Spam reporting thread #73

PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING SPAM

Distinguish between the following, and flag the highest level of the violation:

-- Type 1: Irredeemable commercial spam: make sure to flag the member's profile, as well as the spammy activity. This type includes things selling strollers, pharmaceuticals, live-streaming sports games, porn, and/or trying to create traffic/links to sites for such things. Sufficient profile flags will automatically result in temporary suspension and deletion of the member's activity, so use your profile-flagging powers wisely and carefully.

-- Type 2: Teachable moments: DO NOT flag the member's profile, but DO flag the violating activity (e.g. self-promotional Talk post, group, or local venue). This type includes promotional activity that violates the Terms of Service (TOS), but where the member is potentially redeemable, e.g. overzealous authors, overzealous publishers, or other members with small TOS violations but who are otherwise using the site legitimately. These cases should be reported to staff (by sending a message or email to staff and/or or posting on this thread), so the member can be taught how to use the site.

Specific procedures:
-- Overzealous authors or publishers (these fall under type 2): do NOT flag the member's profile. Report to staff here or privately. You can also send the member a polite message pointing them to the terms, mentioning the "no promoting" language, and pointing them to the Do's and Don't page for authors: http://www.librarything.com/about_authors.php
-- Suspected sock-puppetry to promote a book, write fake reviews, and/or stack ratings: do not flag the profile, but report to staff here or by message, so staff can investigate. This is a serious violation for which members can be permanently banned.
-- Profile flags for commercial spammers only (type 1): On the member's profile page, click on the "report for spam" link, then follow instructions to flag the member. Again, this is only for commercial spam, not for "overzealous" authors, publishers, or booksellers, which should be reported to staff instead. See Talk post: http://www.librarything.com/topic/85810
-- Spam or promotional posts in a Talk topic (type 1 or 2): flag the post as an abuse of the terms of service.
-- Spam or promotional groups (types 1 and 2): flag new groups using the "flag this group" link.
-- Spam lists: report in this thread, and flag the member if it's commercial spam.
-- Spam works (type 1 spam): flag the work as spam on the work's editions page, and then vote on proposed work spam. Make sure to read the guidelines before proposing or voting, especially for what is not spam. Voting page: http://www.librarything.com/spam_works.php
-- Spam in a review (type 1), or an explicitly promotional review (type 2): flag the review as an abuse of the TOS, using the red flag.
-- Spam or promotion in "published reviews," or other CK fields (type 1 or 2): post here and/or delete.
-- Spam or egregious promotion/advertising in venues or events (type 1 or 2): post here and/or delete. Note that authors are permitted to add events for their books.
-- Spam in book links / quick links: post here and/or edit to remove spam.
-- Spam author names listed on a work: No current procedure. Tim has asked us not to change CK to indicate spammers, and not to combine spam authors together.
-- Not sure if it's spam? Post here, and explain why.

Please note that Tim has asked us not to use either CK or the combining system (whether works or authors) for spam fighting.

For more information see these wiki pages:
Procedures for flagging and reporting spam: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Spam
Spam works, guidelines for flagging and voting: http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/HelpThing:Spam_works

(A copy of these guidelines, for pasting in new threads, can be found here or at the top of previous threads.)

Author promotion:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/328424

I've let a comment on his profile:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/Nick.Talio

Review by author encouraging sales; violates TOS

http://www.librarything.com/work/25930198/reviews/

>3 2wonderY: The thread already has both posts flagged, but posting here for the sake of tracking purposes:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328495

And Profile (Already noted, do not flag) https://www.librarything.com/profile/tom9191

Topic is https://www.librarything.com/topic/326633#7383627

Message and profile gone now.

Enthusiastic Author:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/305867#7311265

Warned once before, but not flagging profile

>7 gilroy: He's forgotten since October?

BTW, message 7 in that topic is very bad spam.
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Bookie-Books is offering reviews etc. for sale.

>8 MarthaJeanne: No, I was feeling generous when I posted that this morning. Also I think he got spam flagged off and brought back the last time.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/327348#7403500

Author spam (https://www.librarything.com/profile/Sasha_Lauren)

>11 MarthaJeanne:

At least he's asking if it's okay.

In theory yes, but the link is in there.

I wrote him a more complete message.

Author spam. I've left a message.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/329452
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Mpvoitek

new author advertising book
https://www.librarything.com/topic/329248#7413960

left message
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Amanda36

ETA: just added https://www.librarything.com/topic/329527

>16 Taphophile13: ETA she delete the message

>16 Taphophile13:, >17 karenb:

She did it again: https://www.librarything.com/topic/329529

ETA: and also - https://www.librarything.com/topic/327635

>16 Taphophile13: >17 karenb: >18 lilithcat:
And also here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/328245#7413954

Author spam. I've left a message.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/329562
https://www.librarything.com/topic/329561
https://www.librarything.com/topic/329560
https://www.librarything.com/topic/329563
https://www.librarything.com/profile/lashonajonesbooks

the review: https://www.librarything.com/review/195931460
the work: https://www.librarything.com/work/26036968
the profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/greatestate

>21 karenb: gone.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/329718

Already gone.

