Spam reporting thread #69

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.)

Most be that time of night.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/311679#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ysnc

https://www.librarything.com/topic/311680#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/vihorhgyLee

(Gone two seconds after I posted this)

https://www.librarything.com/profile/tradi321
https://www.librarything.com/work/13655567/95315182

>3 karenb: Of course it's been there for over six years.

new group: 7 ways to deal with bad smell of apartment toilets
https://www.librarything.com/groups/ruthamcauquanghong

profile and group now gone

Hoping this is just an enthusiastic author.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/311736#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/John_Lars_Zwerenz

I've flagged the post; I'm off to leave the Welcome to LT post on his profile.

Note to self

carolsteffes new member today joined several groups. I flagged the profile for a spam link in the description of one of the profile images.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/311807
Author Spam

(profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/SamChege -- Has already been noted)

Just in case

https://www.librarything.com/topic/311816#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/lbnc

Already gone, of course.

Business "know-how": https://www.librarything.com/topic/121971#6938476
Flagged the profile as well.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/311920

Spamming on a new spam topic!

Both messages and both members need flagging.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/RudeWarner could still use flags.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/arjashahlaw
https://www.librarything.com/work/23781061/174085487

>11 MarthaJeanne: RudeWarner is a lifetime account, so it'll take staff intervention. I left a note for Kristi (I think she's the right person to contact now that Loranne is gone?)

<13
Email to info@LT also works.

>13 norabelle414: Kristi was the right person to message. The account is suspended now.

>15 norabelle414: Great! If lifetime accounts are hard to flag for spamming, maybe that shouldn't count for people who got free lifetime when the signed up by app today. Or make it life + fifty books.

>16 MarthaJeanne: Or even just make it take many more flags than a free account? Thankfully it seems like the spammers haven't figured out how to get free lifetime accounts, since we don't run across it very often.

It's just SOOOO satisfying to see them disappear, but when they don't it's frustrating. Seeing the bad guys disappear is all the pay we get for this work.

Author spam: http://www.librarything.com/topic/312001

He also started a group to promote his audio books: http://www.librarything.com/groups/freeaudiobooks

I've left a comment on his profile: http://www.librarything.com/profile/GuyLozier

Just in case:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/312042#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/paulbenson

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/healthentic
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/15912241/117602666
(Could find no record of such a work -- online, at Amazon, or Worldcat)

http://www.librarything.com/topic/312060
http://www.librarything.com/profile/BernadRcPrintzo

Has catalogued a couple of books (one of which may be real) but still spammer.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Dr..Naval.Kumar
https://www.librarything.com/work/23798479/174283263

https://www.librarything.com/topic/312111
https://www.librarything.com/profile/gytfdrelLee

Take a look at this yahoo, the book he added, incorrectly combined with a real book and the review

https://www.librarything.com/profile/jared111

https://www.librarything.com/work/22088739/reviews/173618280

This profile

http://www.librarything.com/profile/JelasCasino

for posting spam instead of a published review:

http://www.librarything.com/work/708696

>25 2wonderY: Now at https://www.librarything.com/work/23807475 because I separated it.

Spamming random threads

http://www.librarything.com/profile/Budomiks

https://www.librarything.com/groups/parttimejobsaroundme
https://www.librarything.com/groups/workingparttime

both started by
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ochaya_oscar

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

https://www.librarything.com/work/22545113/162641916
https://www.librarything.com/work/22539250/162579324

https://www.librarything.com/work/22539724/162582282

https://www.librarything.com/profile/meerasbistro
https://www.librarything.com/work/23788688/174172147

https://www.librarything.com/profile/aromatherapy
https://www.librarything.com/work/13890654/98555818
https://www.librarything.com/work/13865917/98319186

Author spam: http://www.librarything.com/topic/312313

http://www.librarything.com/profile/SamChege

Looks like this is not his first foray into spam. There's a profile comment from last month.

