Is this spam? #15

Please note this is NOT the spam reporting thread. This is the thread for Checking if you something you THINK is spam is or is not.

I've flagged a few works (some have reviews as well), but there is one I'm now less sure of:

https://www.librarything.com/work/25433931

I've now found there is what looks like a legitimate catalogued copy, at https://www.librarything.com/work/25433930/editions so maybe the above wants voting "no", and combine after the vote clears, any other thoughts? I've changed my vote to Undecided for now.

Edit: replaced a wrong term.

This is obviously a ghost edition after the author was changed. I hesitate to combine them while the spam vote is on. The member who entered the legitimate copy is the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Historical Society. It's a very weird entry, but not spam.

Thanks, and sorry for the mis-flag. Have gone to "no" with my vote now.

Edit: the vote closed, and I've combined it. Thanks for the help.

Not sure about https://www.librarything.com/profile/bewarescam - looks a bit disingenuous to me!

Also https://www.librarything.com/profile/Vinipr - "Vinipr.vn - Marketing and Sharing Platform! A place for modern citizens." The self-directed comments in the profile look very much like marketing!

>5 rodneyvc:

They're just here to drive traffic to their website; I'll call that spam.

I'm skeptical about https://www.librarything.com/profile/crooksdirectory - another bit of marketing? The website looks embryonic!

>7 rodneyvc: I think it's spam. Can't see any other reason for them to be here

And these:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/chillfuel
https://www.librarything.com/profile/VIRSA
?

>10 MarthaJeanne: I thought so.

>10 MarthaJeanne:

I'm not convinced.

I split the author.

>5 rodneyvc:
>6 lilithcat:
>7 rodneyvc:

As others have pointed out, simply having a commercial-sounding profile does not automatically violate the ToS. I know that others disagree. (It's a conversation that repeats periodically.)

I'm feeling like this should be flagged, since it is specifically advertising someone's article at a different site. But I am known to be wrong.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/339211

>14 karenb: And yet we have the whole Great Spam Profile Hunt which is specifically opposite of that opinion.

User to watch:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/emely04234
https://www.librarything.com/topic/252072#7753719

Spam or just weird?
https://www.librarything.com/profile/FLANATMARHAUT

Certainly very weird.

Whackjob, but nothing spammy that I can see.

Weird. Also, not spam.

>18 rodneyvc: couple quarts short of a properly lubed cylinder, but not spam

I don't know why I look at threads in this group. But this post has me concerned.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/332670#7526946

I have very little sympathy for kids who are trying to outwit school blocking software.

>24 MarthaJeanne:

Nor do I. I'm flagging it.

ETA: There are a slew of different threads in that group giving proxy sites. I'm notifying staff, because I think this is abusing the site.

Several people have submitted to be admins of that group so they can keep things under control but the group has not been assigned an admin yet. Sometimes people do post fake or bad links but without an admin there's nothing anyone else in the group can do about it.

I have huge amounts of sympathy for kids who are trying to outwit school blocking software, as a former member of that group, and if they're trying to use it to watch anime and read manga then good for them.

>26 norabelle414: Some of those applying to be admin are some of those posting the links and generally stirring up trouble.

>26 norabelle414: The point isn't particularly the manga. The blocking software is there for good reasons.

1) To protect children from unsuitable sites.
2) To keep the children doing learning activities in school, and not spending school time on other activities.
3) To make sure that parents and others in the community can't complain that internet use in the school is dangerous and not in the interests of education.

I have no particular objection to children reading most anime and manga, however they should not be doing it on school time. And it gives those who would like to shut the web down totally in schools ammunition. 'If kids can get to this stuff, who's to say they can't get to porn, or order drugs, or find out how to get an abortion...

>27 gilroy: I hope when they get around to choosing the admin, that they take maturity into account. Also someone who has at least entered a few books.

This looks spammy to me - https://www.librarything.com/profile/Rodriguez87

The homepage URL is spammy, and the text and image looks like a stock image, but I can't find other usage.

Well, it looks like the site is for downloading games, but the profile doesn't hint at that. Stealthy spam, says I. (ETA: And of course it's gone by now, so glad that I agree with other people.)