>24 2wonderY: And six other threads - Gone.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/SamSlater
https://www.librarything.com/topic/329077#7428042

Gone already.

>27 gilroy: That group can't be viewed without joining

>27 gilroy:, >28 SandraArdnas: Group has been flagged and user has been removed.

>27 gilroy: I can’t even see who admins that group. Did you want the group flagged? 351 messages and 351 topics - seems a very exclusive group.

>30 2wonderY: The group was flagged out of existence before I could post the rest of the information. It had 1 user, 1 post.

>32 karenb: Gone now.

folding gates
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23334/folding-gate
https://www.librarything.com/profile/maxindosteel

"books"

http://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23335/Books
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Mani_Enterprises

>36 karenb:

Gone now.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/varshad1
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330205

And gone.

New member

https://www.librarything.com/topic/329972#7439878
https://www.librarything.com/topic/290745#7439874
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Kevin_Casey

>40 2wonderY: left a comment

https://www.librarything.com/profile/kumfi
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330312#7442141
Flagged both the post and the profile.

>42 haydninvienna: And both are gone.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/330350

author advertising book

Edit: was warned before. I didn't flag the profile nevertheless

ETA: Gone already

https://www.librarything.com/topic/330348#unread

Author spam, but author was warned in 2019.
https://www.librarything.com/profile/george-calleja1

https://www.librarything.com/topic/329934#7443859

This overzealous author just spammed my neat-and-tidy challenge thread:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/thaddeud
see https://www.librarything.com/topic/133916#7445167

>46 Cecrow:

Also https://www.librarything.com/topic/330376

>46 Cecrow: Messages are gone. After seeing the one message and his entry of the book I looked up the URL. My goodness! He does not seem to write standard English.

I put a comment on his profile.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/SydneeLucero

On a spam work spree
https://www.librarything.com/spam_works.php

>49 SandraArdnas:

And spam review: https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=SydneeLucero

All works have met the threshold and are suppressed. I think staff need to take down the profile though.

>51 2wonderY:

Profile is gone.

Don't know if he's the author, but this is definitely spammy:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/330477
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330478
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330480
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330482
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330483
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330484
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330485
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330486
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330487

https://www.librarything.com/profile/JohnForbes7

https://www.librarything.com/topic/330499
https://www.librarything.com/topic/186604#7449828
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330498

(Overactive author https://www.librarything.com/profile/Eaglesquest)

Author looking for reviews:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/330498
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330499
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330496

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Eaglesquest
A message has already been left on the profile

>56 karenb: in general I don't flag profiles if there is no other advertising, but for some things I'm willing to make exceptions.

Gone.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/330772
Enthusiastic Author

https://www.librarything.com/profile/EnochianFabler (Do NOT flag. Message already on profile.)

>57 MarthaJeanne: Yeah, I hear ya.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/saketa
https://www.librarything.com/work/24300956/reviews/179459659
https://www.librarything.com/work/24300956

A second author was added, complete with links in various places. All links gone now.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/seoexpertindia

See the spam in the profile pictures

>60 2wonderY: is gone, but >59 karenb: isn't.

Just in case it takes longer than a minute:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/330865
https://www.librarything.com/profile/danielweber574

And
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330866

Less than a minute!

Author spam or similar

https://www.librarything.com/topic/331017

(https://www.librarything.com/profile/Vlad4247)

Author spam
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331147
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331148

(https://www.librarything.com/profile/Sallymcllwainbooks)

>66 MarthaJeanne:
>67 lesmel:

All gone.

>66 MarthaJeanne: Found more

https://www.librarything.com/topic/331145
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331146

See also https://www.librarything.com/work/26329752/reviews/198508502

All gone.

This guy is selling cows:

https://www.librarything.com/profile/penjualsapiqurban

He's gone, but his two spam works aren't:

https://www.librarything.com/work/26334016/198559047
https://www.librarything.com/work/26334039/198559210

https://www.librarything.com/profile/SophiaBurns

Too many posts to list here

https://www.librarything.com/topic/331357#n7478147
https://www.librarything.com/profile/The-house-time

juicer/blenders

Gone.

Author touting her own book:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/327261#n7396323
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331242#7482301

>75 Nicole_VanK: We got rid of that one very quickly.

>74 lilithcat: Did anyone leave a note on her profile?

ETA: OMG, never mind. I found her tirade thread.

