Account farming. Allowed?

[rizzlarolla]

Same farmer. Same alphabet lists.

Jan 4, 2016. 8.00m
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=715343  Kelvinid (21)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=715346  Lucentar (16)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=715350  Matkurb  Matkurb (22)

Jan 5, 2016. 10.00m
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=716526  Naughtid (21)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=716533  Ossidalm (22)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=716545  Pastonia (21)

Jan 9, 2016. 9.00m
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=720626  Xiestar (22)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=720637  Yutard (22)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=720641  Zitudent (20)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=720643  Almat (19)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=720648  Bustart (20)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=720652  Catmony (90)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=720657  Dagmon (21)

Jan 14
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=726851  Wefud (20)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=726858  Xember (19)

Jan 16, 2016. 11.00am.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=729496  Alpinat (20)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=729501  Batmain (18)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=729508  Catlonid (40)

Jan 19, 2016. 5.00pm
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=733302  Documan (18)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=733312  Eugenar (19)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=733325  Faxmate (19)


Added Jan 14.

[1714116458]

1714116458

[1714116458]

1714116458

[MyBTT]

Account farming is not necessarily against the rules per se, however it's looked down upon. Could get you banned, if you take it to far.

[Decoded]

This is why i'm trying to get more active on forum.bitcoin.com.

No real spammers, no trolls, no farmers, great and friendly mods, and much much more.

They even have signature campaigns!

[rizzlarolla]

Account farming is not necessarily against the rules per se, however it's looked down upon. Could get you banned, if you take it to far.

Lol, how far do you "have to take it" ? 1000 accounts? 2000 accounts?
I'm sure the farmer can handle a few members looking down. (and "frowning upon" - the other deterrent)

This is why i'm trying to get more active on forum.bitcoin.com.
No real spammers, no trolls, no farmers, great and friendly mods, and much much more.
They even have signature campaigns!

You should start a thread about it. I will come over and report how the new sig campaign is going!
ie a bitcointalk treasurer is running it, earning 1/3 of the weekly payout, approx. Had to get rid of farmed account(s) when i complained.
Oh the nice mod pm'ed you to go and spam there if i remember, all paid of course as you walked straight into a sig spot.

Anyways, another thread.
Back to farming,

March 25 2016. 11.30am
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=810879  dimonstration (61)    mar 25,  apr 18, 27,  may10, 12,  jun 10,  jul 4,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=810884  umhhppp (55)           mar 25,  apr 18, 27,  may10, 12,  jun 10,  jul 4,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=810887  combayn (9)             mar 25,  apr 18, 27,  may10, 12,  jun 10,  jul 4,  

Mach 28 2016  6.10am
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=812957  coynedterm (321)      mar 28,  apr 18, 27,  may10, 12,  jun 10,  jul 4,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=812958  yonique (9)               mar 28,  apr 18, 27,  may10, 12,  jun 10,  jul 4,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=812963  splitups (9)               mar 28,  apr 18, 27,  may10, 12,  jun 10,  jul 4,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=812964  dharkmadder (122)    mar 28,  apr 18, 27,  may10, 12,  jun 10,  jul 4,  

Created on 3 days apart for cover, first posts identical. Cover blown.

added - very first post of dimonstration (posted before the other accounts above were created)
"I spend roughly 3 to 4 hours to just accommodate the 20 per day quota on Yobit.net and updating the posts of my other accounts"
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=724290.msg14310980#msg14310980

[rizzlarolla]

I'm bringing this over here where it belongs, i'm happy to learn of any knowledge you wish to share on this issue hilarious. (or anyone)

In fact, it's silly only making one post every two weeks because if it gets deleted or the thread gets trashed then you lose that entire 14 potential activity. The farmers that try spam 14 posts every two weeks tend to be the worse though to be honest but it's worth keeping an eye on the one post posters so they don't start spamming to rank up.

