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Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Mxcronin/Archive

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Mxcronin

30 January 2024

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Suspected sockpuppets

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This is a case of un/disclosed paid editing sockfarm scenario. The initial user, Itsmeusagialways, created the page for John's Crazy Socks and used File:Logo for John's Crazy Socks.jpg, which had been uploaded by user Mxcronin on commons-wiki a day or two before they created the page. When queried by MrOllie, Itsmeusagialways admitted to being compensated but failed to disclose the identity of the client and the platform involved as per WP:PAID. Subsequently, within a day, user Pencua02 created the page for John Cronin (entrepreneur), the founder of John's Crazy Socks, and used File:John Cronin Testifying before the U.S. Congress.jpg, also uploaded by user Mxcronin on commons, claiming it as their own work. It appears to be the same individual or a coordinated team involved in this paid editing activity. They have very similar editing pattern and the use of edit summary. Both articles have been draftified as they violate WP:COIEDIT, which stipulates that "you should put new articles through the Articles for Creation (AfC) process instead of creating them directly;" Powerviki (talk) 11:07, 30 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hello @DatGuy:, the main account is no longer inactive. After I moved the articles to the draft space, the account became active again and started editing the draft talk page. It seems like they might have been instructed by the sock farm to do so to recover their work. In my opinion, they should be blocked under WP:MEAT for editing and uploading images on behalf of the sock farm. It appears that their sole purpose here is to promote the company, which falls under WP:SPA. Powerviki (talk) 17:14, 30 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@DatGuy: Important notice: Following Mxcronin's disclosure (here) and the hired freelancer's profile (this), these accounts are associated with user Bmjc98 (Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Bmjc98). Another identified account is "MaurelleL," the creator of Navaratri in tl.wiki as per [this. See: 1, 2 and 3. Powerviki (talk) 13:03, 2 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by other users

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I am adding a couple more based on User talk:Iamsuperingbo#Question. @DatGuy: I have private evidence. Where should I send it? S0091 (talk) 17:42, 19 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

After doing some more digging, these are certainly related to Bmjc98. S0091 (talk) 19:07, 19 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I sent an email to paid-en-wpwikipedia.org. S0091 (talk) 23:08, 19 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Iamsuperingbo blocked by @Bilby:. S0091 (talk) 17:21, 4 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I noticed the Bmjc98 connection. While I don't know for sure what is going on, I blocked another editor as a Bmjc98 sock, only to find that they claimed WP:MEAT instead. In that case it wasn't clear if they were paid or tricked, so they were unblocked. On those grounds, it is possible that Bmjc98 has moved to subcontracting at least some of their work. This block was because either Iamsuperingbo was a sock or was paid meatpuppetry, either of which warranted a block.
Just noting that Bmjc98 had previously openly linked to their Upwork account, so not only was this not in debate, but it is not necessarily outing to make the connection. But I have still be acting as if it was, just to be safe. - Bilby (talk) 22:04, 4 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Please see the talk page for comments by Mxcronin who also references a VRTS ticket number. S0091 (talk) 14:12, 21 March 2024 (UTC) @DatGuy: I have no idea. I didn't get a reply. I did reference my user name and this SPI in the subject if that's helpful. S0091 (talk) 13:55, 30 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

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