Both accounts start off making similar series of minor edits to one article (such as splitting a paragraph into two paragraphs) to gain autoconfirmed status.
E.g. #2:
Sotavino vs.
Atquaman (same ungrammatical "Some countries, ...alleges that same-sex marriage movements...")
E.g. #3:
Sotavino vs.
Atquaman (Hiding the text that begins with "The most prominent supporters of same-sex marriage are the world's major medical and scientific communities..." by commenting it out with "<!--no source-->".)
Their use of the same edit summaries: "Add sources, removed dead link". E.g.
[3],
[4][5],
[6]
Every major edit they make to
Same-sex marriage is followed by a pointless minor edit, presumably so that other editors will only see a "minor" change being made to the article on their watchlist. E.g.
Sotavino vs.
Atquaman
Sotavino also edited on Vietnamese Wikipedia (
global contributions), and in
this edit, Atquaman mistakenly uses the {{Chú thích web}} template which is the Vietnamese Wikipedia version of the {{cite web}} template that Sotavino used on vi.wiki
[7].
Given how well-versed on how Wikipedia works Sotavino seemed right from the start (immediately targeting autoconfirmed status), Sotavino may not be the original sockmaster and there may be other socks. Hence requesting CU.
Bennv123 (
talk) 15:41, 21 June 2023 (UTC)reply
CU can't link the two accounts, but it does add
User:Kem Mimi. The accounts are pretty obviously operated by the same person trying to game the system, and I blocked all three.
Drmies (
talk) 20:46, 15 July 2023 (UTC)reply
commenting out the text that begins with "The most prominent supporters of same-sex marriage are the world's major medical and scientific communities..." (previous sock:
[9])
removing "Scientific studies show that..." (previous sock:
[10])
Same edit summaries ("Add sources, removed dead link") as previous sock (
Abisaku vs
Atquaman)
Requesting CU to check for sleepers.
Bennv123 (
talk) 11:49, 2 October 2023 (UTC)reply
Going from the CU logs, this looks pretty likely, and the behavioural evidence is fairly strong. Blocking, and re-blocking the master (who was only temporarily blocked last time).
GirthSummit (blether) 15:00, 2 October 2023 (UTC)reply
Account created on 4 October
[11] after previous sock was banned on 2 October. Account was also first created on the Vietnamese Wikipedia, just like the previous socks (
[12],
[13]).
Makes a series of minor edits in quick succession to gain autoconfirmed status e.g.
[14],
[15]
Once autoconfirmed is gained, edits
Same-sex marriage with the same changes previous socks repeatedly tried to make. E.g.
SG413K vs
previous sock.
When their changes are reverted by others
[16], they just repeatedly add it back
[17]Bennv123 (
talk) 06:31, 20 November 2023 (UTC)reply
Obvious, but since they're gaming autoconfirmed I ran a check to look for sleepers. Nothing jumped out at me, but I can say that they're Likely to SG413K from the previous filing. Blocking, tagging and closing. Thank,
Spicy (
talk) 01:36, 7 January 2024 (UTC)reply
Same editing pattern as previous socks: compare the editing history of
Espanion to previous socks like
Sotavino,
Rabberbat and
Atquaman
Makes a series of "minor" edits on a random article to gain autoconfirmed status
Once autoconfirmed is gained, edits their real target article:
Same-sex marriage
Has an issue with the lead saying: "Scientific studies show that the financial, psychological, and physical well-being of gay people are enhanced by marriage ..."
Previously tried to change this in the lead (
[21],
[22]), but now just outright moving it out of the lead (
Espanion)
Requesting checkuser to check for sleepers since the Espanion account was created on 28 December 2023 (
[23]), before the previous sock
User:Ratterbat was blocked.
Bennv123 (
talk) 04:45, 3 February 2024 (UTC)reply
are all Highly likely to Sotavino through a few different threads. Blocked and tagged, Global lock(s) requested. Now
WP:3X. Closing.
