Merit Abuse?

[Baofeng]

Just going my usual route of posting and going around the forum but something caught my attention.

First time that I've seen someone receiving/giving a merit to a signature campaign application. 

archived: http://archive.is/F5YVD

And as I looked closer to the account, and as you can see, he applied at Hhampuz campaigns which requires merit in the last 120 days. So he either buy merits somewhere or those two accounts who just gave him merit is his alt so that he can qualify in BestMixer Signature (But I'm sure he will not be accepted by Hhampuz, anyways).

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5125389.msg50359824#msg50359824

archive: http://archive.is/2iBey

Accounts in question/connected:

Westinhome - https://bpip.org/profile.aspx?p=Westinhome
kolitski - https://bpip.org/profile.aspx?p=kolitski
Xetonica - https://bpip.org/profile.aspx?p=Xetonica

What do you guys think? If anyone can connect their account please be my guest. 

[1714839276]

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[1714839276]

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[1714839276]

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[The Sceptical Chymist]

Yep, that's probably what's happening here.  Hhampuz made a thread about this same thing recently, where people were somehow coming up with the required merits for his signature campaign right before applying.  The consensus (I think) was that he'd have to manually check posts like this to see if they were actually merit-worthy, and if he or another campaign manager looked at this one, he'd obviously realize the merit was traded.

Good catch.  There's no logical reason for anyone to be receiving merits for a signature campaign application.  That's ridiculous.  But as far as DT members tagging these fools, I doubt it's going to happen.  I wish it would, but it probably won't.

Edit:

And just like I said, Hhampuz won't accept those cheaters in his campaign.

Yeah well, he's one of the good campaign managers, and there are only a few.  The rest--and I think this includes all of the bounty managers--won't care one bit if someone buys merit, because merits aren't a part of getting accepted into those shitty campaigns.

[Baofeng]

Yep, that's probably what's happening here.  Hhampuz made a thread about this same thing recently, where people were somehow coming up with the required merits for his signature campaign right before applying.  The consensus (I think) was that he'd have to manually check posts like this to see if they were actually merit-worthy, and if he or another campaign manager looked at this one, he'd obviously realize the merit was traded.

Yes, I saw that thread, but this one is really obvious when I spotted it. And just like I said, Hhampuz won't accept those cheaters in his campaign.

Good catch.  There's no logical reason for anyone to be receiving merits for a signature campaign application.  That's ridiculous.  But as far as DT members tagging these fools, I doubt it's going to happen.  I wish it would, but it probably won't.

Unless we connected those account thru their address, twitter account. Maybe @coinlocket$ can help us out so that DT can tag them appropriately and at least managers will have second thoughts accepting them again.

[jhenfelipe]

Out of 956 posts of Westinhome, he gave merit to an application.
Anyway, I found this twitter username. I have not check their wallet addresses, I'll let other users to do that.

Done Registering in your campaign
Bitcointalk User: Westinhome
Profile Link : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile
Twitter Handle:https://twitter.com/KolitskiWendell
Twitter Audit : https://www.twitteraudit.com/KolitskiWendell
Followers : 254

and gudluck !!

http://archive.is/Ksian#selection-7457.0-7457.10

Twitter account link: https://twitter.com/KolitskiWendell
Retweet link : https://twitter.com/LitraCoin/status/905388589822992384

BTC : 3FFzUVom7YV2tWgQUdXaRNmJ229FeguV4K

http://archive.is/BvxV7#selection-5849.0-5849.8

[hacker1001101001]

One more alt of Westinhome.
Accounts connected: Litzki1990 , Westinhome

Connected address: 3QzxC2wh33t6XLpU7ZtXfoumrPRVU6BKoy
Quoted here: (thread is locked )

Twitter account: https://twitter.com/KolitskiWendell
Address: 3QzxC2wh33t6XLpU7ZtXfoumrPRVU6BKoy
Twitter followers: 406

The Avatar still loading.

#Proof of Authentication
Bitcointalk Username: Westinhome
Rank: Hero Member
Bitcoin Wallet Address: 3QzxC2wh33t6XLpU7ZtXfoumrPRVU6BKoy

[shasan]

I found another matching info. There all posted on pilipinas local board.
Xetonica
kolitski
Westinhome

[The Cryptovator]

Accounts in question/connected:

Westinhome - https://bpip.org/profile.aspx?p=Westinhome
kolitski - https://bpip.org/profile.aspx?p=kolitski
Xetonica - https://bpip.org/profile.aspx?p=Xetonica

What do you guys think? If anyone can connect their account please be my guest.  

