More mass merit farming

[hilariousetc]

So I started to notice a few similarities between a group of users seemingly trading merit back and forth between themselves for poor to average posts or nothing really of substance. What stood out the most is that 99% of them are on the same two campaigns (or at least have their signatures) which seemingly require high merit and even paid bonuses for merit achieved. The campaigns in question are Yahoo's Eroiy.io and his own one:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2827626 Eroiy.io Signature Campaign(Higher rewards for users with merits)(CLOSED)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2956154.0 Yahoo62278 Sig & Avatar Campaign(High merit required)

I think it's highly likely that many of the following users are either alts and/or have at least conspired to trade merit between themselves to try get on these campaigns and/or boost their pay.

Upon looking at the first page of sign-ups on yahoo's signature campaign I see a lot of users who have seemingly been unsuccessful in joining that one and have at least attempted to sign up on Eroiy.io as they're all baring that signature. These two users who tried to join back to back with the same activity stood out especially:



https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1120987 shalnark August 23, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1111405     lenovo16 August 17, 2017 Eroiy.io

If you check their merit history you will see they have only sent merit to other users baring either Eroiy.io or Yahoo's own signatures.

lenovo16 sent to:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1120987 shalnark August 23, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1275565     tricker01     November 03, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1159197     dhas     September 18, 2017, Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=877228     rhamzter July 11, 2016 Eroiy.io


Shalnark sent to:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1111405     lenovo16 August 17, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=877228     rhamzter July 11, 2016 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1040504     ajmapalo22     June 22, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1041648     cipher-x_09 June 23, 2017 yahoo

Once you start to look into the others sent merit you rapidly start to descend down a massive merit rabbit hole of accounts who have seemingly traded merit back and forth between the same group of users all mostly on the same two campaigns.

Check out the merit list of the guy shalnark and lenovo16 both sent merit to:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=877228     rhamzter July 11, 2016, Eroiy.io



With the exception of mharz all of the accounts he has sent merit to are yet again on both campaigns:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1092460     Protected101     August 02, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1111405     lenovo16 August 17, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=986711     mharz April 18, 2017 Escrowcoin
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1285563 214missy November 06, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1159197     dhas September 18, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1136399     Siopao September 03, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1041648 cipher-x_09 June 23, 2017 yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1120987 shalnark August 23, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=876001     SamsungBitcoin July 07, 2016, yahoo

But if you actually check mharz all his merits are sent to people on Eroiy.io:



https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1111405     lenovo16 August 17, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1275565     tricker01     November 03, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1142386     di.ako.toh September 07, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1091084     Bonakid July 31, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1136399     Siopao September 03, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1120987         shalnark August 23, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=877228            rhamzter July 11, 2016, Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1159197     dhas September 18, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1142382         yamortsac September 07, 2017  Eroiy.io

Merit of di.ako.toh:


https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1142386     di.ako.toh September 07, 2017 Eroiy.io



Sent to:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1263064 19faraon88 October 30, 2017, Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1390471     Silvermist December 07, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1136399     Siopao September 03, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1142382 yamortsac September 07, 2017  Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1248074     shinjunobi09 October 25, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1120987         shalnark August 23, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1094854 audrey12     August 04, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1040504 ajmapalo22 June 22, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1041648     cipher-x_09 June 23, 2017 yahoo




cipher-x_09 sent to:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1091084     Bonakid July 31, 2017  Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1142386     di.ako.toh September 07, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=986711     mharz April 18, 2017 Escrowcoin
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1046892     Pleione527     June 28, 2017  Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=877228            rhamzter July 11, 2016, Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1040504 ajmapalo22 June 22, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1136399     Siopao September 03, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1258342     jinksters09 October 28, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=876001 SamsungBitcoin July 07, 2016 yahoo

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1040504     ajmapalo22 June 22, 2017 Eroiy.io




https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1142386     di.ako.toh September 07, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1041648     cipher-x_09 June 23, 2017 yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1057472     sofi@     July 07, 2017 yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=876001 SamsungBitcoin July 07, 2016 yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=877228            rhamzter July 11, 2016, Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1046892 Pleione527 June 28, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=661293     madwica November 22, 2015 yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1094854 audrey12     August 04, 2017 Eroiy.io

Starting to see a pattern here? The same names just keep popping up and the odds of that randomly happening are astronomical. If you check the merit sent of all the accounts above they've all pretty much just sent to the same group of members who 99% are on the same two campaigns that just so happen to require merit. There will likely be a lot of alts here (probably the ones that signed up in the same months) but it's hard to say which for sure without further evidence, but at the very least I think there's almost certainly been some behind the scenes collusion between members on the campaigns just to send merit to each other.

More:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1142382     yamortsac September 07, 2017 Eroiy.io



https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1094854 audrey12     August 04, 2017 Eroiy.io




https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1046892 Pleione527 June 28, 2017 Eroiy.io





https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1057472     sofi@     July 07, 2017 yahoo







------------

I could go on listing all the users in question but it should be pretty clear by now the ones that are involved. There's really no good reason why the same names should be popping up and even the same poor to below average posts getting merited by the same users. I think these users have some explaining to do.

[1714116840]

1714116840

[1714116840]

1714116840

[1714116840]

1714116840

[1714116840]

1714116840

[marlboroza]

Well, first address checked and first alt account revealed. They are all most likely alt accounts.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2144594.msg21455884#msg21455884 archived https://archive.fo/fnoNZ

Bitcointalk Name: mharz
Forum Rank: Full Member
Current Post Count: 405+1
Bitcoin Address: 15v9zcE6c4juM1vas57n3DNdDXurXcWY7g
Wear appropriate signature: yes

Address from your screenshot 1KNfKqC7C1B4iR8Mz3mR6zCEmgJaNqETBq and address from quoted post 15v9zcE6c4juM1vas57n3DNdDXurXcWY7g are part of wallet https://www.walletexplorer.com/wallet/19c752ce88d62451/addresses

Nice catch.
lenovo16:

User name: lenovo16
Rank: Jr Member
Post count: 36+1
BTC Address: 17oLaoACtB6RqHP4T7zqqZzj6oSLpdvzfS

I'm honored if you consider my application.

archived https://archive.fo/saixz

Address 17oLaoACtB6RqHP4T7zqqZzj6oSLpdvzfS is also part of the same wallet.
tricker01

Btctalk name - tricker01
Rank - Member
Current post count - 187
BTC Address - 1JtmJA9N685UAcd2MGMeayiw8He9kcBFxq
Wear appropriate signature - Yes
Wear avatar - not qualified

archived https://archive.fo/l2Og2

Address 1JtmJA9N685UAcd2MGMeayiw8He9kcBFxq is part of the same wallet.
chineseprancing

Bitcointalk name:chineseprancing
Bitcoin Address: 1CECLu6gn9dxJeUJF8Bq7aC97NrxNUZZKR
Rank: Hero Member
Bitcointalk Profile Link: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552858
Email Registered at Stamps or Stamps wallet address: SxP3d930cdf6643b1b2b588e48d23168d26baa28529b698ae6693951044b94de8e5
Telegram username: chineseprancing

archived https://archive.fo/nwF9I

Address 1CECLu6gn9dxJeUJF8Bq7aC97NrxNUZZKR is part of the same wallet. Omg hero member and abusing merit  

chineseprancing used address 1CECLu6gn9dxJeUJF8Bq7aC97NrxNUZZKR

User name: chineseprancing
Post count : 1382
BTC Address : 1CECLu6gn9dxJeUJF8Bq7aC97NrxNUZZKR

archived here https://archive.fo/bRoig

while rhamzter used the same address here:

1CPCcG6Qi9U6CSaPAmtQqLFHJtWDg8yeAB

I'm registered

archived here https://archive.fo/MXZPf

[hilariousetc]

Address 1JtmJA9N685UAcd2MGMeayiw8He9kcBFxq is part of the same wallet.
chineseprancing

Bitcointalk name:chineseprancing
Bitcoin Address: 1CECLu6gn9dxJeUJF8Bq7aC97NrxNUZZKR
Rank: Hero Member
Bitcointalk Profile Link: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552858
Email Registered at Stamps or Stamps wallet address: SxP3d930cdf6643b1b2b588e48d23168d26baa28529b698ae6693951044b94de8e5
Telegram username: chineseprancing

archived https://archive.fo/nwF9I

Address 1CECLu6gn9dxJeUJF8Bq7aC97NrxNUZZKR is part of the same wallet. Omg hero member and abusing merit 