>35 lilithcat: There's a review as well: https://www.librarything.com/work/23547218/reviews/174643748

>36 norabelle414:

Yes, but it's not a TOS violation for an author to review his own book. Tacky, but not flaggable.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/312348
http://www.librarything.com/profile/kirlinjackeline
Work is not spam.

Gone now.

>38 MarthaJeanne:

Gone.

Author spam
http://www.librarything.com/topic/312504

(Do not flag http://www.librarything.com/profile/Swarnendu)

Gone now.

My computer is being infernally slow this morning.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/JunkAutosMiami

http://www.librarything.com/profile/jeepwranglersanjose

What appears to be a very feeble attempt by an author to advertise his books:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/312708
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312709

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

I've left a message on his profile.

>43 lilithcat: He just posted another one:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312711#

and his group:
https://www.librarything.com/groups/booknumberone

The Spam Works voting seems to be a lot of zero copy separations and then marked as spam, which is incorrect. I managed to recombine them, but they still need at least two votes to kill the spam suggestion.

Plus, maybe we should let staff know that there's a user who misunderstands the zero copy situation?

Enthusiastic author: https://www.librarything.com/profile/ShelleyBernhard
Do not flag; I've left a message.

Do flag:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312772
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312773
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312774
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312775
https://www.librarything.com/groups/arealmotherchildrenb

Author spam:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/312787
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312788
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312789
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312790
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312791
https://www.librarything.com/groups/childrenschristmasbo

Message left on his profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/johnsherwood

You never know.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/312792#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/uhthygdiLee

Flag the topic and the account. Please.

ETA: Naturally, two seconds after I give up, and hit enter, both are gone. No worries.

Enthusiastic publisher: https://www.librarything.com/profile/CentraPublishing
I did leave a profile message but I tend to be harsher on publishers (they should know better) than authors so I won't tell you if I think you should flag or not :-)

Definitely flag:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312606#6966884
https://www.librarything.com/topic/311737#6966888
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312592#6966887
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312065#6966883

The messages are gone.

Putting the same message up multiple times without any connection to the topic is just plain nasty spam.

>50 MarthaJeanne: That's a good note to the profile. I might do the same thing. Did anyone flag the profile? I think the behavior is very spam.

Well, good grief. Two of those messages were on people's reading blogs.

>49 norabelle414: (and others) Some people don't qualify for kindness. Account is now tombified (yes, that is too a word, because I just made it). I loathe spammers.

>53 Lyndatrue: I believe everyone qualifies for kindness, but I guess that's just me.

Author just joined and created group for his book:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313007#
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313008
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313010#
https://www.librarything.com/groups/richardracerbooks

don't flag, leaving note
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Richardracer

>55 Taphophile13:

Adding:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313009
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313011
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313012
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313013

still needs flags

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313012

>57 2wonderY: Done.

Another author (https://www.librarything.com/profile/Brendaswain)

Group https://www.librarything.com/groups/brendaswainbooks

Topics there and at https://www.librarything.com/topic/313026- gone

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313027#
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313025
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313028

>59 MarthaJeanne: All topics gone.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/313073

Author http://www.librarything.com/profile/mmyers101att.net has been warned before (Jan 2016) about promotion.

Note the book is in the subject, so any answers there leave the title visible in book talk.

ETA Gone now.

If previously warned, I don't care how long ago, that's a flagging offense to me... But I'm mean and heartless...

I didn't flag her, but if anyone had answered the spam message I would have.

Several links to Mumbai escort services in haiku:

http://www.librarything.com/work/393681#haiku

I have deleted the spam placed there by http://www.librarything.com/profile/mumbai_girls.

Just checked. That account is now suspended.

new member

http://www.librarything.com/profile/TimothyStewart

created a new group and posted in all the groups he joined.

http://www.librarything.com/groups/childrenchristmasboo

I left a profile message.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/RemodelServices
https://www.librarything.com/work/16708695/122997526
https://www.librarything.com/work/16708693/122997502

>66 2wonderY: http://www.librarything.com/topic/313179
http://www.librarything.com/topic/313178
http://www.librarything.com/topic/313180

>66 2wonderY:, 68

Also

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313181

>69 lilithcat: That one is now gone.