Author Spam

https://www.librarything.com/topic/331528#n7483889

https://www.librarything.com/profile/MyPenNameOnly

I left a message

>78 2wonderY: also https://www.librarything.com/topic/331527

Both this one and the one in 78 are gone now.

profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/tina1sharma1
review: https://www.librarything.com/review/197844608 (to get flagged out of existence before marking the work as spam)

author spam

(https://www.librarything.com/profile/Icanphonicsreaders) has flooded several groups with her spam. I have left a message.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/331649#unread
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331645
gone

https://www.librarything.com/topic/331647#unread
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331644#unread
gone

https://www.librarything.com/topic/331648#unread
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331643#unread
gone

>81 MarthaJeanne: She seems to have paused; but she’s already removed my message to her. I came here to record her profile just in case...

I know there were more than those 6. Anyway, all the ones I know about are gone.

>82 2wonderY: I guess she really gave up. It must be discouraging to delete a message about spamming just to have someone else add a similar message. Anyway, my message is still there.

Teamwork!

profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/ericarnold
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/26245749/197745222

(Or maybe I should have queried the profile?)

>86 karenb: also see https://www.librarything.com/work/26250089

The Eric Arnold author page is mostly books for children.

author spam

https://www.librarything.com/topic/331685
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331686
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331687
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331688

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Jilltadvickbooks

advertising umbrellas
https://www.librarything.com/topic/119385#7490695
https://www.librarything.com/profile/diar-umbrellaksa

post and profile gone but work still needs votes
https://www.librarything.com/work/26448401

https://www.librarything.com/profile/guohlvhyLee
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331829#n7493439

Gone already

Author spam
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331855

(https://www.librarything.com/profile/ESTHERCAMPOS)

https://www.librarything.com/profile/brandon_mercado

The account is adding spam published reviews. See: https://www.librarything.com/work/3102448
The account has a bronze medal for adding published reviews so there are at least 25 of them out there somewhere.

>93 norabelle414:

Looks like he and his reviews are now gone.

>93 norabelle414:
This account is doing it too: https://www.librarything.com/profile/JewelBonney2888

Both are using the published reviews to promote something called novelstar (sometimes spelled "n0velstar" with a zero)

from https://www.librarything.com/work/8585029

afaik there's no way to search or see a list of recently added published reviews, right?

>93 norabelle414:, >95 norabelle414:
For posterity, I found these accounts doing it too but they are suspended now
https://www.librarything.com/profile/taylorjahlia
https://www.librarything.com/profile/LukeWarm
https://www.librarything.com/profile/AmbethOcampo

>96 norabelle414: More accounts adding published reviews (some of them for NovelStar but not all)
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Judy_Santos
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Oliver.Go
https://www.librarything.com/profile/JohnA23
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Albert.Gonzales
https://www.librarything.com/profile/markcruz
https://www.librarything.com/profile/JeanSanders
https://www.librarything.com/profile/rwang

These still need flags:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Agen_Casino_Online
https://www.librarything.com/profile/dafatoto
https://www.librarything.com/profile/sophiapaha

https://www.librarything.com/spam_works.php

We have plenty of items in the spam works section that need to be voted as No. Some users have chosen to catalogue their cell items with full description, but they aren't actively trying to sell these things, that I've seen (If I'm wrong, I'll change my stance on these.) If all they did was catalogue, then these are NOT spam and should not be marked as such.

>98 gilroy: But then adding a cover of an existing book to cell items ...?

>99 FAMeulstee: I would say that they had a faulty upload with something.

If they aren't actively pushing things for sale, they are not violating the TOS and as such it is NOT spam.

An awful lot of them are ghost editions anyway.

Others are bad Amazon entries.

>98 gilroy:
Yes, over forty were already passed as spam. There are over 100 left.

>100 gilroy: What gilroy said: possibly iffy, but not spam.

ETA: Dubious may be a better word than iffy.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/zo_ey

Igit! In my topic! Advertising for schoolwork cheating site.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/328153#7503015

>103 MarthaJeanne: Hmm. Admin option to remove the post doesn’t work the way I thought it should.

Does joining a group protect a profile from being removed by flags?

>105 2wonderY: My guess, based on all the accounts I found above, is that *new* accounts can be suspended with just one or two flags but older accounts require at least many more flags if not site admin intervention.

There was a period of looking for old Spam accounts and they disappeared quite readily.

>107 2wonderY: I think that was before the site went fully free - previously, free accounts would be dispatched quickly and paid accounts took extra effort. But now all accounts are free (with all the privileges of a paid account).

https://www.librarything.com/topic/332138 Gone.