Yeah, just noticed something interesting. Check out the user chineseprancing and his merit sent https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552858



With the exception of JayJuanGee (who seems to be completely unrelated to this) all the users he has sent to are involved in the above merit farming between themselves on the two yahoo campaigns. chineseprancing seems to be somewhat of the ringleader in sending a lot of the merit out and has merited the most out of all the users but I noticed something unique in that he hasn't received any merit back at all. I'm guessing this is probably because he doesn't need it already being a Hero member so others wont 'waste' it on him.

 

[marlboroza]

There are too many coincidence: joining yahoo's campaigns, all from Philippines, the same posting style, signing up with addresses which are part of the same exchange(?) wallet, sending merits to each other, so far 6 accounts connected with solid proof.

Madwica posted this address 17uPHcXRwnJhLsXYGhFT4ReMuzAzKrj6iJ here

Username: madwica
Rank: hero member
Starting post count: 1644
Profile link: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=661293
BTC address: 17uPHcXRwnJhLsXYGhFT4ReMuzAzKrj6iJ

Good day, i just want to participate in this campaign. Im hoping for your acceptance.

archived here https://archive.fo/sCVkN

And protected posted the same address here:

Btctalk name: Protected101
Rank: jr. Member
Current post count: 33 + 1
Email Registered at Soferox or Soferox wallet address: B100C24C-8624-4C95-B838-5302F1DA9A1F
Bitcoin Adress: 17uPHcXRwnJhLsXYGhFT4ReMuzAzKrj6iJ
Hope you will accept me thanks

archived here https://archive.fo/dqc2n

[Lauda]

So are they going to get banned or are we going to tag them?

[hilariousetc]

So are they going to get banned or are we going to tag them?

Well at the very least they should be tagged but will take some effort. Full list here (in date registered order):


https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=552858  September 07, 2015  chineseprancing DextronCoin

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=661293     madwica November 22, 2015 yahoo

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=876001     SamsungBitcoin July 07, 2016, yahoo

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=877228     rhamzter July 11, 2016 Eroiy.io

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=986711     mharz April 18, 2017 Escrowcoin



https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1040504     ajmapalo22     June 22, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1041648     cipher-x_09 June 23, 2017 yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1046892     Pleione527     June 28, 2017  Eroiy.io

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1057472     sofi@     July 07, 2017 yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1091084     Bonakid July 31, 2017 Eroiy.io


https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1092460     Protected101     August 02, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1094854 audrey12     August 04, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1100851     katinko August 09, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1111405     lenovo16 August 17, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1120987 shalnark August 23, 2017 Eroiy.io

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1134886 shi07     September 02, 2017 yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1136399     Siopao September 03, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1142386     di.ako.toh September 07, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1142382         yamortsac September 07, 2017  Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1159197     dhas     September 18, 2017, Eroiy.io


https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1248074     shinjunobi09 October 25, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1258342     jinksters09 October 28, 2017 Eroiy.io


https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1275565     tricker01     November 03, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1285563 214missy November 06, 2017 Eroiy.io


https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1390471     Silvermist December 07, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1451657     jbkg111816 December 17, 2017 Eroiy.io

-----------------


possibly related but need looking into or watching:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1263064 19faraon88 October 30, 2017, Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1000813     PX-Z May 12, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1070655 cydrix     July 17, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1064354     Choii     July 12, 2017 Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=122077     AngelSky May 23, 2013 yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1276433     Nfp November 03, 2017, Eroiy.io
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1159709 Saveplus September 18, 2017 shiftcash
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1179651 sheenshane October 01, 2017 yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1111571 Blue2012 August 17, 2017 ebcoin (already banned)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1121779 Maricel2017 August 24, 2017 ebcoin
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1066674 yojodojo21 July 14, 2017 yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1744342 andreijoaquin January 24, 2018 no campaign
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1729339 AltheaHeart14 January 22, 2018 Eroiy.io

-------

Possibly related but already confirmed as alts of each other here : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3018279.0

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1299218 earl07     November 10, 2017, yahoo
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1150025     creamy08 September 12, 2017 Eroiy.io

[KWH]

I hope Theymos strips the Merit from all those accounts.
Good work hilariousetc .