Are they abuse on same bounty or signature campaign? I have no time to check. If they abuse any bounty or signature then deserve red tag in my opinion. If they join different bounty by using alt account then it is not possible to tag them for me. I am not sure about other DT. Since forum itself allow multiple account and there is few known alt account doing even btc signature different campaign. So they are not yet tagged. I don't think they deserve tag only due to have alt account. If there is any abuse or merit transaction between them then that is different case.

I found another matching info. There all posted on pilipinas local board.

Posting on same board doesn't proof they are abusing. We shouldn't damage any ranked account only based on suspicions and opinions.

Let me know if there is proved abuse, I will be happy to tag them.

[NoNameNo]

Let me give u merit on the post with your proof of authorization
and we will give u red tag?
Do you eliminate competitors in such a vile way?

lol

[hilariousetc]

Out of all the posts they could merit why would they merit that one? Doesn't make any sense. At least make an attempt to hide the abuse. I guess this is one downside of requiring x amount of merit to be able to join a campaign. On the face of it it's a good thing, but not really if someone just accepts anyone as long as they have the x amount of merit. That's why campaign managers should be vetting their applicants. If that user received all their merit within the last day or two of applying and for shitposts then that should set alarm bells going. People's post history should still be looked at regardless of how much merit they've got.

Let me give u merit on the post with your proof of authorization
and we will give u red tag?
Do you eliminate competitors in such a vile way?

lol

If you read the thread you would see there's several pieces of evidence tying them together, thus proving the abuse in this case.

[cabalism13]

Kolitski and WestinHome
Is indeed obviously connected...

username of Bitcointalk Account and Twitter Profile I guess that's enough proof. Also account that is been accused is relatively an account of a Filipino.

Proof: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1950428.msg19388535#msg19388535




Edit:
If you will read some of the posts, its relatively the same.

 Alsö Posting styles are way too obviously the same.
In our own words, it can be called as BAROQUE ENGLISH means not fluent (trying hard to speak english)

Feel free to tagged those accounts already. I really hate to see my countryman as cheaters but the fact that they're doing those things. They deserve it truly to be tagged and be kicked out from here.

[shasan]

Kolitski and WestinHome
Is indeed connected...

Proof: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1950428.msg19388535#msg19388535

You are right. Archive for reference as s/he may edit or remove the proof: https://archive.fo/eE2Fv#selection-7696.1-7844.3

[Quickseller]

So he either buy merits somewhere or those two accounts who just gave him merit is his alt so that he can qualify

I don’t think this can ever be proven with certainty because it is always possible someone wants to make the person look bad by giving merit to someone on a post that shouldn’t reasonably receive merit. Also, someone could be reviewing the persons posts, decide they deserve merit and give merit for the wrong post.

I am still pondering how to tell if someone is selling or buying merit and my reasoning is a work in progress. I think it is best to look at the merit (send) history of the person sending merit and if they have sent small amounts to many posts that don’t deserve merit then they might be selling merit. From there, you can look at the (receive) merit history of who received merit from these people on posts that don’t deserve merit and look at who else has sent them merit and see if they have also sent merit to many undeserving posts.

I posted analysis of a case of suspected merit abuse here that didn’t get much attention, however it can be used as an example as to how to use the above logic.

[Baofeng]

So he either buy merits somewhere or those two accounts who just gave him merit is his alt so that he can qualify

I don’t think this can ever be proven with certainty because it is always possible someone wants to make the person look bad by giving merit to someone on a post that shouldn’t reasonably receive merit. Also, someone could be reviewing the persons posts, decide they deserve merit and give merit for the wrong post.

I think in this case though, others have connected their account, so obviously those that gave him merit doesn't want him to look bad, on the contrary help him boost his account and be accepted in a campaign wherein merit s a requirement.

But I would agree though in your point. Merit can be used as a weapon, I remember one thread from a bounty manager saying he was surprised someone gave him merits and he is somewhat confused or afraid that those giving him merits has bad intentions (ruining his reputation).

I am still pondering how to tell if someone is selling or buying merit and my reasoning is a work in progress. I think it is best to look at the merit (send) history of the person sending merit and if they have sent small amounts to many posts that don’t deserve merit then they might be selling merit. From there, you can look at the (receive) merit history of who received merit from these people on posts that don’t deserve merit and look at who else has sent them merit and see if they have also sent merit to many undeserving posts.

I posted analysis of a case of suspected merit abuse here that didn’t get much attention, however it can be used as an example as to how to use the above logic.

Thanks for the link, it was a good and through analysis. Actually I saw another one giving 5 merits to someone, the exact merit requirements to be able to qualify on that campaign. However, as you have said it's hard to prove plus the language barrier as well. The post that was given a merit is not in English so I can be wrong here.


And thanks for those who help find the connection, indeed they are alts but as @Coolcryptovator has said, we need more proofs like joining the same bounty, before he tag these accounts.