The only topic still active is https://www.librarything.com/topic/313177 - also gone now.

instant keto group with naval warfare word salad descriptioin
https://www.librarything.com/groups/instantketo

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

This group still needs a flag or two

https://www.librarything.com/groups/childrenchristmasboo

>71 Taphophile13: Gone.

>72 2wonderY: I just put a new topic up there asking why anyone would pay $25 for this self-published book, sight unseen when there are so many great classic children's Christmas books going for much less.

>73 MarthaJeanne: **chuckle** A good use of the page.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/AnjaliSingh
https://www.librarything.com/work/23927015/175667178
https://www.librarything.com/work/23922107/175620392

I'm not sure what's going with this work. Looks like someone has combined a bunch of different works together, possibly including spam? The reviews talk about different works -- including spam works.

(I found it in the library of the user in >75 karenb: -- even though I separated their title out of the larger work.)

https://www.librarything.com/work/23641284/175575788

>76 karenb:

I'm in the process of separating out the different works. Help always welcome!

The editions page is nearly empty, but the work still shows 851 copies.

https://www.librarything.com/work/23641284

And still slews of covers. Some are flagged, wrongly, as "spam" and/or "not a cover". I've gone through and flagged them as "inapplicable to this work".

Was this related or somehow linked to one of our black hole works where all sorts of wrong things got combined incorrectly?

I think it has to be a black hole work.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/Karen1357

and the work is spam as well
http://www.librarything.com/work/23931891

It's the real name of the business at the end of the link in the profile description.

New group looking for beta readers for novel:
https://www.librarything.com/groups/buscobetareaders

My Spanish is decades old so I don't trust myself to craft an adequate message to the author. Perhaps someone else can advise the author:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/MargoAndBattle

One user started a spam topic and added a work that apparently names the company that sells the stuff in the spam topic.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313290
https://www.librarything.com/work/23938695/175759326

>84 karenb: All that's left now is the work, which needs a couple more flags to vanish into the obscurity it deserves. The user is suspended, and the topics are entirely gone.

I'm off to sleep, perchance to dream...

>83 Taphophile13: >84 karenb: added a flag. Looks like 1 more is needed.

>86 haydninvienna: Gone.

Over on the spam folder, I noticed a "post" which has been given the "lifesaver" option (and I'm not taking it, because I agree with the estimation of its spam-like qualities).

Google translate says:

"Greetings to all, I welcome this group of readers from which I hope we get the most benefit for recreational reading. I hope we share many enriching experiences for everyone and share our resources or experiences."

Note that it is in a group created by the poster:

https://www.librarything.com/profile/gmercado6

My favorite part of this is the single tag though. She's new, and those are actual books in her account. I dunno. I'd try using Google to translate the standard "You've transgressed, but it's your first time, and here's where the rules are," but there's no sign that those rules will be helpful.

Far as I know, they're mostly just in English. She's from San Juan (or so the profile says).

I dunno. I'm feeling generous, and will defer to someone else making the hard decisions.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313303
https://www.librarything.com/groups/clubdelectoresdeuagm

To be clear, I'm not rescuing the post from the spam folder, and I did flag the group (but unflagged it, awaiting group consensus). It's really borderline, all of it, and I prefer someone else making the decisions of what to do...

>88 Lyndatrue: UAGM is a private university in San Juan. Looks legit to me.
http://agmus.suagm.edu/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ana_G._M%C3%A9ndez_University

>88 Lyndatrue: A longtime LT member from San Juan has joined the group.

>89 Taphophile13: As I'd said, I completely defer to people with kinder, gentler dispositions. Yes, I know that UAGM is a real University (hence my first moment of "Wait just a minute...or so"). I posted that more than an hour ago, and I'm usually kinder as the day wears on. I've learned to merely report, and not to take action, when things seem borderline.

No worries, y'all. I'm a slow learner, but I prefer to err on the side of caution (especially of late). So it goes.

