Topic: Account farming. Allowed? - page 24. (Read 51891 times)

Account farming is in this forum from long time, it is due to that you can join in most of the signature campaign and then just troll the post by your own other alt accounts. Even their are some users who are in account farming for selling the accounts after they attain the high rank potential ranking so that they sell this accounts and earn bitcoins.

K~Ehleyr, without the name connections, this would have been so much harder to "show" clearly.
That is pure luck for me. I didn't expect to find these patterns either. Clearly all my posts are about the work of 1 single entity farmer.

Chris! thanks for looking. Great idea of yours I think. (can't quite get my head round it yet..) Is that something you could/would do?
Anything that clearly illustrates this situation would be good.
I will probably make one long list at some point, consolidate my multiple lists!

Bear in mind I have very limited tools or access (or incentive) for this search.
Inferior tools and access than mods, far inferior tools and access than global mods. Far, far inferior tools and access than Theymos.
Still I found all this very quickly.

Theymos must have known all I have published already. And what I will publish next.

I dislike the spammers too, it makes reading topics so much more work.
They're usually smart enough to make ontopic posts, but the posts don't add anything. Two examples: "We need to wait and see.", "The business and companies will only use the strong one.".
By stating the obvious, they are ontopic, the post is long enough not to count as spam, and it's unlikely their posts get deleted. Getting their account banned is even more unlikely.

And because they don't really break any rules, they can keep going. Adjusting the rules to the level that "trivial posts aren't allowed" would give moderators a lot of work, and every action a moderator would take on this can be debated. That's not possible either.

I often use the signature campaign someone uses as an indicator for his post quality. Based on the signature, I can skip posts instead of reading them. Use their own spam against them

I just read the whole thread. Wow. You've definitely stumbled across some huge account farming 'business' here. To show correlation maybe we should do a scatterplot along with your other evidence and PM it to Theymos.

So the Y access would be # of posts and the X access would be userid# within a certain range. Include all accounts within say a 1000 range and show on the graph the correlation between a hundred accounts or whatever it might be.

Great work!

Well I for one am mega impressed by your work here and horrified at the extent of the disease. I hope somebody in power does take notice and act upon this.

I'm quite amazed at the cold mechanised process used by the farmer too. You can see that he just changes one or two letters to the next in the alphabet to create the next username from the previous one.  It just helps make the patterns clearer once you've identified them.

Not so pretty that list above, is it?

Turns out that list is #4 of 4 alphabetical lists. (unless i have missed some more)
If I put all four lists together, the pattern is clearer. I've numbered the lists 1, 2, 3, 4.


1  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=667857            Atesed                                      posts  =      0
 2    https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668247            Apened                                                   19
  3      https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668637           Appuned                                               20
   4        https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=669144            Auponef ***                                      181
1  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=667859            Bameras                                                    26
 2    https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668249            Bemerand                                             251
  3      https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668640            Benarand                                             21
   4        https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=669148            Beparanf                                           21
1  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=667862            Cabdinsard                                                  0
 2    https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668252            Cateinyard                                              21
  3      https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668647            Cabapzarf                                            21
   4        https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=669150            Cacapzarg                                        17
1  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=667863            Dobmader                                                  21
 2    https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668256            Dobmaster ***                                      187
  3      https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668651            Docnaster                                           285
   4        https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=669152            Dodnastes                                        19
1  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=667865            Efemen ***                                               93
 2    https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668260            Egenen                                                   21
  3      https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668654            Ejanend                                               18
   4        https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=669156            Ekanenf                                            20
1  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=667868            Falmant                                                     21
 2    https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668261            Famnant                                                 21
  3      https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668658            Fanpant ***                                       157
   4        https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=669157            Fappanu                                            21
1  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=667872            Gatotare                                                     21
 2    https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668291            Gastotade                                               22
  3      https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668664            Gaswuwade                                          33
   4        https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=669159            Gotomoon                                         20
1  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=667873            Hamaber                                                    19
 2    https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668293            Hanacerty                                               20
  3      https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668667            Hapucerty                                            20
   4        https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=669161            Haruderty                                        136
1  
 2    https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668294            Jiamaf                                                     22
  3      https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668679            Juhagic ***                                        184
   4        https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=669163            Jukagid                                              21
1
 2    https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=668297            Kenarix                                                    20
  3
   4        https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=669167            Ketariz                                               19