Author spam (https://www.librarything.com/profile/prashenjit22)

L https://www.librarything.com/profile/uptopz

Re >105 2wonderY: This one isn't going either, so I would guess that it is length of membership. Which is funny, because if this member had just joined, I would not have flagged. It was no activity in over a year since joining that convinced me that the whole purpose of joining was to post that ad in Vietnamese. And in fact it was to get that content and their website link counted. As spam goes it doesn't interfere with people using the site, so I guess it comes down to how Tim feels about LT being used to up people's counts.

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/332168

Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/Rach123

https://www.librarything.com/profile/frubjhtyLee

https://www.librarything.com/topic/332266

Gone.

old, but still worth flagging?

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/3753235/reviews/20140810
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/nisha_sharma03

(work is possibly fake but not spam)

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/bhaijibettingtips
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/23655571/

review: https://www.librarything.com/review/171100056
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/23488092/
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/villabetting

author/publisher spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/332291
do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/sarmik

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/supportnerdsusa
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/24089588

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/operasupport1
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/23147480/
(cover image needs flagging, too)

I seem to have lost my flagging powers. Usually one flag will disappear profiles. Not today.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/CyberlabTechnologies

https://www.librarything.com/profile/alljobsgk

>120 2wonderY:

They're gone now.

Author spam

https://www.librarything.com/topic/13910#7513831

And while you are there, message 37 could use another flag.

(https://www.librarything.com/profile/timi.ogunjobi)

https://www.librarything.com/topic/328279#7514691
https://www.librarything.com/profile/abhivashist002

gone.

user:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/thorough-clean
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Thorough_Clean

work:
https://www.librarything.com/work/17802423/

user:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/pressurecleaner

works:
https://www.librarything.com/work/17741930/129976259
https://www.librarything.com/work/17741905/summary/129976145

>125 karenb:

Another user with one of the same "books": https://www.librarything.com/profile/Gregory-Noah

And this work: https://www.librarything.com/work/17781068

>126 lilithcat: But if they aren't advertising a cleaning service, they are allowed to catalog anything they want...

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/22718861/reviews/164243678

as >127 gilroy: notes, the related works are technically not spam, nor is the user. So close, though. The review definitely is spam.

(And yeah, it was possibly a bad call on my part for >125 karenb: . I'm trying to be more cautious these days.)

>127 gilroy:, >128 karenb:. I believe when the joining and adding spam links in places like reviews, the work and the profile should be flagged as Spam too.

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/SolarLi
(work already marked as spam)

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/13900177/reviews/98641815
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/perfectsolar264

Please let the review become flagged out. I'll mark the work as spam later.

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/yachtlights
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/11140242/71913075

ETA: and the work from >131 karenb:
https://www.librarything.com/work/13900177

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/mlmsoftwaretamilnadu
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/23832482/174639360

>130 karenb: Also author spam here:

https://www.librarything.com/author/httpwwwsolarlighting

I don't know how to deal with that.

>134 spiralsheep: Take a look again. Does that work, at least until timspalding, et al. can address it otherwise?

>135 jasbro: As mentioned in the first post here (I know it's kind of hidden toward the bottom), Tim has asked us not to change CK to indicate spammers. Once a spam author page has no works on it, it vanishes into the ether (technically still exists but there's no way to find it). There's no need to add a canonical name, and that can make things confusing in the future.

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/buyforgolds
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/15093309/109916539

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/checkwalmartgiftcard
(work already marked as spam)

author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/332584

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/KjShad

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/73320#7519229

Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/Mnmnm

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Roof-Installation
(work already flagged as spam)

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/footballc321
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/8137829/43346437

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Bestbalance.Boards
(work already flagged as spam)

review: https://www.librarything.com/review/57921858
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/unitedsoybeanboard
(please let the review flag out; I'll mark the work as spam later)

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/OutboardParts
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/22590904/163029878

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Complyscore
review: https://www.librarything.com/work/24948069/reviews/185233180
review: https://www.librarything.com/work/24938230/reviews/185142252
(please let the reviews flag out; I'll mark the work as spam later)

review: https://www.librarything.com/review/157590696
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Casacreditoestate
(as usual, I will flag the work after the review is gone)

ETA: works from yesterday's post
https://www.librarything.com/work/24948069
https://www.librarything.com/work/24938230

>136 norabelle414: Thanks - I had missed that.

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/HousePartyGame
review: https://www.librarything.com/work/22355070/reviews/160916973

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Mello.Marsh
on George Saunders, A Swim in the Pond on the Rain - Published Review
Suggesting using a site called novelstar.com

I see this has been reported on other accounts by others eg >96 norabelle414: and >97 norabelle414:

>145 elkiedee: I have deleted the review.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/PageTurn also entered a novelstar.com ad in published review.

Author spam
https://www.librarything.com/topic/332839

(https://www.librarything.com/profile/SujithSukumar)

https://www.librarything.com/topic/332840
Also part of author spam in >148 MarthaJeanne:

>148 MarthaJeanne: >149 gilroy: Both gone. Sorry, I don't hang out at the Green Dragon.