One to check back on

https://www.librarything.com/profile/thailotteryz11

New author is sending out random friend requests

https://www.librarything.com/profile/JosephL44459025

Is anybody else seeing this?

>32 2wonderY:
Fortunately, I haven't.

But it's a clear violation of the TOS. As it says in "How Authors Can Use LibraryThing",
Do not send out friend requests to hundreds of people, even if all of them happen to have a copy of your book.
Do not send unsolicited profile comments to everyone who has listed a book similar to your book.

I believe there's now a rate limit on how many friend requests can be sent in one day so you might be one of just a lucky few, but it's still against the TOS.

Very close: https://www.librarything.com/profile/bruno28baker
Google image search thinks he looks like Tamás Szántó!

And this: https://www.librarything.com/profile/bslw - I would zap it as marketing if it wasn't library related

And https://www.librarything.com/profile/ChrisJohnson0890 is making my spam senses tingle.

Ah, clever - the images are from https://generated.photos/faces/male - I'll leave the profiles up for a bit.

>35 rodneyvc: I know. So you can buy “an example” of a research paper. But no. He appears to have done everything correctly.

I flagged the second one, but I think someone else beat me to it.

>35 rodneyvc: Both are selling research papers. Spam. Nasty spam.

All gone now.

Keeping an eye on this account: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Maklaya

Their profile pic is weird and they've been posting "hi" on a bunch of random topics but nothing flag-worthy yet

>38 norabelle414: I wonder if she's here for the anime group and got lost.

>38 norabelle414: Gone now.

One to watch, just because of the profile name:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/youngermoney

>41 2wonderY: Stock photo is a clue - see https://www.shutterstock.com/es/video/clip-1041584263-playful-office-worker-taki...

I’m pretty sure on this one because Megan veers off onto tractor equipment

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Megan111

Just want a second opinion.

>43 2wonderY: I'm saying it is because Megan doesn't write the ROPS blog, Leah does. And then it links to a completely different blog for the website link.
Plus stock photo

Opinions? She mentions being an author! https://www.librarything.com/profile/LisonMage

>45 rodneyvc: Seems legit. The site is for her.

>45 rodneyvc: Set up by a publicist by the way it's written, but until she starts spamming forums, safe.

>45 rodneyvc:

Not spam. If author profiles were spam, we'd have no LibraryThing authors!

Looks like spam to me: https://www.librarything.com/topic/341160#7818153

Profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/weent19

>49 FAMeulstee: if it is definitely spam, this isn't the right thread. This is the thread if someone isn't 100% certain it's spam.

What do you think?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/SlotGacor1240

>51 2wonderY: Sneaky! Yes!

>51 2wonderY:, yeah, "slot" is a clue.

I just wanted consensus because there was nothing overt.

>54 2wonderY: That's why I ask here, too.

>50 gilroy: I know the other thread, but I wasn't completely sure about it.
Usually this kind leaves more messages all over in Talk. In this case I found only one, in a very unlikely thread.

Profile to keep an eye on:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/_luh_Baddie_bae

He’s goofing around here instead of studying for finals.

“ im like- 16 yrs”

I don't think it's spam, just another bored teenager.

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

Wants to sell pictures of rainbows, I think.

Probably. His 'library' certainly doesn't include books.

The About Me on this one is just weird: https://www.librarything.com/profile/HarrisePhillip01
And the profile says that https://www.librarything.com/profile/HarrisPhillip shares a book, except https://www.librarything.com/profile/HarrisPhillip is an unconfirmed member! How does that work?

Seems like it was inexpertly translated into English. Definitely an author but I don't think they've done anything wrong.

ETA: Unconfirmed member means that the account was started before account confirmation was required (2018ish?). They did create two accounts but several years apart so they probably forgot they made the first one.

Just opened two accounts, probably without realizing it.

>65 2wonderY: Yes - stock image, odd web link.

I don’t know what CrunchBase is and don’t want to click on it

https://www.librarything.com/profile/alexgierbolini89

>67 2wonderY: See Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crunchbase. Even if Mr Gierbolini actually has something to do with Crunchbase, I think we can safely call this spam.