DatGuyTalkContribs 18:59, 12 February 2024 (UTC)reply
Account created on 15 February after previous socks were blocked on 12 February. Account created on Vietnamese Wikipedia too, just as previous socks. (
APU888's global accounts vs.
Socolass,
Espanion)
Same editing pattern: Games the system to get autoconfirmed status by making a series of nonsensical edits on one page in rapid succession. Compare the editing history of
APU888 to previous socks like
Socolass and
Espanion.
Requesting checkuser since this user has a history of using sleepers and operating multiple accounts at the same time.
Bennv123 (
talk) 15:56, 24 February 2024 (UTC)reply
Once autoconfirmed is gained, edits
Battle of Stalingrad with similar changes as previous socks:
Mizuno Arashi vs.
Socolass and
SG413K (specifically intent on changing the numbers in the infobox)
CU doesn't confirm with earlier accounts, but geolocation puts em in the neighborhood, and the edits really speak for themselves.
Drmies (
talk) 03:11, 5 March 2024 (UTC)reply
Since you blocked and tagged as suspected, I'm closing this case.
Courcelles (
talk) 16:09, 5 March 2024 (UTC)reply
Games the system to gain autoconfirmed status by making a series of minor edits. Compare editing history of
Covaxes vs. socks like
Mizuno_Arashi and
SG413K.
Once autoconfirmed is gained, edits their actual target article
Vietnam War, making similar edits as previous socks:
Covaxes vs.
APU888 and
Socolass.
Requesting checkuser as they have a history of using sleeper accounts.
Bennv123 (
talk) 09:00, 29 March 2024 (UTC)reply
Technically Possilikely (a mix between possible and likely) I guess but behaviour seems obvious enough. Blocked and tagged, Global lock(s) requested. No sleepers
immediately visible.
Spicy (
talk) 15:28, 29 March 2024 (UTC)reply
Games the system to gain autoconfirmed status by making a bunch of "minor" edits and edits to their sandbox/userpage in rapid succession:
Octanvui's editing history vs.
APU888 and
Abisaku. Sleeper account then goes dormant for awhile.
Original text Octanvui worked on in their user sandbox
here was clearly just copy-pasted from what previous sock Abisaku tried to add
[25][26].
After making these big changes to
Homosexuality, immediately follow up with a minor edit to hide their big changes:
Octanvui vs.
Abisaku.
Requesting checkuser to check for other sleepers since this sleeper was created back in early February.
Bennv123 (
talk) 10:24, 11 April 2024 (UTC)reply
CU data is in Possible territory; behaviour is obvious enough. I'm also blocking Rudel Kostia, which looks like a sleeper, and requesting locks.
GirthSummit (blether) 12:12, 11 April 2024 (UTC)reply
After autoconfirmed is gained, edits their real target article like
Vietnam War, specifically focusing on the casualty numbers in the infobox like the previous socks:
Mekai Quest vs.
APU888,
Socolass and
Covaxes.
This sock was brought to my attention by
an IP on my talk page, who pointed out that the IPs
27.3.144.156 and
2001:EE0:4A61:8A10:2563:80AF:6AEA:D27E had been asking other editors to make those same changes to the casualty numbers in the Vietnam War infobox (
[27],
[28],
[29],
[30]), shortly before Mekai Quest had gained autoconfirmed to make those changes themself.
Asking for checkuser as this sock has used sleeper accounts in the past.
Bennv123 (
talk) 09:35, 5 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Sotavino's previous IPs that were edit warring on
Recognition of same-sex unions in Vietnam were blocked on 5 June, and I reverted to the pre-sock version of the page on 6 June.
Very soon after, the new
IP 203.160.86.166 shows up to remove the same lead paragraph Sotavino's previous IPs were edit warring over:
New IP uses the same tactic long favoured by Sotavino and their socks: immediately after they make a major controversial edit they'll follow it up with a "minor" edit, presumably to try to hide their controversial edits from watchlists.
New IP:
minor edit following controversial changes
Previous IP:
minor edit following controversial changes
Sotavino themself:
minor edit following controversial changes
Bennv123 (
talk) 00:50, 7 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Both accounts start off making similar series of minor edits to one article (such as splitting a paragraph into two paragraphs) to gain autoconfirmed status.