Should we do anything about the caption to his author picture?
https://www.librarything.com/author/sujithsukumar

>150 MarthaJeanne: I uploaded the picture again and flagged the original.

>150 MarthaJeanne:

i generally drop a comment asking the uploader to remove the biographical/promotional material, and directing them to the information on the "Contributing Photos to LibraryThing" wiki page. If they don't do so within a day or two, then I'll re-upload it and flag the original.

I think it's appropriate to give the person time to fix the issue, and they often do. I've occasionally received very nice "Thank you for letting me know" responses.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/EwanStokes
and
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331097#7527133

Flagged the message, giving the profile the benefit of the doubt for now (but will be watching).

ETA Doubt resolved--same message popped up in a group I don't hang out in. Flagged.

>153 haydninvienna:

What was the message?

It's gone now but something about Google paying, and what looked like bits of an ad for a gym. Plus a link.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Jingles1

https://www.librarything.com/profile/giatghesofahnx

https://www.librarything.com/profile/goaloojptong

https://www.librarything.com/profile/microsoftprokey

https://www.librarything.com/profile/quocthienpos

https://www.librarything.com/work/25901686/summary

Noticed what seems to be a lot of sock puppetry to promote this title, especially in lists.

>157 greeneyed_ives:

? Clearly not a spam work.

If there is a profile or review that you believe is spam, please provide the link.

>158 lilithcat: Sorry, the work isn't spam. I think there is sock puppetry to promote the work.

User: https://www.librarything.com/profile/4206969420
User: https://www.librarything.com/profile/ushsira
User: https://www.librarything.com/profile/flicerr
User: https://www.librarything.com/profile/allah-allah2

I pulled all of these users from this list: https://www.librarything.com/list/42765/all/Top-Five-Books-of-2020

Each user has the work on their list as #1. They also thumbed down other works, I think to try to manipulate the overall list score.

There appear to be 11 accounts total on that list that might qualify as sock puppets. There may be more associated with that work, but I can't be sure. The 4 above are just a sample.

I don't know. I see a lot of other people thumbing down multiple works on that list, and who do not have that particular work listed.

>160 lilithcat: I think thumbing down is fairly normal, but it was the pattern that struck me. 11 accounts, all with that work as #1. None of the 11 members have any other work listed in their personal top 5 list. A few of the members thumbed down works above the title in question. Many of the 11 just have the one title in their library period. No other works cataloged.

Edit: Also, looking at the 67 members who have the book cataloged, many just have the one title. A few members have more than the one book, but they all seem very similar. All titles about China, with 1 or 2 stars, except the title in question is 5 or 4 stars. There is a few members who do appear to have more active accounts, so I don't think the work itself is spam.

>159 greeneyed_ives: and most of them joined in a one week period in January and the only thing in most of their libraries is this book or two copies of it. Poor guy, I don’t think he’ll be able to brute force his way into better sales, it’s performing abysmally on Amazon.

Definitely sock puppets. All joined within the same couple weeks and have either just that one book rated 5 stars OR that one book rated 5 stars and a different book with the same title that they have rated 1 star

https://www.librarything.com/profile/slmundog
https://www.librarything.com/profile/fyunniy
https://www.librarything.com/profile/darren-wu
https://www.librarything.com/profile/drissmata
https://www.librarything.com/profile/gravityfalls01
https://www.librarything.com/profile/porsche-business
https://www.librarything.com/profile/flosky123
https://www.librarything.com/profile/hongren
https://www.librarything.com/profile/kimberly331
https://www.librarything.com/profile/yutittiese
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ramuppna
https://www.librarything.com/profile/5505500
https://www.librarything.com/profile/RAMSIS1221
https://www.librarything.com/profile/londonbridge00
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Peachy22-22
https://www.librarything.com/profile/murrattaa
https://www.librarything.com/profile/wormilli
https://www.librarything.com/profile/rosegarden-ww
https://www.librarything.com/profile/dippersandme
https://www.librarything.com/profile/frankling-wood
https://www.librarything.com/profile/imltt
https://www.librarything.com/profile/wonderboo
https://www.librarything.com/profile/wutanclan
https://www.librarything.com/profile/michelle-low
https://www.librarything.com/profile/dickky
https://www.librarything.com/profile/mrzhang
https://www.librarything.com/profile/hemminllgway
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ildinamurni
https://www.librarything.com/profile/acticeaction
https://www.librarything.com/profile/frenchkisses
https://www.librarything.com/profile/puppetmasterohio (does that mean this one is the leader?)
https://www.librarything.com/profile/snowfla8e
https://www.librarything.com/profile/populius
https://www.librarything.com/profile/timberlandman
https://www.librarything.com/profile/lemontreees
https://www.librarything.com/profile/theofficeuk
https://www.librarything.com/profile/packerus
https://www.librarything.com/profile/flunkers3
https://www.librarything.com/profile/tih78d
https://www.librarything.com/profile/drapostina
https://www.librarything.com/profile/AndrewAndrew
https://www.librarything.com/profile/cyyyc99
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Wunder1133
https://www.librarything.com/profile/emily-hongkong
https://www.librarything.com/profile/summer-lindsey
https://www.librarything.com/profile/booknerdreader
https://www.librarything.com/profile/slummter
https://www.librarything.com/profile/princesswonderbra
https://www.librarything.com/profile/tantantan
https://www.librarything.com/profile/draculasknight
https://www.librarything.com/profile/133wu133
https://www.librarything.com/profile/4206969420

