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:Sockpuppet investigations/Amrapahal Pahanswan/Archive - Knowledge

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Amrapahal Pahanswan

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

22 August 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Similar requests at other users' talk pages. , . Both seem to have a similar style of writing both in the article and edit summaries, also in a non-neutral manner. They like adding big chunks of content per edit. , Fylindfotberserk (talk) 08:16, 22 August 2020 (UTC)

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26 August 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Similat style of writing and addition of large chunks of content per edit. , , . New user created immediately after the last two socks got indeffed. Edito interaction . Fylindfotberserk (talk) 19:22, 26 August 2020 (UTC)

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21 September 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Account started editing immediately after socks User:JayantVitthal Babu and User:ShiamPothuganti got blocked. Keeps re-adding caste with the same sources , . Interaction shows substantial overlap . Fylindfotberserk (talk) 16:55, 21 September 2020 (UTC)

More diffs , . Similar way of asking for PP and notice how they term the PP templates. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 08:40, 23 September 2020 (UTC)
In light of NitinMlk's explanation, I doubt there might be other accounts lurking. Requesting CU. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 08:06, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

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  • There are telltale signs of the previous socks, e.g. look at the similarity between their and one of the sockpuppet's user pages: Rajanrao Shankar and JayantVitthal Babu. Their modus operandi is to create accounts with seemingly non-Rajput surnames and to proceed to spam biographies with Rajput-related details, along with making some frivolous edits to some non-Rajput biographies. Like the previous socks and the master, they have also a habit of adding fake refs, e.g. there no mention of the subject's caste in the sources provided by them in this edit, but they added Rajput anyway. And there are multiple other such examples as well. Also, they are hovering around the same set of articles, e.g. see their 'editor interaction' with the sock JayantVitthal Babu and the sockmaster. - NitinMlk (talk) 21:35, 22 September 2020 (UTC)
PS: My these observations are based on a cursory search, but I can provide more evidence, if needed. - NitinMlk (talk) 21:36, 22 September 2020 (UTC)
  • It seems even a CU block isn't good enough for the sockpuppet: . They mentioned that this time reason for blocking them isn't strong enough, which implies they have been blocked previously as well. Actually, they are more disappointed because it was a very difficult way for them to complete 500 and above edits, which simply means that, unlike them, their future socks won't be easily able to disrupt ECP-protected pages like the List of Rajputs.
As far as behaviour is concerned, they are a DUCK. The same editing pattern and multiple number of misrepresentation of sources, UGC citations, BLP violations in spite of being familiar with the relevant consensus from the beginning: . Note that caste requires self-identification in BLPs as per the long-standing consensus on this project (see here), but this detail is so obscure that there is no way for newbies to know about it.
I had a cursory look at their limited number of edits just now, but that was enough to find more examples to connect them with the master and the previously confirmed socks:
Some more behavioural examples
  • They use VisualEditor, just like the master and the previous socks.
  • Just like the master and the previous socks, they have a peculiar habit of adding a vertical bar (i.e. {{!}}) in the title field of citations and those vertical bars are followed by details which are not part of the title of the source, e.g.:
a) Master: & ;
b) JayantVitthal Babu (previous confirmed sock):
c) Rajanrao Shankar:
  • The master used to add incomplete/wrong nowiki tags (i.e. <nowiki/>) while adding content, e.g. see here and here, although I am unable to figure out their purpose. Rajanrao Shankar also adds these incomplete nowiki tags, e.g. see here, here, here, etc.
  • Changing title of Biography/Background section to Early Life section:
a) JayantVitthal Babu (previously confirmed sock):
b) Rajanrao Shankar:
  • Reinstated master's and sock's edits:
a) JayantVitthal Babu added Sikh politics template with this edit, which was reverted by user Fylindfotberserk with this edit. But Rajanrao Shankar reinstated the template with this edit.
b) The master added Punjabi Rajput claim with this edit, which was reverted by user Alivardi with this edit. But Rajanrao Shankar reverted Alivardi's edit.

- NitinMlk (talk) 05:35, 27 September 2020 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

@GeneralNotability: Oops! I linked the wrong diffs. I've corrected it. Extremely sorry. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 16:15, 22 September 2020 (UTC)

28 September 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

The suspected sock Madan Lohamod Jhaderaa re-add caste using the same source as the confirmed sock . Considering their caste POV in articles, especially Rajputs. I believe it is the sockfarm. Fylindfotberserk (talk) 15:34, 28 September 2020 (UTC)

Notice similar style of writing and additon of large chunks of data, mostly trivial and this, this confirmed socks. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 09:50, 30 September 2020 (UTC)

