators for detailed instructions about how to determine sockpuppets, archiving, etc. for editing here at Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets (WP:SSP).

Reporting suspected sock puppets

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Caution
Before creating a report at Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets (WP:SSP), please be sure that:
  1. The problem is current; if the suspected sock puppets have not edited recently, the case will likely be closed as stale. If the problem is not ongoing, just watch the user and report when you see a new instance of abuse.
  2. You have strong evidence. If your evidence is weak, then it will be nearly impossible to reach a determination of sockpuppetry. All your statements should be supported by diffs.
  3. The sockpuppet account you suspect is not already blocked.
  4. The sockpuppet account you suspect is not already reported. Look through open SSP cases for usernames frequently associated with your suspect. Both older and newer cases, many of whose accounts are now blocked, show up in the categories for sockpuppeteers, sockpuppets, and suspected sockpuppets.
  1. Assume good faith, if possible. An alternate account that is not used for abuse does not warrant a complaint. Keep in mind that users may sometimes make mistakes, so in cases where an alternate account is largely used for legitimate activities, it may be appropriate to ask the user before making accusations. The problem might merely have been caused by a mistaken login or other absent-mindedness.
  2. Fill in the names. Clicking "Start a case" with a new case name-or-number opens a fresh page, with a form ready to be filled in. The puppetmaster's name will be automatically filled in as the filename; if this is not correct, due to added numbers like "(2nd)", replace the {{SUBPAGENAME}} tags with the puppetmaster's username. Also replace the placeholder names SOCKPUPPET1 and SOCKPUPPET2 with the account names of the suspected puppets; add or delete these lines as needed. Always leave out the "User:" prefix.
  3. Make your case. Now write up your evidence in the "Evidence" section. This should describe why you believe there's puppetry occurring, however obvious it might be. If this is not the first time the user is suspected, links to other cases you know about should be provided as well. The evidence should point to one or more instances of illegitimate use of the puppet account. Include the diffs to support your statements. Sign and timestamp your case with ~~~~ on the line below "Report submission by"; preview your report for any problems; and, when you're satisfied, save it.
    To start a case report about suspected sockpuppetry:

    Cases are created on subpages of Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets.
    To do so, add the username of the puppetmaster (the main account, not the sockpuppet!) -- and the number of the case, "(2nd)", "(3rd)", etc., if there were previous cases on that username -- into the box below.
    Leave out the "User:" prefix. Replace only the word PUPPETMASTER, leaving the rest as is.

    Example: if there were already two cases about User:John Doe, the new case would be titled:
    Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets/John Doe (3rd)

    Then click "Start a case". You will be taken to a page where you can fill out the report.
    After you've saved the report, come back to see the remaining instructions below this box.


  4. List your case for review in the WP:SSP open cases section here. Add the line {{Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets/PUPPETMASTER}} (or PUPPETMASTER (2nd) or PUPPETMASTER (3rd), etc.) at the top of the list, just below the section header. (Again, remember to replace PUPPETMASTER with the actual account name, without the "User:" prefix.) Save your edit. Check to see that your report shows up at the top of the list, just below the "Open cases" header. If there's only a red link, check that the spelling of the username and the number match the filename you created.
  5. Notify the suspected users. Edit the user talk pages (not the user pages) of the suspected sockpuppeteer and sock puppets to add the text {{subst:socksuspectnotice|1=PUPPETMASTER}} ~~~~ at the bottom of the talk page. If this is not the first time the user is suspected, the most recent evidence page should be specified by adding "(2nd)" or "(3rd)", etc., after the user's name: {{subst:socksuspectnotice|1=PUPPETMASTER (2nd)}} ~~~~ or similar.
  6. Consequences. If the evidence shows a case of clear abuse, with no serious doubt, an administrator may block any sockpuppets, and take further action against the puppetmaster. In less severe cases, administrators may quietly monitor the account's activities.
  7. Checking further. In some cases, where there is significant abuse and yet puppetry is not certain, it might be appropriate to use technical means to detect puppetry. See Requests for checkuser (WP:RFCU) for details.


Open cases

User:Azdpetratarawsanata

Suspected sockpuppeteer


Suspected sockpuppets

Azdpetratarawsanata (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Petrasantatarawnazdy (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Tarawazdypetrasanta (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)


Report submission by Санта Клаус (talk) 19
25, 19 July 2008 (UTC)


Evidence

Three sock puppets courtesy of the Arabic Wikipedia. Participated in edit warring the article. The owner is too limited to come up with better usernames (being a sockpuppet he thinks some established users on ar wp belong to the same user which explains the anthological usernames). Санта Клаус (talk) 19:25, 19 July 2008 (UTC)


Comments


Conclusions


User:Jvolkblum (14th)

Suspected sockpuppeteer

Jvolkblum (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log · rfcu)

Suspected sockpuppets

Smirktacular (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Jenny Peattie (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Kroywen (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
75.125.166.28 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
216.12.206.14 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