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

I clicked on the link, and it is general.

>70 2wonderY: based on the caption on the photo I would say probably not spam? but we could keep an eye on it.

>71 norabelle414: Ah. I will have to look harder for the comments. They’ve moved down the page. Thanks.

https://www.librarything.com/work/28346484

Weird work titled "Professional Ultra SanDisk 16GB MicroSDHC....".
Seems like spam, but there are a lot of others like it. Also could be bad Amazon imports, according to this thread? https://www.librarything.com/topic/333169#7537365
Sorry if this is the wrong place to post!

>73 shiznise: LT members often catalog non-book objects, which is not in breach of LT rules. See https://www.librarything.com/list/99/all/Things-we-wish-were-not-catalog-u-ed-on... - not spam.

>73 shiznise: Also notice that it has no copies.

>75 MarthaJeanne: Oops. Okay, TIL.

The picture looks suspicious and what about the .xyz link?

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

>77 2wonderY: Stock image - https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/621426448558428422/

>76 shiznise: >77 2wonderY: That doesn't make it spam though. People are pretty much free to post any picture on their personal profile. (I'm not actually a dragon, for instance)

>77 2wonderY: and it turns out to be a casino site in korean.

Thanks, team!

Gone now.

>83 2wonderY: looks like a stock photo and the name doesn't match to the photo. I'd call it spam

>84 gilroy:

But people frequently use stock photos on their profiles. By itself, that shouldn't be enough to call it spam. Was there some other indication of spam?

>85 lilithcat: There were a couple of questionable links using the name line.

It appears the author has created three accounts and five starred her book each time, and twice reviewed it as herself, and once as a reader.

http://www.librarything.com/work/27956627/reviews/

>87 2wonderY: Did you leave a message on all three profiles? Or maybe this is a contact Staff situation due to sockpuppet syndrome.

I vote for contacting staff.

>87 2wonderY:, >89 gilroy:, >90 karenb:

Yes, sock puppetry should be reported to staff.

And how stupid is she! "I am the author" on two reviews under different names - did she think no one would notice?

I think she possibly forgot she’d been here earlier in the year, or forgot her password.

Okay, I sent her a message on what appears to be the main account.

Opinions?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/ComicMysteryBox01

>94 2wonderY: Technically, they're not violating the Terms of Service. They're selling books. Seems fine by me.

Opinions? https://www.librarything.com/profile/Speccyjam
Although encyclopedia fits a book brief it just looks like a website promotion to me.

>96 rodneyvc:

Apparently, people thought it was, because the account is suspended.

I can’t tell if that link is spammy. It gets a lot of pop ups and I’m not willing to spend time there.

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

>99 gilroy: Apparently every profile you've posted so far has been deemed spam lately, cause all of them from yesterday and today are gone

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

Profile to watch.
Just joined today, no books, but created a "test group"

>100 gilroy:

Not yet.

I know this isn’t Spam, I just want to gripe about this author adding his book 5 times and giving it 5 stars.
(He rated Pride and Prejudice one star, so his opinion is abominable anyway.)

http://www.librarything.com/work/28610201/members/

Don't exaggerate. He only added his own book four times.

But the rest of his library is rather peculiar.

https://www.librarything.com/reviews/philantrop

This member is adding a link to a piece about the war in the Ukraine to his reviews.

>104 MarthaJeanne:

As long as the review is a review, and as long as the link is not to commercial spam, still not spam and not against the TOS.

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

The book catalogued looks a mess, but that may be a separate issue.

>106 2wonderY: I'd say that's commercial spam, yes.

The library description echoes the user description. The site is minimal and generic and based in a country other than the one where the MMA fighter of that name was born, and possibly not meant to be durable. I'd say spam for LT.

Waddya think? I’m not trying that link.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/savastan0

I'm not trying it either, but that's a darn cute little dog.

A quick Google search suggests that it is, indeed, spam.

>110 lilithcat: I’m confused… I thought it was a horse!

I think he may just want to push his anime site

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

>112 2wonderY: That's an active user of the anime groups, not spam.

>113 norabelle414: Glad I asked.