More evidence:
This list - https://www.librarything.com/list/12006/all/All-Things-China - 2 established users listed ~5 books each and 8 new users with only this book listed this book
This topic from January where 3 sock puppets talk to each other - https://www.librarything.com/topic/328399
This review has 13 thumbs. We can't see who gives thumbs but its extremely unusual for even popular books to get that many thumbs on a review - https://www.librarything.com/work/25901686/reviews/194593093

>163 norabelle414: Thank you for more thoroughly documenting the issue! I don't really post to threads much, but I felt this was too weird not to post about it.

>163 norabelle414:

Considering all that, I'd suggest you report it to Tim.

>157 greeneyed_ives: I'm looking at this now. Thanks!

ETA: fixed/removed. That was a large batch of sock puppets! Also recalculated the Understanding China: Learning from China's Past, Present, and Future work to reflect the appropriate number of (real) members. Thanks for the heads up.

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/drugrehablop
review: https://www.librarything.com/work/22811775/reviews/165134570
review: https://www.librarything.com/work/22811770/reviews/165134540

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/laserman123
review: https://www.librarything.com/work/18723239/reviews/136362487

Is there some reason why you are not marking those works as spam?

>169 MarthaJeanne: To flag the reviews away first. It's a lot easier to flag a review on a regular work than on a work that's already been marked as spam.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Roofing-Company
(work already marked as spam)

Just a silly question, but does anybody really think that spam like that is going to get them contracts?

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/20559834
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/roofingNM

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/21784091
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/airroof

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/15414275/reviews/117740934
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/crstmarkroof
(once the review is flagged away, I'll mark the work as spam)

>173 MarthaJeanne: Having links on a popular website can boost their rankings in Google search, regardless of whether someone clicks on the link. They are not posting with the intention of getting any business here, just that someone might search for "roofing company {town}" and be directed here and then to their website

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/shellharboursecurity
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/26661442

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Security_Service
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/21385816/

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/7746448
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/helpstroi

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/21423845/reviews/152584058
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/games2rule
(work to be flagged as spam after the review is gone)

>177 karenb: That first one also has a review.

new member pushing his books
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333200#n7538571
ETA: now gone

left message
https://www.librarything.com/profile/whatrocks (don't flag)

>178 MarthaJeanne: True, but it wasn't an egregious review full of links etc. It seems to be gone, as well.

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/guildinvestment
review: https://www.librarything.com/work/19946842/reviews/144069946

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/327635#7539985 (plus another topic which is already gone)
Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/jtkav27

essays for sale
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328587#7541325

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Kaylee9921

>183 Taphophile13:

Gone

Author spam:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/333451
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333450
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333449
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333448

Message left on her profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Briannagallemore

Long time member posting about their new book:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/333560#755004

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Cashkits

Left a message.

>187 2wonderY: Gone.

New member (https://www.librarything.com/profile/CoffeeCan) filling the threads with a questionaire:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/333510#7550624
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333417#7550625
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331273#7550626
https://www.librarything.com/topic/329324#7550627
https://www.librarything.com/topic/305380#7550628
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333538#7550635
https://www.librarything.com/topic/332354#7550639
https://www.librarything.com/topic/332876#7550640
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331265#7550645

Already flagged:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333517#7550644
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333140#7550638

>189 FAMeulstee:

Member and posts are gone.

>191 2wonderY:, >192 2wonderY: Can you give a little more as to WHY these profiles are flagged? Please?

>193 gilroy: I suspect, as has happened to me recently, the posts were gone before she could copy the URLs over. In the case of >192 2wonderY:, see https://www.librarything.com/topic/333596 and https://www.librarything.com/topic/298184#7551506

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/333598

I've left a message on his profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Eddboy96

>193 gilroy: Sorry; they were spamming threads wholesale.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Johnsonobey

Author spam https://www.librarything.com/topic/333627#n7552773

(https://www.librarything.com/profile/russiniet)

https://www.librarything.com/topic/333628

I know the spammer is gone, but one more flag will get the URL topic out of talk.