BARBRADY (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Mothergracie (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
A La Kawa (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Der-kinder (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)
Winebrand (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

CavalierInc. (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Collier Strong 08 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

NYlocalhistorian (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)


Report submission by

Orlady (talk) 18:33, 19 July 2008 (UTC)

Evidence

All of these users have edited primarily or exclusively in articles that have been foci of attention for banned user Jvolkblum and associated socks (see prior sockpuppet cases for background). Smirktacular and the IP users have edited primarily or exclusively to restore deleted material contributed by Jvolkblum socks (the Jvolkblum material had been deleted by BlueAzure). Jenny Peattie's sole edit was the addition of an unsourced trivial fact to the New Rochelle article (similar to much of Jvolkblum's work). Kroywen's two edits were similar changes to the articles on Sarah Lawrence College and the Ursuline School (both also pet articles of Jvolkblum).

Recent activity from several other IPs is also suggestive of Jvolkblum, but the IPs listed here seem the most likely to be socks.

Checkuser results

Checkuser confirmed Smirktacular, Jenny Peattie, and Kroywen as Jvolkblum socks, along with User:BARBRADY, an account that has not yet edited. --Orlady (talk) 20:06, 19 July 2008 (UTC)

Additional checkuser findings list User:Mothergracie, User:A La Kawa, User:Der-kinder, and User:Winebrand. --Orlady (talk) 20:39, 19 July 2008 (UTC)

I added the 5 additional socks from rfcu to the list. --Orlady (talk) 20:42, 19 July 2008 (UTC)

More additions to the report

I have added User:CavalierInc. to the list. This user's edit history consists of recreating a deleted Jvolkblum article {Premium Point, New Rochelle) under a new title (Premium Point, New York) and editing the link to that article in Jvolkblum's New Rochelle template. --Orlady (talk) 21:19, 19 July 2008 (UTC)

I have added User:Collier Strong 08, a brand new user who registered for the purpose of restoring trivia that I had deleted from Jvolkblum's creation Template:New Rochelle, New York. In this edit, this user says "I have registered an account to back up my previous contributions," thus acknowledging being one of the earlier contributors to this template, probably 204.15.226.218 (who also appears to me to be Jvolkblum). --Orlady (talk) 21:41, 19 July 2008 (UTC)

Adding User:NYlocalhistorian -- in the first 33 minutes after registering, this "new" user created the new category Category:People from New Rochelle, New York and added more than 50 articles to it. --Orlady (talk) 04:31, 20 July 2008 (UTC)

Comments

Note similarity of the edits at Talk:Constellation Brands (revision history) by 216.12.206.14 and Winebrand. They appear to be the same person. --Orlady (talk) 20:51, 19 July 2008 (UTC)

Conclusions


User:Elladog

Suspected sockpuppeteer

Elladog (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Suspected sockpuppets

Oldsunnygirl (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Report submission by

Hqb (talk) 15:53, 19 July 2008 (UTC)

Evidence
  • Mainly edits to Archie Comics and related articles, often deleting material [1][2] without any explanation. (Cf. [3])
  • Accusatory behavior [4][5] towards other editors who clean up after her (him?). (Cf. [6], [7])
  • Clearly not a fresh editor; removes sockpuppetery tags on sight: [8],[9]
Comments

Most recently active as (now blocked) User:Skinnydipping (contribs). Long history of signing up for new accounts as old ones are blocked for abusive behavior.

Conclusions


User:Round55

Suspected sockpuppeteer

Round55 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Suspected sockpuppets

Betternow (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)


Report submission by

AdamRoach (talk) 15:28, 19 July 2008 (UTC)


Evidience

I am rather certain that these accounts are both being wielded by the same individual who was blocked for sockpuppeting on the accounts User:76.121.222.248, User:Fixedit1980, User:Okay2009, and User:Improve2009. These four other accounts have already been identified as socks in Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets/Improve2009.

I will first tie both Round55 and Betternow to these blocked accounts that have already been demonstrated to be operated by the same person.

Key diffs:

Hillary Rodham Clinton:

Larry Craig:

Barack Obama:

Dave Reichert:

And, for the coup de grace -- a direct link between the puppet and the puppetmaster:

Washington, DC:

For Round55, there is also a very credible set of somewhat circumstantial evidence tying the account to the other 5. In particular, this user has edited a scant 16 articles; of these 16, at least 8 also been edited by Improve2009 or one of its socks in the same style as Round55. The "style" I'm referring to is minor edits that make the article somewhat worse stylistically while usually not adding any new information. The rare exception appears to be an axe this individual has to grind with Obama's decisions on public campaign funds.

Here is a complete list (omitting User talk pages) of the pages Round55 has edited:

Comments
Conclusions


User:Jmoraga8675

Suspected sockpuppeteer

Jmoraga8675 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · block log)

Suspected sockpuppets

Tjnun8675 (talk ·