In fact, one post every 2 weeks is ideal for the serious farmer. The risk of a post deletion is a minimal time/reward risk.
I have not noticed this "farmed" pattern of "14 post every 2 weeks". Could you link a few accounts, maybe a couple of "the worst" banned accounts?
(i presume there were bans in these worst cases. sounds more like individual spammer than serious farmers?)
Not saying you dont, but I've seen no evidence anywhere on the forum that you understand account farming. (or any other mod/admin)

Of the 400 accounts I have listed on the real farmer thread, they do not "start spamming to rank up", they do exactly the opposite.
They quietly rank up under your radar, then, when they have some rank, they start "spamming". Their "potential rank" is quickly gained.

See how the accounts in my post above quietly rank up over months, under the radar of mods and members, until they (likely) get in a sig campaign, then they go full tilt.

By then they are a decent rank and just "appear" ready blended in.
Almost always the same pattern. Look at any of my first post farmed history's.

coynedterm (above post) may be a good example. I have suddenly noticed this account around.
5 months to quietly rank up (6 posts), now spamming for seconds trade. A full member (321 posts under 2 month later).
Much harder to "pick on" a full member?

Of course the 14/14 system may be used. I have not seen it.
I have not checked many newer accounts, maybe they are doing 14/14?

BTW. could staff/admin (theymos) help out here and provide a spreadsheet (or multiples of, ie days/weeks) of all members?
(particularly u=500000 -> todayish, 900000, including post count, and banned or not banned if poss!)
Twitchyseal has kindly provided some, but it would be far easier for admin (theymos) to organise.

[rizzlarolla]

September 7, 2015, 10.20am - 12.15pm

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552818  markupsidesaddle (30)   mar 29,  apr 12, 26,  may 10, 20,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552835  daringdiscovered (645)   mar 26,  apr 12, 26,  may 10,
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552847  charitablemoment (5)     mar 26,  apr 12, 26,  may 10, 19
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552848  presencewilderness (5)   mar 27,  apr 12, 26,  may 10, 20,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552849  croutonhexagon (350)    mar 26,  apr 12, 26,  may 10, 19,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552851  strippedplayoffs (6)        mar 27,  apr 12, 26,  may 10, 19,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552853  ardentvolcanoes (629)    mar 27,  apr 12, 26,  may 10, 19,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552855  wintermeasures (1235)   mar 26,  apr 12, 26,  may 10, 19x33,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552859  titteringtacos (52)           mar 27,  apr 12, 26,  may 10, 19,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552865  cheepingknickers (26)     mar 27,  apr 12, 26,  may 10, 20,  
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552868  sobsitesearch (906)         mar 27,  apr 12, 26,  may 10, 19,  


As if the first post schedule wasn't conclusive, see how they joined on sept 7 2015 but first post over 6 months later in march 2016.
Also all their names are similarly long 2 word joined. All lower case, no gaps or numbers.

You have probably seen wintermeasures around?

There are a dozen more names to go within this list, but their post history's are less clear to show. I'm starting with the easy to explain accounts here.
I will list the others soon.

---

So lets see a few more accounts that fit within the above list/timescale.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552829  laplacepaltry (             feb 16,  mar 29,  apr 11               may 10, 15, 19, 30
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552830  staccatoauditory (90)      feb 16,  mar 29,  apr 12, 24, 28,  may 2x4, 3x...
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552842  passivebesiege (273)      feb 16,  mar        apr 12, 24,        may 10,       19, 30,
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552858  chineseprancing (376)     feb 16,  mar 26,  apr 11, 22, 28,  may 8,         19, 30,

So, after waiting 5 months, these 4 posted once a month earlier than wintermeasures.
(check the u=#, they all fit within the first list)

add arcanaaerobics, posted once 1 month earlier, then rota,
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552823  arcanaaerobics (491)  jan 22, feb 16, mar 26, apr 11,19x2, 20x...
---

How about 4 more,

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552827  fernswift (112)          nov 9,10,26  dec 8,16,21,24,        jan 4, 5x17...
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552834  clangtrump (233)      nov 4,          dec 8,     21,24,        jan 4,    7x2,  16, 22
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552850  setupbounds (520)                       dec     16,         29    jan 4,    7       13, 22
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552863  marbleregional (88)   nov 9,24,26  dec 8, 9x44...