This is odd. I’ve provided the google translation from German.

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

Removed content per Nevov’s suggestion.

>115 2wonderY:
If the profile is/was being used as some type of exposé/character assassination, to the degree that it gets the user suspended, it might be worth considering whether to keep it in the thread here, or edit to remove?

This one’s got me scratching my head. I think this new member is attempting live links, but I’m not sure.

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

>118 2wonderY: Never mind. He’s already fixed his code and it was very sophisticated. Flagged.

https://www.librarything.com/author/jquerypatchipadoffse Not spam apparently, but worth keeping an eye on in case whatever caused it recurs.

>120 davidgn: I agree, not spam, but more likely a result of something going wrong. I doubt that its an item that they desire in their collection. There's also https://www.librarything.com/work/25865796/book/194137792

>122 2wonderY: Commercial site, stock photo. Spam, I'd say.

Is this a sneaky attempt at spam?

https://www.librarything.com/topic/344056

>124 Marissa_Doyle: A little weird, but I don't think so.

>124 Marissa_Doyle: I don't think so, but its definitely in the wrong place.

How about this https://www.librarything.com/profile/anitapeeler - doubtful about the homepage

>127 rodneyvc: I am 100% certain the Clemson University football team has not created a spam account on LibraryThing dot com. She just misunderstood what the homepage field was for.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/186112#7926548

Poster just joined, and has nothing on the profile

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

And pulled up a five year old topic to advertise boxes. I would think probably.

Probably not, I suppose. But it seems like there is a spate of new members who can’t quite get ahold of the language properly

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

Nothing on the profile page (yet), but pretty clear here:

https://www.librarything.com/pic/9361728

>132 2wonderY: unknown error

>133 MarthaJeanne: Seems someone agreed.

Again, nothing on the profile page, but a couple of links on the picture page.

https://www.librarything.com/pic/9363337

I checked Instagram, and there are no posts there yet to get a feel for intent. I’m not clicking on the .io link.

>135 2wonderY: Unknown error.

>136 gilroy: That means someone flagged it.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/o51
(Profile to watch -- DO NOT FLAG)

They created an innocuous group with no books cataloged. Possible it's a teen from a school being required to be here, but I'm still watching it.

>138 gilroy:

I think it's just a kid who prefers board games to animé.

>140 rodneyvc: No, Looks like an author entering his books. When he advertises in talk, Then it's spam.

>140 rodneyvc: What about the review - https://www.librarything.com/work/28935982/reviews/225565221 ?

Authors are allowed to review their own books. If they are LT authors so that the system recognizes them as the author, a blurb comes up listing them as the author. Not spam.

No weirder than https://www.librarything.com/topic/344252

I know lots of schools list their libraries here. But this appears to be just an ad:

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

Don't you think you ought to give them a day or two to get started?

Not spam.

>146 2wonderY: That's a very new account. The school could be setting up to add their books on its next big break from classes, for all we know.

>149 aspirit:

And they're probably relying on volunteers.

>149 aspirit: Possibly. But it was added in the middle of the night, in the midst of a flurry of other commercial Spam accounts.

>151 2wonderY: Teacher with insomnia.

>151 2wonderY: Midnight EST is 9 PM PST, and it's not uncommon for employees of small schools to work late. Creating a profile would be a relatively easy task before bedtime.

Have to say it feels on the way to spam, rather than active interest in LT. The exact same text that's on the LT profile appears in myriad other sites, ie. (Google search):
https://www.google.com/search?q="offers+Montessori+Education+as+the+foundation+and+the+Common+Core+State+Standard+and+the+STEAM+program."

Especially if was added amidst other spammy profiles, it makes me wonder if it was done by some agency that offers "Improve your web presence" promises, and has this school as a client. Such agencies have to be the cause of such as Australian cement companies getting profiles, so it's not a leap to think they'd have schools as clients too... if such an agency were smart they'd check in here from time to time to see how to avoid being flagged... might even try to convince us a profile is innocent... oh my, it's one of you! :-P

However, I've not flagged for now, as it might well be as others describe, actual school staff, and there is some benefit of doubt still, but will revisit if nothing changes.