>198 MarthaJeanne: Done

Please give this one another flag

https://www.librarything.com/profile/ElectronicsBaazar

and
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ECG.Queensland

https://www.librarything.com/profile/pgslot

Author spam

https://www.librarything.com/topic/188145#7553246

>202 2wonderY:

The sad thing is that I'd really like to have his book, but it's $85.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/reidbyers

https://www.librarything.com/profile/gimdrtceLee

https://www.librarything.com/topic/333648#n7553646

Please continue to flag the post until it totally disappears. We don't want the spam URL showing ing the talk lists.

Gone. That was fast.

Lloyd_Cruz a member since May 2021, has been using the “Published Review” box to push NovelStar, a self-publishing venture. He has done this 41 times. His own page shows no books.

>206 MarthaJeanne: Yes, I flagged him, and his link to the “published review” of the six volume Oxford illustrated Jane Austen is gone. No way to know what other books he posted his spam message on, however. He has a medal for linking published reviews. LOL

>207 booksaplenty1949: Published review spam is somewhat common and very hard to find. Thankfully when the account is removed all of their published reviews are also removed.

I recommended a site improvement to allow us to see all published reviews in one place so we can catch spam easier. Looks like it might actually happen (maybe) (eventually)
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333005

https://www.librarything.com/topic/333751
Author spam

(Do not flag, already left note)https://www.librarything.com/profile/susiehelme

Another account promoting NovelStar in the published reviews: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Paul.Molive

https://www.librarything.com/topic/333878
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333877
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333876

Author spam (https://www.librarything.com/profile/mbfergusonbooks)

I could have made this one disappear quietly this morning. But it struck me as too cute!

https://www.librarything.com/profile/startalaundromat

>212 2wonderY:

It's gone. What was cute about it?

It’s just such a narrow business niche, and their blurb was so matter of fact. Compared to all the other Spam accounts, it seemed quaint.

Based on the way they're posting and the fact that they just joined today, I'm guessing this is the author:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Kitano_Kakashi

Offending threads:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328198#7562237
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333899
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333898

>215 gilroy:

I'm not convinced at this point. I'd need more evidence.

>215 gilroy:, >216 lilithcat: It looks as if the book may have been published yesterday?

Shadow Shinjuku
Ryu Takeshi
Boris Martinovic, Jul 23, 2021 - 375 pages
https://books.google.com/books/about/Shadow_Shinjuku.html?id=r8w5EAAAQBAJ

And the poster is the only member listing the books. Does seem suspicious.

If this person is not the author, s/he is very probably being paid to put up promotional posts. This is also against the ToS.

These just don't read like someone really excited about a book so that they feel they have to join a website to tell the world about it.

At this point the three posts have visible flags.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/333906

Author spam
(https://www.librarything.com/profile/Shrinivas22)

Ah! She deleted her post. I think we could continue to flag it, to removed the title from talk.

Gone.

Spam work: http://www.librarything.com/work/26862783

https://www.librarything.com/profile/chavanhospitals

See: https://www.librarything.com/pic/8472984

https://www.librarything.com/profile/MichaelDrakich
(Warned once before back in 2018. I posted the note again, but want to flag.)

Author spam:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/334034

I certainly think that if MichaelDrakich tries it again in a year or three we need to assume that he is not teachable.

Active spammer:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/334054#7567691
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333681#7567689
https://www.librarything.com/topic/330748#7567687
https://www.librarything.com/topic/327969#7567686
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331925#7567685
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328292#7567684
https://www.librarything.com/topic/332237#7567682

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/20185621/reviews/145673531
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/NFLWeatherReport
(will flag the work after the review is gone)

https://www.librarything.com/topic/334193#n7571847
Bob__Reader has been blocked in another thread as a sock puppet under the name Bob_Reader.
Appears to be indirect promotion of a book sale and when this is questioned (see post 8 in same thread) multiple flags appear, possibly from fake accounts.

>228 wcarter: Now a Bob____Reader has appeared and posted in https://www.librarything.com/topic/228195#n7572135.

>229 amanda4242: He's gone.

Author spam

https://www.librarything.com/topic/334250

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Dkogans

Haven't seen this type of spam before, hopefully never again. https://www.librarything.com/topic/334256#unread

>232 rabbitprincess: And the matching profile:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/AK47gunssilencers

>232 rabbitprincess:, >233 gilroy:

He has been silenced. (Pun very much intended.)