So even the accounts that wait 2 or 3 months before posting all end up posting on almost the same days.
(fernswift, clangtrump, marbleregional red trust?)

add caramelisedbanknote, only account to post sept 7, then rota,
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552838  caramelisedbanknote (504) sep 7, dec 8,16,19,24,        jan 4,    7,

---

Not sure if squabblegrill goes with the main list, activating on March 26 after 6 months, or on the second list as rota is same as chineseprancing?
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552844  squabblegrill (105)  mar 26,29, apr 11,22,28, may 8x4, 10,

---

Last 2 accounts,
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552854  patterdom (4)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552856  bleachedno (378)  (red trust)

They are connected together by their first four posts,
patterdom    nov 4,  Jan 5,18,  feb 2,
bleachedno              Jan 5,18,  feb 2,3

clangtrump also first posted on nov 4, 2 month after registration.

[Timelord2067]

*edit* moved to Spambots thread - will remove this post in a few days time.

[Timelord2067]

There are one thousand, one hundred and seventy-three pages of members with the "website"

Code:

MMM Global

in their profile...

((1,172 X 30) + 22 = 35,182 ) Thirty-Two thousand, one hundred and eighty-two members all with the same "Web Site" in their profile page's listing.

*edit*

Removed quoted samples

[Lauda]

There are one thousand, one hundred and seventy-three pages of members with the "website"

Code:

MMM Global

in their profile...

((1,172 X 30) + 22 = 35,182 )

Those were (or are) spam and were usually nuked on sight (after they posted). After realizing that, some probably kept registering without posting. If you can compile a list of links, we could nuke them relatively easy[1] (even though they aren't/won't cause harm).
Update: [1] Re-read the post and realized it's 35 thousand.

[Timelord2067]

There are one thousand, one hundred and seventy-three pages of members with the "website"

Code:

MMM Global

in their profile...

((1,172 X 30) + 22 = 35,182 ) Thirty-Two thousand, one hundred and eighty-two members all with the same "Web Site" in their profile page's listing.

We have just ticked over profile number https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=912093

Code:

Name: 	nensalmendela
Posts: 	0
Activity: 	0
Position: 	Newbie
Date Registered: 	Today at 15:09:30
Last Active: 	Today at 15:09:30

That's 3.85% of *all* users of BitCoin Talk have MMM Global in their profile.

[Arrakeen]

rizzlarolla, Timelord2067 -

Seriously, are you guys wizards or what?!  How do you so easily spot fake accounts & what is this talk about 'alphabet lists'?  Genuinely curious here.  By alphabet lists, do you mean the farmer(s) create new accounts based on the next available free letter in the (farmed) handle?

And speaking of MMM - I can't believe that shit is still around. But then again, I just found their youtube channel and can't look away - I guess Nigerians prey upon themselves as much as they do the rest of the world, eh?

Keep up the good work

[Timelord2067]

There are one thousand, one hundred and seventy-three pages of members with the "website"

Code:

MMM Global

in their profile...

((1,172 X 30) + 22 = 35,182 )

Those were (or are) spam and were usually nuked on sight (after they posted). After realizing that, some probably kept registering without posting. If you can compile a list of links, we could nuke them relatively easy[1] (even though they aren't/won't cause harm).
Update: [1] Re-read the post and realized it's 35 thousand.

That's why I spelt it out...

[Timelord2067]

rizzlarolla, Timelord2067 -

Seriously, are you guys wizards or what?!  How do you so easily spot fake accounts & what is this talk about 'alphabet lists'?  Genuinely curious here.  By alphabet lists, do you mean the farmer(s) create new accounts based on the next available free letter in the (farmed) handle?

And speaking of MMM - I can't believe that shit is still around. But then again, I just found their youtube channel and can't look away - I guess Nigerians prey upon themselves as much as they do the rest of the world, eh?

Keep up the good work

I'll show you how easy it is to find these Zombie Accounts ^TM...