>91 Lyndatrue: Nothing wrong with caution. Better to ask first.

The work week has begun!
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313314
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313313
https://www.librarything.com/profile/bcvbcv

So many links!

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Kiyaa_Senn
https://www.librarything.com/work/23922559/175626144
(review: https://www.librarything.com/work/23922559/reviews/175626144)

(ETA: I also notified TPTB about the spammy author.)

https://www.librarything.com/profile/panditshambhunathji
https://www.librarything.com/work/23912808/175491305
https://www.librarything.com/work/23912803/175491297
https://www.librarything.com/work/23912798/175491289
https://www.librarything.com/work/23912794/175491279
https://www.librarything.com/work/23912792/175491275
(and all the reviews, if you're feeling detailed)

https://www.librarything.com/profile/digitalteach
https://www.librarything.com/work/23933738/175715862
https://www.librarything.com/work/23878874/175053260

https://www.librarything.com/profile/sravanthienugula
https://www.librarything.com/work/20916686/149995001

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Life-Works-Recovery
https://www.librarything.com/work/23947141/175863555

http://www.librarything.com/profile/kuppai
is now posting Spam messages

http://www.librarything.com/topic/313458

>98 2wonderY: Well, it is good that they are learning that entering a few books doesn't beat LT's spam systems. Maybe they will even pass that on.

Enthusiastic Author syndrome strikes again:

https://www.librarything.com/profile/AdrianVAuthor
(Already has a comment)

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313568#
(Needs two more flags, please.)

Here's another (but one that deserves no pity). I've seen her before, and note the leftover bits from lesmel on the profile (which I'm flagging).

https://www.librarything.com/profile/leann1234
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313570

(It masquerades as a plea for help, in the world's worst run-on sentence.)

ETA: Everything is now done, and thanks to others for their help.

>101 Lyndatrue:

Both topic and poster are now gone.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313577#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/oberebvter

This is cheeky: https://www.librarything.com/topic/313581#
Flagged the profile and all 3 messages.

>104 haydninvienna:

4 messages now!

>104 haydninvienna: Gone.

Overenthusiastic author spam?:https://www.librarything.com/topic/313589#6983966

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313589#6983966

Well, whatever it was, it's gone now.

And MarthaJeanne left a message for the new member.

It may not even have been author spam, but it could well have been. It was certainly a misuse of talk, and new member, book nobody has entered, self published recently is awfully suspicious. I didn't mention spam, just said that the way to review a book is by entering it first and entering the review there.

>111 MarthaJeanne: Yes. I did note that no-one had entered any copies of the book, not even the poster.

There is now a 0 copy work, as I was trying to find out more about it and mistakenly entered it for a few moments.

I got a Thank you from http://www.librarything.com/profile/RevReal, and the book is now entered with the review there. Just goes to show that some of these people really are teachable.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313629#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/aulaittner

make money online, posted in combiners thread

https://www.librarything.com/topic/224493#6984622
https://www.librarything.com/profile/extra_money_online

and already gone

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313636#

Enthusiastic author, do not flag, I've left a message: https://www.librarything.com/profile/steffanrenee

https://www.librarything.com/profile/navistar96/stats/library

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313643

Note: this looks like an abandoned account from 2011.

>117 MarthaJeanne: Just in case someone else is puzzled, there's extra stuff beyond the profile on the provided link. The profile is:

https://www.librarything.com/profile/navistar96

>116 norabelle414: http://www.librarything.com/topic/313655

https://www.librarything.com/profile/steffanrenee is at it again.

Gone.

Enthusiastic author, do not flag. I've left a message.

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

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313711
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313714
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313713
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313712

ETA: and she's created a group. https://www.librarything.com/groups/colormyworldchildren

>120 amanda4242: There's two more posts that need one more flag, within that group. I really think that "Enthusiastic Author" isn't quite right here. She knows all the tricks, and she's pulled out all the stops. If the account isn't locked by tomorrow morning, I may flag it myself.

For reference, the two topics in the group (which is join to post/flag) are:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313716
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313715

>121 Lyndatrue: Those are gone now.