Spammer https://www.librarything.com/profile/RaquelAHoskin

https://www.librarything.com/topic/327675#7574817
https://www.librarything.com/topic/334305#7574819
https://www.librarything.com/topic/331825#7574820
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333373#7574821
https://www.librarything.com/topic/329496#7574822
https://www.librarything.com/topic/334302#7574823
https://www.librarything.com/topic/334001#7574824
https://www.librarything.com/topic/332570#7574825
https://www.librarything.com/topic/332814#7574826
https://www.librarything.com/topic/332450#7574827

>235 FAMeulstee:

Gone now.

Had to save the verbiage on another spam account because it’s so expressive, yet dense:

As the demonstration we guarantee where you might want to get control on our official for pressing the nectar from profound inside they have been avoiding others of getting our exotic body to impact where tits to tits conflicting with you and a great deal more, They do know they best and where to touch and kiss play with some keeping in mind the end goal to make your targets driving as hard and delicate you would like or blended form of take strokes on your private ports by taking body to body massage in Delhi to, have all engaging assume that you scarcely stop yourself adoring with desire and beguiling and excellence that meet your certain high calibre in Delhi. Visit: https

https://www.librarything.com/profile/EpicSpa

Tell me if I offend here, and I will delete it.

>238 2wonderY:

Oh, please don't delete it! That's too funny.

It's safe to say google translate will not be replacing translators any time soon :)

Repeat author spam post.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/334326

I’ve already messaged him. Someone else want to try?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/didipostman

I have a badge for flagging 250+ spam members and I imagine a lot of other people do too. If one clicks on the links on this reporting thread one almost invariably sees the message that the member has been reported for spam. My understanding was that this thread was for queries about dubious cases, not a reference to the obvious spammers one had already flagged.

>244 booksaplenty1949: No, the topic for dubious cases is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/322975#

This topic is for obvious cases. Although it does not take many experienced members flagging the accounts to suspend them, it does take more than one. I flagged the accounts in >242 2wonderY: and >243 2wonderY: earlier. Presumably I was at least the 2nd account to flag them but they were not yet suspended after I did. So it is still useful to post obvious cases here so other users can flag them and they can get suspended.

The ones in >243 2wonderY: are gone now.

A spam message takes four flags to delete or hide. I think accounts may vary depending on the status of the flaggers.

I think sometimes the process is just slower than usual for no particular reason. I go to new profile pictures every morning to look for spam accounts. Usually, they disappear quickly. But only if they don’t, I post them here.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/ranazeeshanahmad.com

started a group for his website design business
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23490/Zee4ITWorld

ETA: member has been removed
the group picture is also gone but the group is still there

ETA2: all gone now

I'm guessing this is the author being disingenuous, based on the similarity between the user name on this brand new account with no other books listed and the author's name on Amazon:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/334369

>249 Marissa_Doyle: You'd think he would at least enter his book before trying to advertise it.

I don't recommend looking at the bit available on Amazon. The 'literary' bit means that it doesn't make sense.

"These journals are special - their meaningful."

>249 Marissa_Doyle: I left a message on the profile already

>249 Marissa_Doyle:

It would be helpful if you would link to the profile.

>252 lilithcat: Profile was https://www.librarything.com/profile/J.R.18189 (Please don't flag.)

Author spam:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/334463
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Mojoblogs (don't flag; message left)

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Awsmvpn

https://www.librarything.com/topic/334474#n7579914

Gone.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/334512
https://www.librarything.com/profile/tunglinh17492

Took me a minute, but according to google translate the links on their profile and words randomly inserted into the text of their Talk post are selling a water purifier

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/18762162/reviews/136622639
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Shanaya04

(will flag work after the review is flagged away)

"just published my debut novel on Amazon and six sample chapters are available to read on the Kindle version link"
https://www.librarything.com/topic/334530

Author was already advised not to advertise on Aug 7:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/KirstenBeckworth

>258 Taphophile13:

You mean that's not her first post? Color me shocked.

>258 Taphophile13: See also extremely obvious sock puppets:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/KirstenBeck0811
https://www.librarything.com/profile/KirstenB0811

works:
https://www.librarything.com/work/25806687/193546094
https://www.librarything.com/work/25806677/193546050
https://www.librarything.com/work/25806674/193546013

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/dobsonexperts

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/expertsconsult
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/23332529

>258 Taphophile13: >260 norabelle414: What does she think this is, GoodReads? I mean no need for sockpuppets here...

Do we flag the sock puppets or notify staff?

>264 2wonderY:

See >1 lilithcat::

"Suspected sock-puppetry to promote a book, write fake reviews, and/or stack ratings: do not flag the profile, but report to staff here or by message, so staff can investigate. "

Talk:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/334488#7583455
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333966#7583456

>266 FAMeulstee: Is gone, and the next one:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/333966#7583466

Gone

Talk: https://www.librarything.com/topic/334652

Profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Roylingster

>268 Marissa_Doyle: I'm assuming that was author spam. Topic is gone.

About time for a new thread, I think.