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02 October 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Looks like another one. Restored the edits of the recently blocked sock Madan Lohamod Jhaderaa reverted by Dreamy Jazz here. Fylindfotberserk (talk) 10:59, 2 October 2020 (UTC)

Requesting CU since this one was created before the last one got blocked. Perhaps there are other accounts lurking. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 11:02, 2 October 2020 (UTC)

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05 October 2020

Suspected sockpuppets


Similar editing area. Similar editing style. Dreamy Jazz 08:16, 5 October 2020 (UTC)

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Pro forma report. Blocked on behavioral evidence. Dreamy Jazz 08:16, 5 October 2020 (UTC)

06 October 2020

Suspected sockpuppets


Similar editing area. Similar style to Aman Bainsla 28, but less similar to previously likely / confirmed socks. First account (the one without the "2" appended on the end) was created around 3 hours after my block of Aman Bainsla 28. Dreamy Jazz 12:46, 6 October 2020 (UTC)

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

CheckUser requested and endorsed by clerk - previous checkuser check found a sleeper account (PoliticNSolitics). As there has been use of sleeper accounts, a check is requested and endorsed to find any sleepers. A check would also be useful to see if these accounts are confirmed to previous socks. Dreamy Jazz 12:46, 6 October 2020 (UTC)

11 October 2020

Suspected sockpuppets


Ran into this because of an apparently unrelated user Flyingaurora getting caught in the edit filter trying to edit the archive to report it. Did my own investigation and looks very likely to me:

At Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Puinjab continues an edit war over Arain/Rajput descriptions (diff) started by older sockpuppet JayantVitthal Babu (diff)

At Gurbachan Singh Salaria, similar caste-changes by Puinjab (diff) to a previous edit by older sockpuppet Rajanrao Shankar (diff) ~ mazca 16:04, 11 October 2020 (UTC)

I've requested checkuser based on the archive; I considered just blocking based on WP:DUCK but I'm not quite at that confidence level based on the edits so far and not familiar with this particular sockmaster. ~ mazca 16:09, 11 October 2020 (UTC)

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Considering their habit of nominating articles of people belonging to Rajput caste for GA here and these two by confirmed socks looks DUCKY to me. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 15:04, 13 October 2020 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

20 October 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Newly created user restores edits by the recently indeffed sock . Typical style of additon of huge chunks of content at a time. Typical style of arrangements, writing and sourcing in articles. New user seems to be interested in mostly Rajput related articles like its predecessors, example , . Editor interaction - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 09:58, 20 October 2020 (UTC)

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21 October 2020

Suspected sockpuppets


Username. Edits. Dreamy Jazz 15:39, 21 October 2020 (UTC)

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Pro forma.  Sounds like a duck quacking into a megaphone to me.  Blocked and tagged. Closing. Dreamy Jazz 15:39, 21 October 2020 (UTC)

22 October 2020

Suspected sockpuppets


Made an edit request for extended confirmed page which I upgraded protection for yesterday, by pinging me directly. Although the suggested change was good, I reviewed their contributions and saw similarities between the users (including some strong writing similarities). The timings of their edits compared to Puinjab 2 seems suspicious too. Dreamy Jazz 14:25, 22 October 2020 (UTC)

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Seems like it. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 14:57, 22 October 2020 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

CheckUser requested and endorsed by clerk This user was created around 8 hours before the block of Puinjab 2, which suggests it was sleeping. Previous sleepers have been found in this case. Dreamy Jazz 14:25, 22 October 2020 (UTC)

24 October 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Similar habit of adding sister projects and removal of "commons category" from articles . Similar Rajput centric edits. Requested the addition of Chakar Ali Khan Junejo, Muhammad Khan Junejo (other socks edited these two articles) in this list article. Fylindfotberserk (talk) 16:04, 24 October 2020 (UTC)

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28 October 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Similar edits, adds "sister projects" like the previous banned socks , ,

Rajput caste biased edits, adds a source claiming self-identification, after the last banned user adds a huge chunk of content with caste (Rajput) mentioned but not self-identified . Note that this comes after I removed mention of Rajput citing lack of self-identification here

Requesting CU, since this one started editing from 23rd October and the last one was blocked on 26th. Fylindfotberserk (talk) 09:50, 28 October 2020 (UTC)

Again removed the "commons category" like the previous socks. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 10:44, 28 October 2020 (UTC)
Noticed similar behaviour of adding "sister projects" here. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 12:05, 3 November 2020 (UTC)
Added another , restored some of the same paragraphs and the same block of Indic Quote by "Akbar" , that was previously added by confirmed sock Rama14042004 , reverted by Dreamy Jazz. Seems like the Maharana Pratap article needs to be sock-protected for a longer period or may be indef protected. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 16:05, 6 November 2020 (UTC)