Needs another flag:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/313733

Don't flag profile:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/minus1digit

I left note.

Translation Services
https://www.librarything.com/groups/samedaytranslationse

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

Translation Services
https://www.librarything.com/groups/samedaytranslationse

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

and poof!

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

translation sez selling sanitaryware products at the best prices.

>126 2wonderY: Gone.

I'm having problems getting this to stop showing an unread message.

ETA That worked.

Okay, this is NOT spam, but some of the kindest people I know frequent the thread, and I hope someone steps up to this.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313806#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ajalvarezr

His primary language is Espanol, but he appears to speak and read English as well. After putting his profile statement through Google Translate, I was touched, and am hoping that someone will provide an explanation of why his library should be public, rather than private, and perhaps provide a Welcome to LT while you're at it.

I'm not up to it, but I'm hoping someone else is.

I'm afraid my Spanish is pretty much non-existent, so I hope someone who can will follow up.

>129 lilithcat: I don't think that it needs to be in Spanish at all. I'm just looking for someone who has more kindness than I...

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313813#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/sbxfred

https://www.librarything.com/profile/WilliamEsper
https://www.librarything.com/work/23980094/176242266

https://www.librarything.com/profile/mddialer
https://www.librarything.com/work/23965935/176013143
https://www.librarything.com/work/23942861/175787362

https://www.librarything.com/profile/nubelloclinic
https://www.librarything.com/work/23980428/176244621

https://www.librarything.com/profile/jyotishmart
https://www.librarything.com/work/23999214/176424985

https://www.librarything.com/profile/indianastrolog0
https://www.librarything.com/work/24005055/176490456

https://www.librarything.com/profile/kiaoptima91
https://www.librarything.com/work/13853991/98229388

Logo design:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/leryi
http://www.librarything.com/topic/314117

>135 karenb:, >136 lilithcat: Both gone.

Author spam

http://www.librarything.com/topic/314123
http://www.librarything.com/groups/crisopeyabookclub

(http://www.librarything.com/profile/yavianchaa)

Work spam

http://www.librarything.com/work/24018694#haiku

>139 passion4reading: I have flagged it. See the CK history (all) to see that it was spam.

>140 MarthaJeanne: Thank you. I didn't know how to flag a work spam before, only members :)

Merry Christmas!

>141 passion4reading: It's on the edition page.

Has anyone gone into CK history to see where else that member planted spam?

>138 MarthaJeanne: Group was recreated and author is posting spam posts again.
I'm flagging the profile this time.

>144 gilroy: He's suspended now.

author offering chance to win his book:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/314183#
https://www.librarything.com/groups/guyboulianne

does anyone have sufficient French skills to advise the author:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/guyboulianne

>146 Taphophile13: I just used Google Translate to convert the usual message (with an extra note at the bottom saying that I don't speak French, and that I used google translate to do it).

ETA: The topic's gone. The group needs more flags.

>147 Lyndatrue: Thanks. That should work and the book give-away post is already gone.

>148 Taphophile13: Interesting to note that he apparently speaks English, and sent an apology, and a suggestion that the group should also be deleted. I also have a "friend" request from him, and I'm trying to think of a kind way to say no.

Ah, well. It was nice to see an apology, just the same.

>149 Lyndatrue: Just say that "friend" has a much different usage here than other sites.

>149 Lyndatrue: An apology is nicer than arguing with you that they should be allowed to advertise their work. I think only he or staff can delete the group.

Some members respond that they only friend people they know in real life. Or you can just ignore him.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/TextYourExBF
https://www.librarything.com/work/24028293
https://www.librarything.com/work/24028291

ETA: If you have any doubts, maybe this tag will help: "text your ex back scam" LOL

>152 karenb: Not to mention that the cover displayed is for a different title.

Getting back the man For what it's worth, Amazon hasn't heard of that one either.

>153 MarthaJeanne:

Getting back the man -- The cover matches the title, and it's in the library of a member with a couple thousand books. So okay enough, is my guess?