1 time span 30 minutes.        8 accounts, 200 spam posts.             Nov 27 7.03am - 7.31am
 2 time span 2 hours.            10 accounts, 600 spam posts.            Nov 27 9.19pm - 11,16pm
  3 time span 1 hour.             9 accounts, 750 spam posts.              Nov 28 9.17am - 10.15am
   4 time span 45 minutes.     10 accounts, 450 spam posts.            Nov 29 1.25pm - 2.07pm

(Looks to me like the farmer felt he rushed list 1, not enough padding. So spent longer on list 2 to allow real padding. List 3 was hurried along by farmed padding, Same, but faster again on list 4.)

The above multi list includes two 0 post accounts, (on list 1) first time i have included 0 post accounts.
See how most accounts are around 21 post count. Just systematically ranking up.
bbc.reporters spam list hit the top post count on list 1 and 4, and the second post count on lists 2 and 3 (also third post count list 3) ***
bbc.reporter list found 10% of related accounts. 90% are unnoticed. Not yet on Dannys ignore list.

I have another A - B - C - D - A - B - C - D   list which brings my 3 other published repeat lists together in the same way as here.
That will take my total farmed member list well over 100, producing 8000 spam posts.
Bit funny no one hardly anyone gives a shit after all the moaning of spammers on bitcointalk.

I've got lucky so far. Really easy to identify these  -A - B - C - D - A - B - C - D - patterns.
It is self proving. No need to look further. It will get harder!

The farmer is clever, and does change thing around a bit.
On my first list, all names started with a capital letter. That was the only upper case used, no numbers.
On my second list, all names start lower case letter. No upper case used, no numbers.
On my third list, names starting "Z" are upper case, names starting "d" "s" or "m" are lower case. No other upper case, no numbers.

The farmer also changes the - A - B - C - D - A - B - C - D - repeat pattern.
How about - A - B - C - D - E - F - G - alphabetical pattern.

Lets see if anyone can grasp this alphabetical list. ("I" is also missing off other alphabetical list i have compiled, not yet published)

https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/auponef-669144  Auponef (181) ***                            
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/beparanf-669148  Beparanf (21)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/cacapzarg-669150  Cacapzarg (17)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/dodnastes-669152  Dodnastes (19)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/ekanenf-669156  Ekanenf (20)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/fappanu-669157  Fappanu (21)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/gotomoon-669159  Gotomoon (20)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/haruderty-669161  Haruderty (136)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/jukagid-669163  Jukagid (21)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/ketariz-669167  Ketariz (19)

Another 450 meaningless spam posts from these 10 farmed accounts.
This list represents 45 min time line. (and as i hope is clear, would contain probably 0 other real active users even if i published every account in that time span. the omitted accounts are probably 0 post inactive. probably padding for these "active" farmed accounts)

*** bbc. spammer list

I have added post count as of time originally posted.

https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/zaducis-661247                                                              Zaducis (132)***
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/macwika-661254                                          macwika (20)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/sadasa-661268                      sadasa (328)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/dumada-661275  dumada (97) ***
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/zacudis-661289                                                              Zacudis (168)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/madwica-661293                                          madwica (612)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/samasas-661296                      samasas (20)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/dumpida-661300  dumpida (187)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/zicadis-661309                                                              Zicadis 24)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/mandica-661316                                          mandica (295)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/sanadas-661324                      sanadas (256)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/dunfida-661329  dunfida (725)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/zocadas-661339                                                              Zocadas (25)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/mastica-661346                                          mastica 39)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/samanas-661352                      samanas (63)
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/danfoda-661356  danfoda (112)

