Spam reporting thread #79

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 NOTE: Because all profile comments are now private, others cannot tell that you have left a message, so please include that information when you post in this thread.
-- 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.)

https://www.librarything.com/profile/technologyfact
https://www.librarything.com/topic/356104#8349073

>2 norabelle414: Note:There are two spammy messages there.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/rajxn
https://www.librarything.com/topic/357050#n8352005
https://www.librarything.com/topic/357049#n8352004

Spam, pure and simple.

And all gone.

Some people don't learn.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/357053
https://www.librarything.com/topic/357052
https://www.librarything.com/profile/kortlynn4

Same spam as >4 MarthaJeanne:

The spammer is gone, but the topics continue.

Topics are gone now, too.

But now there are two more members doing it.

>6 MarthaJeanne:

Doing what?

Posting the same spam. They are gone now.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/357224#8364904

New member. No other posts yet. Watching

https://www.librarything.com/profile/xatal0

https://www.librarything.com/topic/357410#8370140

https://www.librarything.com/profile/0987609876

>10 2wonderY:

Gone.

>10 2wonderY: The messages are gone, but the spammer isn't.

Yes that one is all gone.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/0987654323456 isn't. (See https://www.librarything.com/topic/357418#n8370199 )

The account with the number string is gone, but the person (probably) is back:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/357425

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

also https://www.librarything.com/topic/357428#n8370482

Gone already.

Are we good, or are we good? I bet we can keep it up longer than they can.

They're back:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/357431#n8370539

https://www.librarything.com/topic/357429#n8370533

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

>17 Marissa_Doyle: and gone again.

And we'll keep flagging them :)

YouTuber spam:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/357437
https://www.librarything.com/topic/357436

>20 lilithcat: Just for reference https://www.librarything.com/profile/Onnaday (Author, do not flag.)

There was more, long since gone.

>20 lilithcat: needs a few more flags.

>20 lilithcat: >21 MarthaJeanne: Suspect a hacked account.

>23 gilroy: On the one hand, someone who has been a member that long should know better. On the other hand it is an active account, and the member name matches the link name.

links are to site for buying the book
https://www.librarything.com/work/30182566/reviews/256369934
https://www.librarything.com/topic/356726#n8368979

tarot readings

https://www.librarything.com/topic/355064#8374963
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Sobbac

Affiliate link site (the SEO friendly site exists only to attract search hits to links that the site owner makes money from):

https://www.librarything.com/topic/357900
https://www.librarything.com/profile/zzdbookcom

https://www.librarything.com/profile/LOCALXONE
https://www.librarything.com/topic/358029

https://www.librarything.com/profile/mmzmzmzmzmz
https://www.librarything.com/topic/358030

same one seems like with another profile

>28 SandraArdnas: is gone. as is the topic from >29 SandraArdnas:

Staff will have to remove the topic from >28 SandraArdnas:

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/23824628/reviews/174555014
(flag the work after the rview is gone)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/sohbetx

TOS violation: https://www.librarything.com/topic/357961#8403405

Second TOS violation: https://www.librarything.com/topic/358134#n8403427

>34 Watry: I came in here because I couldn't remember what the procedure was when someone is behaving like a child only to find the antics had spread into this group as well.

>35 clamairy: Yeah, that was posted as I was typing 34. I do wonder if all these semi-keysmash username accounts are the same person, who was likely also posting all of those link drop threads in Talk About LibraryThing over the last couple of weeks.

>37 Watry: And it's not over, apparently.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/johnsnow75371

https://www.librarything.com/topic/356645#8404973

You know nothing, JohnSnow75371.

Why would anybody choose a spamming lawyer?

Isn't John Snow the bastard son of Ned Stark from Game of Thrones?

>42 gilroy: That's why I said "You know nothing..." Although it's spelled Jon. (And I'm not going to post spoilers here, but his birth mother is one of the big reveals of the show, and hopefully will be in the final books, if they ever get published.)

John Snow is also the name of the epidemiologist who discovered cholera. It's a common enough name.

flogging essay services
https://www.librarything.com/profile/mejewo

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/30881955/reviews/248294292
(flag the work after the review is gone)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/sostotosidney

I've marked https://www.librarything.com/work/29656266 as spam.

It may look innocuous, but if you click on the member who cataloged it, you'll see content such as
"About Me
XXX escort girls are the perfect companions for any occasion. Whether you are looking for a night out on the town, a romantic dinner date, or just some companionship, XXX can provide you with the perfect experience. We provide high class Housewife escorts ..."