This is very weird, because it doesn't fit well in that library. But, yes, I think it's OK.

Note that it has the spam tags attached to it, but they are not from the member's library.

>155 MarthaJeanne:
Yes, the persistence of tags across combining & separating can produce odd results.

Another spam account & work:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/NewYorkShirtCompany
https://www.librarything.com/work/24014020/176578860

Author/publisher spam: http://www.librarything.com/topic/314274

Profile: http://www.librarything.com/profile/Larraine.Brandon

(Comment left.)

Well, that was fast.

Spam group
http://www.librarything.com/groups/awesomeonlinestore

new member says he's an SEO manager, some valid titles, a few that might be spam; I'm not sure.
http://www.librarything.com/profile/HenceTherik

>159 2wonderY: Books were all entered from Amazon, so even the spammy looking singletons aren't officially spam.

(But starting that group makes him a spammer.)

>159 2wonderY: He also made a recommendation that is odd:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/HenceTherik/recommendations/bymember

http://www.librarything.com/topic/309399#7004462

Author spam from someone who ought to know better, since he's been a member for over a year.
http://www.librarything.com/profile/DrDhillon

>162 MarthaJeanne: I feel like he got suspended for advertising once before for some reason.

>162 MarthaJeanne: I left a message on the profile. I never understand someone who uploads book titles that they are clearly the author of, and then rates them. Nice to see that the author thinks they all deserve five stars. I note that some of the books are owned by more than one member...

There's more that I might say, but I'm beginning to lose hope. Ah, well.

It's almost the new year. Joyous holidays to you all. :-}

ETA:
>163 gilroy: I believe the same. In fact, it seems that there was a previous comment on his profile about it...

>163 gilroy: You're right. http://www.librarything.com/topic/291724#6559869 and several other messages after that.

Obviously not teachable.

>165 MarthaJeanne: The Sandy Harper profile in that post was suspended and is now back as Sandy Harp:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/SandyHarp

I just flagged both accounts, and suggest that they are both deserving of it. I'd be unsurprised to find that it was the same person behind both, in the end...

Both are now suspended.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/timestribute
https://www.librarything.com/work/23991906/176364159

More author spam.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/314544

(http://www.librarything.com/profile/Karin_Gertsch)

Gone.

https://www.librarything.com/work/24023960/176669661
https://www.librarything.com/profile/oliviamatthew

https://www.librarything.com/work/22195847

Really obnoxious author spam posting

http://www.librarything.com/topic/314755

Someone else better leave a message. I won't be nice.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/Braschi13

Author spam, and nasty at that: https://www.librarything.com/topic/314755#7010649

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Braschi13
https://www.librarything.com/spam_works.php

>172 2wonderY:

I've left a message, but if he's anything like the subject of his book, he'll ignore it.

The topic was spam. The work isn't.

>173 haydninvienna:

Whatever you may think of the book, it's not spam. It's an actual book.

>172 2wonderY: >174 lilithcat: The profile suggests that other kinds of spam will follow.

I’ve flagged the book as spam.

>177 haydninvienna:

Please read the "Spam Works Guidelines": https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/HelpThing:Spam_works

And note: Abuse of the guidelines is against the Terms of Service.

>178 lilithcat: I accidentally flagged the book as spam while I was looking at it. I wasn't too worried, at first, because I figured I'd just delete the flag. Nope, not possible. Please go vote against my flag, unless you can explain how I can remove it.

I plead a sudden spasm of stupidity in the original flagging.

https://www.librarything.com/work/24059331

Help?

ETA: It's gone now, for whatever reason, and I'm going to be more careful now.

>179 Lyndatrue:

It's gone now, for whatever reason

Probably enough people voted "no".

https://www.librarything.com/profile/shreya94
https://www.librarything.com/topic/314811

https://www.librarything.com/profile/dqcdred
https://www.librarything.com/topic/314810

>178 lilithcat: In my case probably distaste for the guy’s cheek. Promise not to misbehave again.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/ideagurusolutions
https://www.librarything.com/work/23943250/175794382

There seems to be some vandalism going on around author https://www.librarything.com/author/tomlinsonpatricks - I've let Kristi know.