E.g. #2:
Sotavino vs.
Atquaman (same ungrammatical "Some countries, ...alleges that same-sex marriage movements...")
E.g. #3:
Sotavino vs.
Atquaman (Hiding the text that begins with "The most prominent supporters of same-sex marriage are the world's major medical and scientific communities..." by commenting it out with "<!--no source-->".)
Their use of the same edit summaries: "Add sources, removed dead link". E.g.
[3],
[4][5],
[6]
Every major edit they make to
Same-sex marriage is followed by a pointless minor edit, presumably so that other editors will only see a "minor" change being made to the article on their watchlist. E.g.
Sotavino vs.
Atquaman
Sotavino also edited on Vietnamese Wikipedia (
global contributions), and in
this edit, Atquaman mistakenly uses the {{Chú thích web}} template which is the Vietnamese Wikipedia version of the {{cite web}} template that Sotavino used on vi.wiki
[7].
Given how well-versed on how Wikipedia works Sotavino seemed right from the start (immediately targeting autoconfirmed status), Sotavino may not be the original sockmaster and there may be other socks. Hence requesting CU.
Bennv123 (
talk) 15:41, 21 June 2023 (UTC)reply
CU can't link the two accounts, but it does add
User:Kem Mimi. The accounts are pretty obviously operated by the same person trying to game the system, and I blocked all three.
Drmies (
talk) 20:46, 15 July 2023 (UTC)reply
commenting out the text that begins with "The most prominent supporters of same-sex marriage are the world's major medical and scientific communities..." (previous sock:
[9])
removing "Scientific studies show that..." (previous sock:
[10])
Same edit summaries ("Add sources, removed dead link") as previous sock (
Abisaku vs
Atquaman)
Requesting CU to check for sleepers.
Bennv123 (
talk) 11:49, 2 October 2023 (UTC)reply
Going from the CU logs, this looks pretty likely, and the behavioural evidence is fairly strong. Blocking, and re-blocking the master (who was only temporarily blocked last time).
GirthSummit (blether) 15:00, 2 October 2023 (UTC)reply
Account created on 4 October
[11] after previous sock was banned on 2 October. Account was also first created on the Vietnamese Wikipedia, just like the previous socks (
[12],
[13]).
Makes a series of minor edits in quick succession to gain autoconfirmed status e.g.
[14],
[15]
Once autoconfirmed is gained, edits
Same-sex marriage with the same changes previous socks repeatedly tried to make. E.g.
SG413K vs
previous sock.
When their changes are reverted by others
[16], they just repeatedly add it back
[17]Bennv123 (
talk) 06:31, 20 November 2023 (UTC)reply
Obvious, but since they're gaming autoconfirmed I ran a check to look for sleepers. Nothing jumped out at me, but I can say that they're Likely to SG413K from the previous filing. Blocking, tagging and closing. Thank,
Spicy (
talk) 01:36, 7 January 2024 (UTC)reply
Same editing pattern as previous socks: compare the editing history of
Espanion to previous socks like
Sotavino,
Rabberbat and
Atquaman
Makes a series of "minor" edits on a random article to gain autoconfirmed status
Once autoconfirmed is gained, edits their real target article:
Same-sex marriage
Has an issue with the lead saying: "Scientific studies show that the financial, psychological, and physical well-being of gay people are enhanced by marriage ..."
Previously tried to change this in the lead (
[21],
[22]), but now just outright moving it out of the lead (
Espanion)
Requesting checkuser to check for sleepers since the Espanion account was created on 28 December 2023 (
[23]), before the previous sock
User:Ratterbat was blocked.
Bennv123 (
talk) 04:45, 3 February 2024 (UTC)reply
are all Highly likely to Sotavino through a few different threads. Blocked and tagged, Global lock(s) requested. Now
WP:3X. Closing.
DatGuyTalkContribs 18:59, 12 February 2024 (UTC)reply
Account created on 15 February after previous socks were blocked on 12 February. Account created on Vietnamese Wikipedia too, just as previous socks. (
APU888's global accounts vs.