>47 rybie2: Yes, so much advertising in the description
https://www.librarything.com/profile/shalineeroy

https://www.librarything.com/topic/358477
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Eternalhimalya

Author spam:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/357995#8422206
https://www.librarything.com/topic/358036#8422227

https://www.librarything.com/profile/HadiBadri (Message left).

ETA: just had a nice apologetic message in response.

Commercial Spam:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/3dmakerpro
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Sofiaahmad
https://www.librarything.com/profile/SaeedSon
https://www.librarything.com/profile/warisanwaraesthetics
https://www.librarything.com/profile/access20
https://www.librarything.com/profile/aabidali00034
https://www.librarything.com/profile/aun545
https://www.librarything.com/profile/aun654

The following looks like commercial spam if you read their 'about me'
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ryansmith8656
https://www.librarything.com/profile/adnanmukhtar8656

Commercial Spam:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Ugwunna

All gone now :)

https://www.librarything.com/profile/deluxeshop2 commercial spam
https://www.librarything.com/profile/body12 commercial spam

https://www.librarything.com/profile/IRideBus charter bus, commercial spam
https://www.librarything.com/profile/lappesbeesupply7 honey bee sales commercial spam
https://www.librarything.com/profile/lappesbeesupply8 ditto commercial spam
https://www.librarything.com/profile/lappesbeesupply1 ditto commercial spam
https://www.librarything.com/profile/lappesbeesupply11 ditto commercial spam

>55 Hartofthematter: If you're only catching profiles, you can actually post them in the thread dedicated to spam profiles:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/339880

>56 gilroy: ok thanks for this. I must admit, when I looked at that thread it appeared to be only for large volume spam flagging. I only manage to find the odd few and thought this thread looked more suitable. I will from hereon use the thread you suggested. Thanks for helpful advice

Appears to be a lawyer commercially advertising via the LB platform. Surely not allowed under the TOS?
https://www.librarything.com/profile/bartonduilaw

>56 gilroy: Many thanks! I hadn't known of that thread.

>58 Hartofthematter: If you find it's not a TOS violation, let me know; I might be inclined to follow suit. (But, as I understand, it is ... )

Author Advertising:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/358738

Profile:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Shepherdessbooks (Do not flag. Already sent message.)

Never mind. That thread is where it belongs.

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/358825

https://www.librarything.com/profile/sylmac (message left)

ETA: Just had a nice note from the author. She is removing the post.

Someone is advertising/selling smartphones and posting them as works ("Cellet" 2GB/4GB/8GB etc.). I flagged around 200 of those yesterday, which are already deleted, and another 80 today. We can all keep an eye out here to see if any more are posted.

>62 Dariah: Please give us the profile URL next time. You haven't given us anything to flag.

Such as https://www.librarything.com/profile/remottin

https://www.librarything.com/catalog/Sundy-2468?&collection=-1&deepsearc...

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

They have added some of them to series.

I also think they may be hacking the accounts of legit users.

I don't think that's spam, I think that's a bad Amazon listing.

ETA: If you use Add Books to search Amazon for the ISBN 9789876275712, it gets you the listing for the phone. If you Google search the same ISBN it shows you a book called "Sanar En El Alma, Curar En El Cuerpo" (no touchstone)

>62 Dariah: Um, people are allowed to catalog what they want here. Unless the account is specifically pushing "BUY MY STUFF!" they aren't advertising these.
And as others have said, they are bad uploads. Please stop flagging long time members when they have a faulty upload.

>65 gilroy: Okay, I won't keep flagging faulty works. I did not flag the members themselves. With members, I only flagged those accounts clearly advertising (with links to repair services, online betting sites etc.).

>66 Dariah:

If there's something that you think might be spam, but aren't sure, post in the "Is this spam?" group and people will try to come to a consensus. https://www.librarything.com/topic/351317

https://www.librarything.com/profile/pamela2151- one book and she is advertising it on the "75 Books Read Group" ( am sending a note about where to post)
oops- she is gone!

>68 torontoc: Authors should not be flagged, just the posts.

>69 MarthaJeanne: I think she left, flagged profiles say suspended

>68 torontoc: There's an extra hyphen at the end of your link. The actual profile is here: https://www.librarything.com/profile/pamela2151

Note the sneaky external link halfway through this post: https://www.librarything.com/topic/358994
User: https://www.librarything.com/profile/soniamalik

>72 Nevov: Huh. I missed seeing a link when I looked at the thread. Had she edited it?
Was it author spam or something else?