>184 rodneyvc: by new member
https://www.librarything.com/profile/willtatediditbetter

>184 rodneyvc: and https://www.librarything.com/profile/ExBoxMarriedJon

I just deleted the CK which was corrupted.

Both those members have been suspended.

There's another one. The person who uploaded an image and made it primary was probably one of the same people. The image was obscene, and part of the current vandalism directed against the author. I'm going to make the original picture the primary one. The account "FatrickFarts" is the one that uploaded it today (that account is suspended now, too).

Both of the offensive pictures are now gone, and I'm going to go and scrub my brain.

It feels like Reddit, a place I do not visit. I prefer it on Library Thing, and I'm grateful that this is an unusual event.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/adrienneluvsjon added an abusive review from Goodreads to the published reviews section of https://www.librarything.com/work/24074875/summary.

This just seems endless. I note that the account which seems to be the author's personal account, is almost certainly not. It was created today, and has a single unkind comment on the image. I forgot to add the actual account.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/patrick_s-tomlinson

I just don't understand people. :-{

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Flabbo reposted the porn-spam pic

https://www.librarything.com/pic/7277036 and gone

And I'm pretty sure that https://www.librarything.com/profile/cat_rambo (the first CK vandal) isn't actually Cat Rambo.

ETA: And cleared one more bit of spam out of one of Tomlinson's works. (I also deleted the canonical titles, but those weren't spam, just "neatening" of series titles).

> 192

So did https://www.librarything.com/profile/FirstnameLastname2

I just sent a message to Tim to check the flagged gallery history for the author page.

And two more images there, from another fake account.

It's rather a sad business. Now even the actual author photograph is gone (but better that the the pornography). I should point out that I've verified that the last title (In The Black) is not a real work by this author.

>197 Lyndatrue: Is it fake? Amazon has it as coming out in October.

Oh, and apparently this is spillover from people who were on Reddit and doing massive stuff (i.e., hundreds of fake accounts -- including imitating actual authors -- and reviews) on GR. So, expect more of the same?

Added a bit more actual info to the author page.

>198 amanda4242: I searched on Amazon for about fifteen minutes, and didn't find it. I am glad you found it. I was suspicious of it initially because the single copy here on LT is owned by one of the miscreants. I think that Tim or other staff needs to lock the ability to make free accounts... Yeah, yeah, I know the arguments against it, and I probably agree with them.

Does this come from a bunch of bored people or did the author(s) do something wrong?

I refuse to acknowledge Reddit as anything more than a another version of a twitter hate machine.

>199 karenb: I don't think it will get as bad over here. LT is much quicker to suspend accounts than GR so I'm hoping the trolls will give up here when they see they can't get the same traction.

>200 Lyndatrue: Huh, I found it immediately just by searching the author's name.

>201 gilroy: I was scrolling through his twitter feed last night and it looks like he pissed off a toxic group on Reddit who then decided to attack him on GR.

>200 Lyndatrue:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250302755

>203 lilithcat: Interesting link. I'd already seen that the book did indeed exist, even if it was at the pre-order stage. I'd been suspicious mostly due to the single holder (one of the group from yesterday persisting in the vandalism). The author's bio on Amazon makes him seem ordinary, but a bit foolhardy (i.e. posting about reviews on Amazon being from the Reddit group and all).

The link, however, provided the author's website, and I note that someone has fleshed out the author page from that link. It's just really a shame that people seem to have (mostly) lost their ability to behave past the spoiled toddler stage. Ah, well.

I'm never leaving here. It's pleasant to see so very many people behave with kindness and courtesy.

contractors
https://www.librarything.com/profile/seolocksmithbm
https://www.librarything.com/groups/contractorsnearme

and gone

Author spam
http://www.librarything.com/profile/ashwinisathnur

http://www.librarything.com/topic/315278
http://www.librarything.com/topic/315281

Past time for a new thread.