Socolass,
Espanion)
Same editing pattern: Games the system to get autoconfirmed status by making a series of nonsensical edits on one page in rapid succession. Compare the editing history of
APU888 to previous socks like
Socolass and
Espanion.
Requesting checkuser since this user has a history of using sleepers and operating multiple accounts at the same time.
Bennv123 (
talk) 15:56, 24 February 2024 (UTC)reply
Once autoconfirmed is gained, edits
Battle of Stalingrad with similar changes as previous socks:
Mizuno Arashi vs.
Socolass and
SG413K (specifically intent on changing the numbers in the infobox)
CU doesn't confirm with earlier accounts, but geolocation puts em in the neighborhood, and the edits really speak for themselves.
Drmies (
talk) 03:11, 5 March 2024 (UTC)reply
Since you blocked and tagged as suspected, I'm closing this case.
Courcelles (
talk) 16:09, 5 March 2024 (UTC)reply
Games the system to gain autoconfirmed status by making a series of minor edits. Compare editing history of
Covaxes vs. socks like
Mizuno_Arashi and
SG413K.
Once autoconfirmed is gained, edits their actual target article
Vietnam War, making similar edits as previous socks:
Covaxes vs.
APU888 and
Socolass.
Requesting checkuser as they have a history of using sleeper accounts.
Bennv123 (
talk) 09:00, 29 March 2024 (UTC)reply
Technically Possilikely (a mix between possible and likely) I guess but behaviour seems obvious enough. Blocked and tagged, Global lock(s) requested. No sleepers
immediately visible.
Spicy (
talk) 15:28, 29 March 2024 (UTC)reply
Games the system to gain autoconfirmed status by making a bunch of "minor" edits and edits to their sandbox/userpage in rapid succession:
Octanvui's editing history vs.
APU888 and
Abisaku. Sleeper account then goes dormant for awhile.
Original text Octanvui worked on in their user sandbox
here was clearly just copy-pasted from what previous sock Abisaku tried to add
[25][26].
After making these big changes to
Homosexuality, immediately follow up with a minor edit to hide their big changes:
Octanvui vs.
Abisaku.
Requesting checkuser to check for other sleepers since this sleeper was created back in early February.
Bennv123 (
talk) 10:24, 11 April 2024 (UTC)reply
CU data is in Possible territory; behaviour is obvious enough. I'm also blocking Rudel Kostia, which looks like a sleeper, and requesting locks.
GirthSummit (blether) 12:12, 11 April 2024 (UTC)reply
After autoconfirmed is gained, edits their real target article like
Vietnam War, specifically focusing on the casualty numbers in the infobox like the previous socks:
Mekai Quest vs.
APU888,
Socolass and
Covaxes.
This sock was brought to my attention by
an IP on my talk page, who pointed out that the IPs
27.3.144.156 and
2001:EE0:4A61:8A10:2563:80AF:6AEA:D27E had been asking other editors to make those same changes to the casualty numbers in the Vietnam War infobox (
[27],
[28],
[29],
[30]), shortly before Mekai Quest had gained autoconfirmed to make those changes themself.
Asking for checkuser as this sock has used sleeper accounts in the past.
Bennv123 (
talk) 09:35, 5 June 2024 (UTC)reply
Sotavino's previous IPs that were edit warring on
Recognition of same-sex unions in Vietnam were blocked on 5 June, and I reverted to the pre-sock version of the page on 6 June.
Very soon after, the new
IP 203.160.86.166 shows up to remove the same lead paragraph Sotavino's previous IPs were edit warring over:
New IP uses the same tactic long favoured by Sotavino and their socks: immediately after they make a major controversial edit they'll follow it up with a "minor" edit, presumably to try to hide their controversial edits from watchlists.
New IP:
minor edit following controversial changes
Previous IP:
minor edit following controversial changes
Sotavino themself:
minor edit following controversial changes
Bennv123 (
talk) 00:50, 7 June 2024 (UTC)reply