>73 2wonderY: It was commercial spam, a couple of words used as a hyperlink to an external site, similar to how spammers often do on the profile page "About me". Gone now, as is the profile.

>74 Nevov: Was this the dog book review? At least it showed me that the author needed a lot of combining done.

The link may have been added later. I certainly didn't see it, and I tried to look.

>75 MarthaJeanne: Yes that's right it was, and I spotted an author name to combine, and a couple of auto-suggestions to decline, so there was some positive outcome at least for the site. I don't recall whether the topic had been edited after its initial posting, though, sorry.

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/359379

https://www.librarything.com/profile/jasonbryanbooks (message left)

Author in >77 lilithcat: posted here as well: https://www.librarything.com/topic/351176#8475092

https://www.librarything.com/topic/359391#unread
https://www.librarything.com/profile/flixtor

Commercial spam trying to get traffic to their site.

Or just upping their Google position bu having links on other websites.

Overzealous author post : https://www.librarything.com/topic/359417

>81 Nicole_VanK: These too:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359415
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359416
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359418

Did you leave a message?

>82 norabelle414: I left a message on that member's profile.

>82 norabelle414: It somehow slipped my mind. Sorry. Thank you >83 konallis:

member: https://www.librarything.com/profile/johnhamiltonus
post: https://www.librarything.com/topic/359456#n8478041

>85 stortemelk: The thread/post is gone, but profile still needs votes

https://www.librarything.com/work/31902504/260554260
https://www.librarything.com/work/31902457/260553444

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

Enthusiastic Author:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359594#n8484243

Profiles!
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Jeb.Smith (Messaged May 2023)
https://www.librarything.com/profile/JebSmith (messaged March 2024)
(Do not flag)

>88 gilroy: Maybe the rules changed since May.

>88 gilroy: https://www.librarything.com/topic/359610

Posted several hours after your message.

>90 MarthaJeanne: Since he's been warned twice, I'm all for flagging profiles, but will pass on to Kristi for ruling.

sports betting

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Evelyn34
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Leonard_

https://www.librarything.com/topic/340169#n7787290

Obnoxious author

https://www.librarything.com/topic/357030#8489043

I think the threads he started are gone. Now he’s posting in other threads.
No, I haven’t messaged him. I don’t have patience today.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/359706#8489044
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359703#8489040

>93 2wonderY:
And another one: https://www.librarything.com/topic/359704

Author in >88 gilroy: is back. I've pushed the matter to Kristi, as he's just not getting the point.

>95 gilroy:

Is there a post that needs flagging?

Author spam:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/359866

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Amb.Unwana (Message left)

Also
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359867

>96 lilithcat: It was already gone when I posted the message.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/359796#8500770

I removed the message as an admin, and then realize no one else could flag it (and this user) if they couldn't see it!

>100 clamairy:

Flat-out commercial spam, so I've flagged the user as well: https://www.librarything.com/profile/warini

>101 lilithcat: Profile still needs some flags

>101 lilithcat: Yes, I had flagged the user right after I flagged the post. Someone please remind me, how many flags does a profile need to go *poof?*

>103 clamairy: I think it varies, a few for new members with no books, more otherwise I believe. This one is gone now

I think it also depends somewhat on who flags. I recall Tim saying he gave more experienced flaggers more input.

Another point is whether or not a member of staff sees the issue.

There is a periodic stall on the function of suspending commercial spam profiles. I sometimes have to ask staff to hit the flush lever when they get backed up; particularly if it’s near a weekend.
It only needs one vote if the profile has no books cataloged.

Spam profile, book, review:

https://www.librarything.com/profile/accuratepmr
https://www.librarything.com/work/32086844
https://www.librarything.com/work/32086844/reviews/262014423

https://www.librarything.com/topic/360038
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Lifesvalue#

Author advertising his book. I left a message for him.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/360044
https://www.librarything.com/topic/360045
https://www.librarything.com/profile/christineIsleybooks

I've messaged her.

>109 anglemark: This one too: https://www.librarything.com/topic/360043

https://www.librarything.com/profile/TomiChpak
https://www.librarything.com/topic/360177#8511663

>111 MarthaJeanne: Another: https://www.librarything.com/topic/360175#8511658

Author

https://www.librarything.com/topic/359126#8517461
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Savage_Steve

I’ll leave a note.