SPAMBOT hunting: report spambot promoted threads

[alani123]

There has been some blatant activity of spam-bumping and potentially spam-botting lately. Bumping is used to push threads back to the front page as a promotion method. It's easy for this to get lost amidst the forum's massive activity so I thought about creating a thread to gather them all in one place.

What to do? Simple: post links to thread that appear to be promoted by spam-bumps.
I'll start

Blatant plagiarism in this thread's responses (also whole thread duplicate of now locked https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3382203.0)

https://archive.fo/oxWQp#selection-510.0-510.1
https://archive.li/ObhfL#selection-921.15-921.23 Older Plagiarized comments
https://archive.li/PdWgs#selection-1490.0-1490.1 Older Plagiarized comments

Another example in same thread:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4360608.msg40193472#msg40193472 plagiarized from https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3382203.msg38618457#msg38618457

Most accounts from page 5 onwards seem to be newly created for spam.

[alani123]

The plagiarism from the above thread seems to be blatant by some of the responders. We're onto something here.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1984110
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3821952.msg37335862#msg37335862 plagiarized from https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2624745.msg26880545#msg26880545
Other threads promoted https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3821952.0 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3115065.0 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3010616.0 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1781624.0

& more

Plagiarized comment used 3 times by different spam accounts:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3423964.msg36073861#msg36073861
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3821952.msg39477479#msg39477479
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3357814.msg36066772#msg36066772

The entirety of those threads is probably a spam landfill. I can't go through every single post looking for plagiarism bot the accoints doing it are posting copied responses almost exclusively. It appears as though someone is employing a network of spam accounts to plagiarize comments and boost threads. If one follows threads those post in a trail of boosted threads could be uncovered.

Look at the double spaces here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3423964.msg36164655#msg36164655

The project name is likely a variable word.
Can somebody export all Jr. member accounts from those threads that this network appears to be promoting so they can be banned en masse?

[alani123]

Here's a popular phrase among many threads:
Really interesting project, I will wait for presale stage and I will keep one eye here for more updates.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3205950.msg40184743#msg40184743
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4416246.msg39665779#msg39665779
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3452258.msg36318964#msg36318964
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3072984.msg35046915#msg35046915
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3072984.msg35064828#msg35064828
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3072984.msg31716529#msg31716529

Seen 4 times in https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3072984.0 <- obviously boosted by spam/bots
by
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=557538
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1341612
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1827070
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1559614

[alani123]

We hope for the success of the team and the community supporting this project

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3843044.msg40161526#msg40161526
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4142574.msg38691725#msg38691725
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3106905.msg32569925#msg32569925
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3264121.msg34594153#msg34594153
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3095196.msg39973531#msg39973531
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3843044.msg39997840#msg39997840
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2848982.msg35314112#msg35314112
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3843044.msg40167706#msg40167706
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3398255.msg36868647#msg36868647
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2579397.msg31153886#msg31153886
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2816658.msg31197101#msg31197101
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3391595.msg35801318#msg35801318
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3182280.msg33141118#msg33141118
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3143549.msg33506436#msg33506436
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3011255.msg31585547#msg31585547
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3052864.msg31660975#msg31660975
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4425565.msg39555193#msg39555193
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2670189.msg32565133#msg32565133
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3344377.msg38691841#msg38691841
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2286102.msg33041691#msg33041691
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2690972.msg37908023#msg37908023
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3057812.msg31503018#msg31503018
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3213051.msg39880575#msg39880575
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3375704.msg38142804#msg38142804
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3171591.msg32968314#msg32968314
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3205950.msg40083732#msg40083732
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2757588.msg33553316#msg33553316
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3052864.msg31537443#msg31537443
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3291145.msg36273840#msg36273840
Boy this phrase seems popular with spammers. I hope mods will look into purging profiles of those that made plagiarized posts and potentially lock the threads for utilizing spam to be promoted.
I'm trying to find a format to better suit this, hope the above is ok.

[alani123]

Here are accounts that have all posted "The idea of the project is very promising, minerals are highly valued"
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1990519  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3516965.msg36261669#msg36261669  - Not banned
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1357303 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3347524.msg36279308#msg36279308  - Not banned
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1272607 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3093336.msg34478263#msg34478263  - Not banned

[alani123]

Accounts that have posted "Do you plan to participate in conferences and meetings with investors"
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1898000
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1585342
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2114095
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1894658 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3333050.msg38970044#msg38970044 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3865577.msg40094604#msg40094604 2 times in the same thread by that user... lol
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1762484
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2015901
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=941524

[alani123]

Accounts that have posted "On which markets do you want to operate and what plans do you have for future?"
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2015908
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1790976
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1575495
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1542464
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1530150
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2015851
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1372350
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1577960

[alani123]

This thread has had the same posts all over it... Obvious spam-bumping.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2043033
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1228528
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1796884
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1865737
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1463442
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1870595
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2133783
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2027580
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1674143
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2189068
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1399232
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1370497
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1885756
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2136200
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2204106

All those accounts have posted in the thread with "What products will be advertised in Efir.io, can you explain?"