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  • Comment This edit from prior sock has similar language to this new editor . Specifically, "Hindu" rather than just Hindu. The user names "Rajanrao Shankar" and "Rajendra Saradhna " are pretty darn similar as well. Ravensfire (talk) 15:38, 3 November 2020 (UTC)
I forgot about the older sock edits @The Great Khali. Typical Rajput POV there too. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 16:39, 3 November 2020 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

information Administrator note Added a CU request to the template. I am suspicious but not seeing anything genuinely WP:DUCK quacking, and the fact that this sock started editing well before the previous one got blocked is odd. This looks worth a check, or indeed if anyone else feels they can block purely on behaviour I'm not going to argue. ~ mazca 22:31, 28 October 2020 (UTC)

  •  Confirmed to one another:
Maharahana Pratap (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
Rajendra Saradhna (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
No conclusion as to if they're linked to the master. ~Oshwah~ 17:46, 7 November 2020 (UTC)
@Oshwah: Thanks, clearly some level of disruptive sockpuppetry going on here then, but could you just clarify the nature of the "no conclusion"? I'd obviously expect no direct connection to the master as it's a stale account by CU standards, but does the IP range involved just make it impossible to judge if these are connected to the more recent checkuser-confirmed sockpuppets like Puinjab (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki) or TunakTunak (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)? I only ask because CheckUser seems to have historically had a pretty good hit rate on this sockmaster. ~ mazca 00:14, 8 November 2020 (UTC)
Mazca - All I meant was that I didn't find any direct links to the master, such as other blocked socks of the master in the IP range. I wouldn't use that sentence to cast too much doubt as to whether or not they're actually linked; I just didn't find any clear link with the technical data I retrieved. :-) ~Oshwah~ 13:43, 13 November 2020 (UTC)

13 November 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Similar editing area (Rajput caste related articles), Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga, etc. Similar Rajput POV. Similar style of edits, addition of large chunks of content. What's more noticeable is the sophistication by which the newly created user (created on 12 November 2020) references links (using sfn templates, etc). , , Fylindfotberserk (talk) 07:18, 13 November 2020 (UTC)

Also note the GA nomination here, one of the characteristics of the sock. Pinging Dreamy Jazz as well. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 12:31, 13 November 2020 (UTC)

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Looks like some of the article requires EC protection. @Dreamy Jazz and Oshwah:? - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 16:25, 13 November 2020 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

Also found and  Confirmed:
Rajendra Saradhna (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
~Oshwah~ 13:39, 13 November 2020 (UTC)

19 November 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Similar style of addition of large chunks of content, complex referencing and similar addition of "sister project links" and removal of "commons categories" templates just like the other confirmed sockpuppets , , . Suspicious from a few day old account. Also note this, like some of its predecessors, this user typically make page protection requests in user talk pages . Fylindfotberserk (talk) 08:06, 19 November 2020 (UTC)

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15 December 2020

Suspected sockpuppets

Similar editing area (Indian politics and history). Similar style, removal of commons category wikiquote and addition of sister project . Interaction Fylindfotberserk (talk) 10:35, 15 December 2020 (UTC)

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Also found and confirmed:
Shirpaaal (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
Ind16Rham (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
Blocking all socks and tagging. This SPI can be closed... ~Oshwah~ 18:59, 31 December 2020 (UTC)
I propose the following accounts which appear  Likely to me due to technical results:
Yanurag27 (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
Bhanchooo (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
Satya Sanatan (Arya) (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
Manish23agarwal (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
Award Wapsi Gang (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
KhammaGhani 33 (talk · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · spi block · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
These accounts all turned up when searching a range that contains many of the existing socks. Each of them has made 0-25 edits. Would appreciate others' opinions since I'm still new at this. Also, is there a good way to find out the creation date of an account that exists but has made no edits, such as Yanurag27 (talk · contribs)? EdJohnston (talk) 20:33, 31 December 2020 (UTC)
IMO, KhammaGhani 33 is probably a sock of this user see -- GreenC 22:20, 31 December 2020 (UTC)
EdJohnston, there are a load of really useful scripts that you should consider installing. GeneralNotability put me onto a load of them, but User:PleaseStand/userinfo.js is one that I'd recommend for this question. When I go to an account's userpage, I get a bunch of links, including one which tells me how old the account is, with a link to the creation log that gives me the exact time. Very handy.
Oshwah, can I ask for your opinion on the above accounts? I intend to request G Lock of all the confirmed socks, since the sock reported in this case has been locked for cross-wiki abuse - I'd appreciate a steer on whether you agree with the above. Thanks GirthSummit (blether) 22:40, 31 December 2020 (UTC)
Girth Summit - I'd agree that they're  Likely, yes. They're all using a common user agent, but they're on the same range (albeit a very wide one). ~Oshwah~ 00:38, 1 January 2021 (UTC)