[yahoo62278]

Looks like imposing the merit requirements gave the forum a new way to find cheaters on the forum. Anyone tagged for merit abuse will most def be removed from any campaigns I manage.


I started imposing merit requirements  to look for more quality posters, not to find out the biggest cheaters. Just because it can be done doesn't make it right though, I mean using that logic I should go rob a bank. It can be done but is it legal? Imposing any rules or implementing any new system doesn't mean go and break the rules of the forum. This shows your character and shows me you don't deserve to be on bitcointalk, so IMO imposing this new system just brought out a bunch of weak users and gave the forum reasons to say goodbye to them

[hilariousetc]

I hope Theymos strips the Merit from all those accounts.
Good work hilariousetc .

Lol that won't happen. I tagged them all anyway.

Looks like imposing the merit requirements gave the forum a new way to find cheaters on the forum. Anyone tagged for merit abuse will most def be removed from any campaigns I manage.

I just hope they don't manage to get themselves on another campaign. Most of the crapcoin campaigns or managers don't check or care half the time. They should be banned from the forum really but they haven't really explicitly broken any of the forum rules apart from some of them were multi posting and talking to each other and trading/farming merit doesn't seem to be a bannable offence yet.

I started imposing merit requirements  to look for more quality posters, not to find out the biggest cheaters. Just because it can be done doesn't make it right though, I mean using that logic I should go rob a bank. It can be done but is it legal? Imposing any rules or implementing any new system doesn't mean go and break the rules of the forum. This shows your character and shows me you don't deserve to be on bitcointalk, so IMO imposing this new system just brought out a bunch of weak users and gave the forum reasons to say goodbye to them

It has positives and negatives. Sadly the biggest farmers are the ones that will find it easier to abuse whilst genuine users with just one account will struggle or at least take some time to achieve, though on the flip side it opens the farmers up to being spotted as many farmers won't be able to resist leaving themselves merit because it's so hard to get in naturally.

[marlboroza]

They should be banned from the forum really but they haven't really explicitly broken any of the forum rules apart from some of them were multi posting and talking to each other and trading/farming merit doesn't seem to be a bannable offence yet.

Is this user banned https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=818476 ?
Hm...I'll rephrase:

Chinesepracing posted this address 338o15RsxUkXPTANKT8eEwrLsoMfBDSxXh here:

https://archive.fo/ukWH4#selection-8055.0-8055.63

Name: chineseprancing
Post count: 578 (include this post)
Rank: Fullmember
Bitcoin address: 338o15RsxUkXPTANKT8eEwrLsoMfBDSxXh

Samsungbitcoin posted the same address here:
https://archive.fo/kWZBP#selection-4399.0-4399.82

Btctalk name: SamsungBitcoin
Rank: Sr. Member
Current post count: 1029
BTC Address: 338o15RsxUkXPTANKT8eEwrLsoMfBDSxXh

rhed posted the same address here:
https://archive.fo/FFJ14#selection-8478.0-8481.25

name: rhed718
post: 68
activity: 42
position: Jr. member
btc address: 338o15RsxUkXPTANKT8eEwrLsoMfBDSxXh

Is he banned? 

[sapta]

They should be banned from the forum really but they haven't really explicitly broken any of the forum rules apart from some of them were multi posting and talking to each other and trading/farming merit doesn't seem to be a bannable offence yet.

Is this user banned https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=818476 ?

Yes, he's banned.

[KeithBeeCham]

Hello hilariousetc

Can you spend few minutes to take a look at my topic? I'm trying to find out as much as alt account abusing merit and campaign as possible.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3162720.0

Beside I think you also should take a look at these Merit circles )

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;u=1065634
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;u=1433072
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;u=988901

Thank you!

[dbers79]

As always with these things, when money is involved, people will find a way to game the system. It's actually a good thing that people are vigilant and making noise about these anomalies. What we're expecting to see now is an update on the way merits are being utilized to ensure  that people are using the merit system properly, but that may be a long shot.