[suchmoon]

These:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2178366
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2180070
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2181438

Are posting absolute garbage, random meaningless phrases. Probably the same user/bot, e.g. these posts have the same phrase:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3755422.msg39780652#msg39780652
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4444089.msg40287779#msg40287779
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2215642.msg40294543#msg40294543

trust in the future should run according to the planned.

Reported to mods.

[MagicSmoker]

Joining the party here... I've been coming across lots of "word salad"* posts lately but when I have reported similar posts in the past they either remain unhandled or marked bad.

Here's are some examples of the type of nonsense I keep seeing (all pulled from the infamous Arbitao [ANN] thread):

This is a very nice idea with ability. Classy results, rational business, a rather interesting design!

I believe it's a good project!
Blameless project, advisable plan.  Good luck all!

It's really great idea!
Irreproachable logo, judicious idea!  Good luck all.

Their idea is quite attractive in my view! A very promising project, flawless vision!  Good luck.

I can't help but note a certain similarity in style, which makes me think this is a not-too-bright conversational bot that just remixes some choice phrases to avoid getting nailed for plagiarism.



* - "word salad" is a term from psychiatry that indicates someone is well down the road to schizophrenia.

[alani123]

Same responses posted over and over in the same thread:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2817270.msg39415753#msg39415753
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2817270.msg39890573#msg39890573

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2015948
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1999960

I agree with responses above, I also have tons of unhanded reports.
I'm posting in Meta in hopes that mods will start nuking spammy accounts and potentially locking threads that utilize them. I'm hopeful that there'll be some acknowledgment by staff.

[MagicSmoker]

I'm seeing this style of post all over the altcoin ANN threads now. I just found (and reported) three on the last page of the Bismuth thread and I just picked that one at random, implying there are literally thousands of these spambot posts to deal with.

Kinda depressing, actually.

[Welsh]

I'm seeing this style of post all over the altcoin ANN threads now. I just found (and reported) three on the last page of the Bismuth thread and I just picked that one at random, implying there are literally thousands of these spambot posts to deal with.

Kinda depressing, actually.

Theoretically you could report thousands of these posts a day if you had enough time, and willpower. It's already started to effect my browsing of the forum, and a few others things I would like to be doing, but it just needs to be done. I'm hoping that the community can pull together, and start reporting more collectively.
 
I don't know how many times I've reported pages worth of posts, and then within an hour they've already added another 5 pages of spam onto the thread. I constantly ask myself the question whether I'm helping the moderators or if I'm just annoying them with the reports.

[MagicSmoker]

...
I constantly ask myself the question whether I'm helping the moderators or if I'm just annoying them with the reports.

Yep, that's what I worry about, too, when I report several posts in a row; don't want to overwhelm the poor mods with the likes of, "outstanding idea, irreproachable logo, advisable plan!" 

But, it isn't as bad as I thought. I randomly clicked on the last page of about 30 more ANN threads and only found one more example of word salad like the above. Either that or the mods already got to them...

[tmfp]

This shit is everywhere, to the point where I blank it out when catching up, otherwise I end up reporting, not reading.
Back when I was a more trigger happy reporter, I think I single-handedly reduced a thread by about twelve pages of "word salad".

It would help if the Moderators nuked more of these accounts with post histories of complete nonsense (quite a number of them registered early June), especially when the report points out their overall lack of quality.
But they don't seem to, mostly only deleting the one post reported and leaving them to spam again, e.g. from the infamous Arbitao thread, I reported this user for two nonsense posts, with a request for nuking. The two posts are gone, but the shit poster's still live.

[alani123]

This shit is everywhere, to the point where I blank it out when catching up, otherwise I end up reporting, not reading.
Back when I was a more trigger happy reporter, I think I single-handedly reduced a thread by about twelve pages of "word salad".

It would help if the Moderators nuked more of these accounts with post histories of complete nonsense (quite a number of them registered early June), especially when the report points out their overall lack of quality.
But they don't seem to, mostly only deleting the one post reported and leaving them to spam again, e.g. from the infamous Arbitao thread, I reported this user for two nonsense posts, with a request for nuking. The two posts are gone, but the shit poster's still live.