The profile does nothing to violate the terms of service. There's nothing wrong with the profile, period. It's not spam.

It'd be whether it was egregious commercial enough to count as what we define as type 1 spam in the reporting thread, wouldn't it. But I guess that's why for false positives the account holder can always contact LT staff to get resurrected, if they are genuine users, vs drive-by advertisers who aren't.

This topic: https://www.librarything.com/topic/344790#7942702
Seems to be accruing flags, when it (to me) looks like a genuine enquiry topic, rather than author spam.

>157 Nevov: I agree. I’ve counter-flagged.

>157 Nevov: It is bordering on the edge of author promotion. Some would consider it already author promotion, since they specifically list the name. That's probably why.

>157 Nevov: I agree. That looks a regular member who is trying to add a book that isn't coming up with the expected source(s). The details are the same as what certain helpers insist should be in requests for help. Being the author doesn't really make a difference here.

I agree it's not spam. The "how authors can use librarything" page suggests that authors catalog their own books and the user is asking for help to do so.

>160 aspirit: A regular catch-22.

The user does have a handful of manual entry books so hopefully they have their path to go down.

The homepage is smutty

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

>163 2wonderY: I don't think the LT profile is spam

>164 rodneyvc:

Agreed.

>163 2wonderY: Homepage is just game mods. Not really smut.
Not seeing the profile as spam either

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

Besides the live links, which I won’t open, the translation is:
Reference for downloading pamphlets, books and student projects

https://www.librarything.com/topic/346793#8009100

I flagged it. What do you think?

If it’s spam it’s unusual spam. What he is asking for is basically a group of distributed proofreaders like Project Gutenberg has, and he explicitly says it’s voluntary. If he were to start plugging the books themselves, he should probably get a message about the ToS, but I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt for now

>169 haydninvienna: He is plugging one of them.

You know, several years ago was a big Johann Strauß year. And almost every concert that year included a Strauß waltz that hadn't been performed for decades, searched out in various archives. and most of those won't be played again until the next big year, if then. Not every waltz that Strauß wrote is worth listening to. Not every book that has ever been published is worth reading.

>170 MarthaJeanne: True, I suppose, but very low key. I saw the point of the post as being the soliciting of proofreaders. He is probably right in saying there’s no money in it. A better question might be, what is the point? If he is trying to republish books that are in (for example) special archive collections, I can see problems with using a privately published reprint in citations. I also assume he has the copyright issues sorted. Also, you’re absolutely right that not every book ever published is worth reading. If a book has been languishing in an archive unopened for decades, there’s probably a reason why it hasn’t been opened.

I definitely don't think it's spam under LibraryThing's rules.

>172 anglemark: Yet it has been deleted

>173 jjwilson61: I'm quite confused. Flagging as spam someone who comes and asks for proofreaders for a non-profit project designed to bring old OOP books back into print. What part of that is commercial spam?

>174 anglemark: Well, there was a link to Amazon sales

>175 2wonderY:

That wasn't a link to the sales. It was a download of one of the documents for which he was looking for proofreaders.

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

Questions about this profile. They are posting a lot of things and the photo on the profile looks like a younger teenager. (probably legal to be here, but their posts are questionable)

>177 gilroy: I think she’d be treated much like a pushy author and told to stop advertising her linktree.

>177 gilroy:

Younger teenager? Really? I'd say in her twenties. But hard to tell these days. And, in any case, irrelevant, as long as she's over 13.

I don't think it's spam. I agree with >178 2wonderY:, more like a pushy author. Though I see a mention of her linktree in only one of her posts, and without the link (it's perfectly fine for her to have it on her profile).

Agree it's not commercial spam. And his pronouns are he/him, so he's not a she.

>180 anglemark: Thanks for the nudge. I’m old, and I tend to use visual cues. Transgender is real in my own family, and still I’m learning.

>182 2wonderY: Wow. Um. Shouldn't have clicked that link. The site is all about Rooster fighting. Same the description on the profile... I'm not reading advertising in the way it's written though.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/347775#8042191

It isn't completely clear, but this looks like the poster is either the author or an associate...?