Above we have

Code:

Offline 	wania149 		Set up a company in Australia 					Brand new 	2013-06-13 	0 	

which we trim down to

Code:

company in Australia

Nets us:

Code:

Offline 	fiza9829 		Set up a company in Australia 					Brand new 	2013-03-22 	0 	
Offline 	wania149 		Set up a company in Australia 					Brand new 	2013-06-13 	0 	

The dates and name styles are very similar, so we trim

Code:

fiza9829

down to

Code:

fiza

and we net the following:

*edit* samples removed

As I've said before, there's Australian place names, there's also Florida place names ie

Code:

Tampa Party Rentals

which we trim down to

Code:

Tampa

, we get four pages (I stress not all of these are Zombie Alts ^TM )

*edit* samples removed

So, then we find a clear pattern with

Code:

%title%

in the "website" nets us three pages of Zombie Alts ^TM

*edit* samples removed

Not one of the sixty five %title% UID's has been active since registering...

So, that's nearly 4% of all BCT UID's I've just identified in one post as being Zombie Alts ^TM, time to get back to work...

[Timelord2067]

As you can see from above, as far back as mid 2011 there has been a concerted effort to farm accounts on an industrial scale here at BCT.

Having set up a couple of Forums (with Simple Machine Forum's protocol ) as well as being a global moderator of the SexCoin forum over yonder at https://sexcoinforum.com/index.php the management here could do a couple of things:

• Disable registration of new accounts for a period of one week to one month *minimum* (be honest, how many new users are out there at the moment?
• Log every person out
• Every person has to change their password
• Every person re-logging in must provide a valid email address which is verified before they continue
• All accounts auto logged out after one week continuous log in.
• New users must register with a valid email address
• Word captures - they're built into "Simple Machine Forum" - prove they're human
• IP matching - duh can't be done! duh!
• IP's and email's at a domain level can be banned.  Go ahead and use them.
• Haven't logged in for one month / six months what ever, UID is flagged
• Be open to listening to suggestions from multiple sources...

to name but a few.

[Lauda]

Code:

%title%

in the "website" nets us three pages of Zombie Alts ^TM

I've just nuked all of them. They seem to be linking to weird websites, although I've found no malware on them (Example - click on your own risk). A fair number of them were proxybanned as well. A few were banned, but bans didn't remove profile information in the past.

Not one of the sixty five %title% UID's has been active since registering...

That's usually how standard bots operate on this forum, the difference is that these do not post but spam via profile information.

[Timelord2067]

What exactly does Nuked mean?

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=429047

Code:

Name: 	ElissaWint
Posts: 	0
Activity: 	0
Position: 	Brand new
Date Registered: 	01 February 2015, 19:51:17
Last Active: 	01 February 2015, 19:51:18

Is still there... with out the "Website" %title%, but still there...

[Lauda]

What exactly does Nuked mean?

Permanent ban + IP ban + removal of all profile information. Patrollers are able to nuke newbies, administrators and some global moderators are able to apply temporary and permanent bans to all members.

She killed them with nuclear weapons. (or warmed them up in the microwave)

Or it could mean this. I may be a cat wielding nuclear weapons.

[TwitchySeal]

What exactly does Nuked mean?

She killed them with nuclear weapons. (or warmed them up in the microwave)

[Timelord2067]

What exactly does Nuked mean?

Permanent ban + IP ban + removal of all profile information. Patrollers are able to nuke newbies, administrators and some global moderators are able to apply temporary and permanent bans to all members.

Ah ok, so they just show up as "brand new", so now we can find them and someone may have already done something?

What exactly does Nuked mean?

She killed them with nuclear weapons. (or warmed them up in the microwave)

We can only hope... 

[Lauda]

Ah ok, so they just show up as "brand new", so now we can find them and someone may have already done something?

This is usually used just to combat spam that does get reported. Obviously moderators don't have time to keep track of each and every registered member. If the profile page is not clean, that still may not mean that they are not banned (this change happened sometime in 2016 IIRC). I'd tackle that MMM spam, but 30k accounts is overkill for a single patroller. I've looked into this a bit, there are some people with higher ranks still posting with that.
If you find some other patterns with reasonable quantities (maybe under 1k accounts) you can PM me directly.