07 January 2021

Suspected sockpuppets

Similar edit area (Rajput caste related). Note heavy editing in Jaswant Singh article alonwith susbtantial changes in the external links section, templates, etc (a characteristic of the sock) , . Also note controversial move twice to "preferred" name with prefix 'Thakur' typically used by Rajputs . Requesting CU as well, considering their past record. Fylindfotberserk (talk) 15:34, 7 January 2021 (UTC)

Also note this comment, I don't understand what they meant by "Or make this article move protected or I will move it". - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 15:37, 7 January 2021 (UTC)

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  • One account is locked for long-term abuse:Eliko007 (I have no idea how this sockfarm has any relation to Jobas, but regardless) and the other hasn't edited in two months and seems to be a throwaway. Closing. Sro23 (talk) 21:12, 13 March 2021 (UTC)

11 January 2021

Suspected sockpuppets

Similar topic area (politics). Similar habit of removing "commons category" and adding "sister projects" like the older socks . Also similar addition of large chunks of data like the predecessors . Also note the expertise, not commonly seen in a new user, unless it is a sock. Fylindfotberserk (talk) 11:40, 11 January 2021 (UTC)

Similar use of sophisticated method of referencing (efn usage), here by a confirmed sock and here by this 'new' user. Also requesting CU based on their history of having lurkers. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 15:12, 13 January 2021 (UTC)

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Jubeboxer, matches with the recently blocked sock User:गहराई.
  1. Attacking sister projects.
  2. गहराई was making frivolous templates. This new user is making frivolous categories.
  3. Both are attacking B. R. Ambedkar who they consider foe.
  4. This is an exact match
  5. On sister project

Fylindfotberserk what do you think? Oshwah User:गहराई was blocked by you. These reports are pending since long. Walrus Ji (talk) 11:23, 16 January 2021 (UTC)

@Walrus Ji: Well I think you are right. I had already opened an SPI on this guy on 11th. Merged your case in it. There is another one "User:Jashlore" above. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 11:26, 16 January 2021 (UTC)
Fylindfotberserk, ok. I did not notice that last report was on the same username. Thanks for the merge. I have added the CU request. --Walrus Ji (talk) 11:31, 16 January 2021 (UTC)
Tagging irrelevant templates like "good article" or "pp" is one of the characteristics of the sock-master as done here by Jubeboxer. - Fylindfotberserk (talk) 14:19, 16 January 2021 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

29 January 2021

Suspected sockpuppets

Similar editing area, Rajput related, this time in Maharana Pratap article (a Rajput individual by caste) in which previous socks were also interested. Addition of huge chunks of POV material and sophisticated referencing styles (usage of 'sfnm') is a give away, especially when the user is just over 24 hours old . Fylindfotberserk (talk) 16:41, 29 January 2021 (UTC)

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06 July 2021

Suspected sockpuppets

First edit was to restoring the same infobox on Karni Sena. Compare Special:Diff/1023635976 and Special:Diff/981909134 Otherwise edits in the same topic area as well. Tayi Arajakate Talk 15:37, 6 July 2021 (UTC)

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05 September 2021

Suspected sockpuppets


  • Dawnpope created the page Bihari Hindus and Gopalam Reddy comes after 6 days to add over 2000 bytes of content.. Both users significantly added content in the same section of the same article. Dawnpope makes same edits to the bullet list of the same section of the same page 3 days after Gopalam Reddy.. Same edit summary.. Similar edit summary.. Both uses Visual editor to edit.
  • Creates user pages with similar edit summaries like older socks: my, my wiki page., My page, my info., My description..
  • Habit of adding portals to articles like older socks:, ,
  • Habit of overciting and adding citations alone like older socks:,, , , , ,
  • Almost all the older socks use Visual editor like these two.- SUN EYE 1 06:41, 5 September 2021 (UTC)
    • Dawnpope and Gopalam Reddy use the same edit summaries as Mealiyta, Added a related category, Added portal, Added further details, corrected external links and added portal., Added one more name
    • All the three used "2" instead of "two".
    • Mealiyta also created user page with the edit summary Created my user page. similar to the older socks as said above. Mealiyta could also be one of the socks of this user. - SUN EYE 1 06:29, 29 September 2021 (UTC)

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10 November 2022

Suspected sockpuppets

Account created only 3 days after the last SPI. Same interests at Template:Riots in India, Hinduism in Bangladesh, Template:India Related city Portals, Glossary of Hinduism terms, Category:Omani Hindus, and more. Aman Kumar Goel 15:18, 10 November 2022 (UTC)

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Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

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