>184 Marissa_Doyle:

Based on this statement: I've nearly completed checking and correcting the formatting of conversion to ebook formats, and the publication/price info, I'd call it spam.

And it's not responsive to the OP, either.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/347919

His own book, but it's a little unclear exactly what he means by that post. Too late to flag the post to oblivion, by the way.

>186 anglemark: I thought about that, but he says "one of the books in my library", which is not how an author usually refers to his book. Also it would be very unusual not to enter or mention his other books.

Well, his name is Peter, and both books in his library, owned by only him, is by Peter Mallon, so I don't think there's any doubt there. Te question is whether the post is spam or not.

Sorry, The two books got onto different author pages, and profiles take forever to open recently.

The other book is listed by 3 members.

>186 anglemark: 100% spam

Will someone with good malware protection check the link in this review by a new member, please?
Seems odd to review such an old tech book.

The link to the review might help?

http://www.librarything.com/work/153862/reviews/

>191 2wonderY:

It's a legit website, but, oddly, the blog post to which he links doesn't mention that book (or any book, for that matter). There's a newer (2019) edition of the book.

It sure looks like spam to me. (But I am not about to follow the link.)

Review is gone. And so is the member.

>194 2wonderY:

Yes.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/348709#8071261

Is it just me? A new member recommending a book nobody else has entered?

>196 MarthaJeanne: Probably, but I don't think we have enough to go on yet.
>197 rodneyvc: No, I don't think so, but keeping an eye on them might be advisable.

>196 MarthaJeanne: I think that's someone trying to poke a few bears by opening a separate account. Not sure it's spam, but one to watch
>197 rodneyvc: That one is on the edge of yes, but like >198 anglemark: said, one to watch

>197 rodneyvc: I thought it was close, and cataloguing a single book seemed disingenuous. Someone else zapped them!

>201 gilroy: Not spam, I'd say, as it's not their own sale they are promoting.

>201 gilroy:

I don't see that as any different from letting people know about sales from publishers such as Oak Knoll or the Folio Society. It's done all the time.

As long as there are only a few in reasonable groups, I think it's OK. If they were to become common in Book Talk I would start flagging.

Do you make of this what I make of this? Solicitation for a sex line in disguise? Is anyone that age (see her profile photo) really this naive about how the internet works? My guess is fake photo, fake name, real number with other intentions.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/348847#n8076664

An easy google search says the photo and name are real. I'm not in the business of saying what anyone should or should not know but I don't see anything spam-like about it.

Yeah, the intent might be spammy (although given Norabelle's findings I don't think it is), but the post itself isn't spam.

I'm not about to try the number, but identity theft is a thing. We shall see (maybe.)

>208 Cecrow: That observation may actually be worth posting to the thread.

ETA: I’M not gonna do it … Let’s get Mikey! Hey, Mikey …

If you don't like something that someone is posting, and you don't think it should get more attention, just don't post on the thread

Dubious about https://www.librarything.com/profile/ethanklein - who tags a "C' book as php!?

>211 rodneyvc: Also, he describes himself as a digital marketer.

>211 rodneyvc:

I don’t see anything spammy there.

>211 rodneyvc: the profile reads as a PR set up, but I'm not seeing spam

>213 lilithcat:, >214 gilroy: The crecentech.com link isn't their personal page - the profile is just marketing, and the single catalogued book is a decoy. Looks commercial to me.

I just got this message in my inbox. I think it is spam. NO, I did not click on the link

From SUPER-ADMIN to you
Today, 6:05am
In effort to combat spamm we created new feature for our readers on forum, and that is monthly recommendation by moderation of the book that has the greatest impact on the readers in a specific group...

This month it is "Night in Zagreb" by Adam Medvidović...
https://www.amazon.com/Night-Zagreb-%C4%90avolja-no%C4%87-Book-ebook/dp/B0BTB64M....

That’s spam. Who is the member?

>217 2wonderY: It came from " Super Admin" . I'm not sure that is a member.

>217 2wonderY: Thanks. Just flagged the member as spam .