My thoughts exactly. Very well said, I actually agree with everything!

I have expressed in multiple threads that I think limitations should be put in place to prevent this abuse. ICOs and altcoins are trying to compete with each other to see who gets on the front all the time and it's getting really annoying. There's now a market for that offered as a service.

IMO a simple solution would be to:
a. Disallow accounts under Member rank from bumping. They will be able to respond but it shouldn't shoot threads at the top. This will stop new accounts without merit to push threads to the top. There could be exceptions for boards like beginners and help and other tech support sections.
b. For accounts below Member rank, introduce reCaptcha for each post. This would simply curb automation.

It would also be useful if mods were a little more trigger happy with nuking rather than painstakingly deleting posts one by one...

[MagicSmoker]

This shit is everywhere, to the point where I blank it out when catching up, otherwise I end up reporting, not reading.
Back when I was a more trigger happy reporter, I think I single-handedly reduced a thread by about twelve pages of "word salad".

Same here, except not seeing my unhandled report count go down is what mostly stays my hand at reporting more. 

It would help if the Moderators nuked more of these accounts with post histories of complete nonsense (quite a number of them registered early June), especially when the report points out their overall lack of quality.

Totally agree, and the part I bolded I have since incorporated into my reports (ie - pointing out that all/most of the user's other posts are the same as the reported post). Hopefully that will result in nuking rather than single post deletions.

That said, what human - even one that has to rely on Google Translate to make an "Engrish" post - would write something like:

I wish this project grows well and ideally.
Apperceptive idea, impeccably idea, interesting website!

(pulled from the post history of the user/bot you reported).

[Welsh]

Yep, that's what I worry about, too, when I report several posts in a row; don't want to overwhelm the poor mods with the likes of, "outstanding idea, irreproachable logo, advisable plan!"  

But, it isn't as bad as I thought. I randomly clicked on the last page of about 30 more ANN threads and only found one more example of word salad like the above. Either that or the mods already got to them...

Well, my shift of reporting starts soon, and I've just taken a quick look, and have already found several threads with the same bullshit as always. I think a general observation I've made is that threads which have "free" or "airdrop" in the title generate a lot more of these sort of replies.

Update: 7 of 7 threads I'm now actively reporting in have had at least 5 shitposts.

[alani123]

Look at those posts! They're switching words to avoid plagiarism checks by the first look but it's not hard to find them. More advanced algorithms can be of course developed for this but my google-fu skills can only help point out perpetrators to this level of obviousness. I'm actually suspicious that some bots are swapping certain placeholder words (as I reported here) with the project's name to make their replies have a more natural feel among all the spam. This looks automated either way, and happens faster than individual posts can be reported.

I'm reporting all those posts, hopefully mods will nuke the accounts also. I'll be providing a list of their profile links below.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3375991.msg40552385#msg40552385
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3098153.msg40442858#msg40442858
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3591488.msg40302061#msg40302061
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3913750.msg40503917#msg40503917
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3375899.msg37497433#msg37497433
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3377820.msg40111004#msg40111004
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2179632
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2178887
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2207492
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2182698
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2182490
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1248793

[alani123]

Another very popular phrase by spammers:
What will u do with unsold tokens?
Oftentimes posted on the same threads. I think that when the same plagiarized spammy line gets posted on the same thread as a response over an over it's a pretty clear cut case of the OP utilizing spam-bumping services.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3375991.msg39071963#msg39071963
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3375271.msg38368651#msg38368651
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2804929.msg33338834#msg33338834
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2804929.msg29295810#msg29295810
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3386155.msg38838800#msg38838800
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3188941.msg37498045#msg37498045
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3382728.msg37802373#msg37802373
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3188941.msg36198954#msg36198954
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2856412.msg32563294#msg32563294
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3214041.msg36677873#msg36677873
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3214041.msg36904169#msg36904169
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3214041.msg37447985#msg37447985
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3188941.msg37748613#msg37748613
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3214041.msg34386283#msg34386283
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3214041.msg35987990#msg35987990
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3214041.msg35673406#msg35673406
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3188941.msg37242682#msg37242682
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3188941.msg34386894#msg34386894
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3188941.msg34984510#msg34984510
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3188941.msg39496617#msg39496617
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3252688.msg39412182#msg39412182
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3188941.msg35411371#msg35411371
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2602692.msg28242130#msg28242130
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3214041.msg36198482#msg36198482
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2589371.msg36555181#msg36555181
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2961359.msg33928833#msg33928833
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3140643.msg32761271#msg32761271
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2804929.msg33646820#msg33646820
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4437634.msg39693829#msg39693829