Hi,

I’ve received an identical message to >216 vancouverdeb: This time, it's from user “SUPERADMIN3”.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/SUPERADMIN3

Suspect this is the latest in the line and they aren't getting the hint:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/SUPERADMIN.
(The period at the end of the username is important)

I dropped a note to Kristi regarding these notes as well.

Thanks for this thread. I had similar from SUPERADMIN4 and on second glance can see there are at least two suspicious links. Realised was dodgy when I checked the SUPERADMIN4 profile and found it was empty.

Here’s a search page that will help today:

https://www.librarything.com/search.php?search=SuperAdmin&searchtype=members...

>222 gilroy: Thanks. I've requested a ban on an IP address that covers most of these accounts, although there's another (potentially) real account also tied to the SUPER-ADMIN account... let me know if you see these crop up elsewhere.

The LT staff can write clear grammatical English that is spelled properly. That is a clear sign that this is spam.

Judgement here, please. I just zapped a new account that had added three random books, because it was advertising online betting.

This account is meant to provide a link to sale of ebikes, but they at least added a few books that they are at least familiar with.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/ST3IKE

>227 2wonderY:

I don't think that is spam. I've seen other businesses that list only books related to what they do.

>227 2wonderY: I think as long as they don't post anywhere it's fine, for now.

I'm kind of getting a tingly feeling about this one: https://www.librarything.com/topic/349838#8133087

ETA This is also a bit peculiar, giving the appearance of having asked for advice earlier in the thread despite not having done so: https://www.librarything.com/topic/339624#8133098.

>230 haydninvienna: 100% spam

Same person, multiple posts:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/350325#n8124676
https://www.librarything.com/topic/349965#n8113031
https://www.librarything.com/topic/349998#8133289

>232 lesmel: Yes. Posting links to essay writing companies is spam. Gone now.

>234 2wonderY:

No.

> 234 Maybe? They get extra credit for being book related, but they call themselves "reputable".

Sus "publisher's" page (Blooms Bury Publishing, not to be confused with the actual publishing house):
https://bloomsburybookpublishers.com/terms.php

The street address is of a residence with two unrelated business names registered there, AFAICT.

>236 karenb:

My opinion is based not simply on the fact that they are "book related", but also on the fact that the user has catalogued legitimate books, using the site for its intended purpose. There is nothing to suggest that this user is spamming anyone, has posted any commercials in any groups/threads, or done anything other than create a profile for their company, as many other organizations and businesses do.

I think they're worth keeping an eye on but haven't done anything flag-worthy. If they post somewhere that's a different story.

>237 lilithcat:
>238 norabelle414:
What you/they said.
(Note that I did not say that the user in question was spam.)

https://www.librarything.com/topic/351018#n8150163
https://www.librarything.com/profile/alikaka

I just wonder if they are planning on editing this.

ETA Obviously others decided, "Yes."

>240 MarthaJeanne: Not anymore, they aren't :-)

Anybody want to click on this member’s homepage?

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

>242 2wonderY: It's a standard author website.

>243 amanda4242: 👍

>243 amanda4242: But if she chose that URL, she does not have me as her target audience.

>245 MarthaJeanne: Looks like she writes sff. Her about me section has this about the site name:

AUTOERRATICISM?

auto–self; own; spontaneous.
erratic–random; prone to unexpected changes; deviating from the common course in opinion or conduct.
erraticism–wandering; no fixed or regular course.

>246 amanda4242: And I thought she just couldn’t spell.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/351140

I'm placing this here because others have flagged it already but we let a similar thread go through once before.
Also of note, this poster had a thread that spoken bad on his request, erased all his posts, then created a new clean thread.

>248 gilroy:

It's not spam. He's asking for help on a project, which, however obnoxious, is not commercial, he's not asking for money, he's not an advertising author. It may be a lot of things, but I don't think it's spam.

It's definitely not spam.

Is anybody else getting a friend request from this new member?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Russell87

I don't suppose you should flag them for that, but maybe block them.

>251 2wonderY:

I have not, but he does appear to be a legitimate member.

I see that you share a book, so that may be why he made the friend request. I agree with >252 MarthaJeanne:.

Will someone check this homepage, please?

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

It's gone.

Moving to a new topic.