Another 3000 spam posts produced by these 16 farmed accounts. Sole purpose money making.
(this list covers 1 hour 10 minutes)
(i copy/paste all names into my lists)

*** bbc. spammer list
I have added post counts as of time originally posted. Very busily posting this lot!

This is bbc.reporters list of spammers. This list is why I stumbled into this account farming issue.
As I connect members from this list I shall mark them off. I am expecting a high success rate.

https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/potatopower-552983  *** Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/angryswamp-553242  *** Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/fruitbucket-639372  *** Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/anthonydar-639604  *** Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/sanas-658151  *** Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/dumana-658316
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/zaducis-661247  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/dumada-661275  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/kellor-662242  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/kaller-662280  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/rastanan-662312  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/bamsed-663146  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/varusisog-664899  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/eastsound-665000  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/northpixel-666937  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/efemen-667865  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/dobmaster-668256  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/fanpant-668658  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/juhagic-668679  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/ruhtilg-669128  ***  Connected in my lists    
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/auponef-669144  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/alphasun-672152  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/kewatia-676083  ***  Connected in my lists
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/ultrabat-684514
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/sanguintan-695975

It is not just the pattern of name.
It is the time of registration, number of times the pattern repeats and the post quality.
Strong correlation, in my opinion.

Thanks for being in your watchlist mate. My point is don't judge it by the name. But i agree with you that they are related because of the time they are created. You are lucky if theymos grant your wish because AFAIK there are no rules regarding this matter and i think the owner of the accounts is working so hard just to have a profit his accounts. And i think multiple registration on same IP will result to banned of the IP..


Btw gotta out here. Not my business. Im not a police. Bye!:)

There must be good money in it.  Have you seen this guy?  Offering to spend 10btc on a whole army of spammers...

(and btvGainer)

The pattern here IS strong. You don't know how to analyse the information that I have provided.
I would never connect you with OmegaStarScream in this way. I am not looking for prefix's in names.

The above list is taken from a 2.5 hour period. Yourself and OSS joined 14 months apart.
The above list is in time order of members joining bitcointalk and is clearly ordered - S -V - A - M -S - V - A - M -S - V - A - M - ...continue.
The list above is taken from 200 consecutive members joining. 12% are active farmed accounts.
(Almost all the other 88% accounts omitted from the list are inactive 0 post accounts. Probably mostly padding for the farmers cover)

Take another look.
I do not think Theymos would have a hard time recognising these cases. (and all the others)

PS Omega. I am now be looking into your account.

Account farming should definitely be banned.But the question is we can not know whic account is created for farming purpose and which is genuine.Usually when people visit this forum and learn about signature campaigns,they want to join them and since due to their lower rank they get less paid,they want tp buy higher account or post lots of messages to increase their post counts

i think the pattern of name is not a strong basis for alt account. for example me and omegastarcream has the same prefix in username but we are not
totally related to each even you check our profile and search for the local thread that we post.. i think farming of account here is not a allowed but it is hard
to identify who is them. hahhaha.. Even theymos will have hard times for this case.

Clearly the farmer knows this and does have a certain quality, albeit low. The same mundane sentences are rehashed infinitely.
You know how hard it can be to build a case against 1 spammer. There are thousands of these farmed accounts.
By the time someone campaign's to get 1 banned, there are probably 100's more.
This is why it is up to Theymos to act against, or not. Nothing we can do.
I'll just try to highlight the scale of the problem. I never realised before.


So, hire someone at $5 per hour, and keep $10 per hour in profit. Hire 10 people, keep $1000 per day profit. It must be happening?
These accounts I am highlighting are most likely created by 1 or 2 or very few people. It is a unique and identifiable circumstance.
It could easily be solved, independently of other multi-account or spam issues, as I think I have shown how easily they can be detected.


There are certain vague rules that could be applied, but are not being.
Makes me wonder, but for now, i,m pretending Theymos and the mods/staff probably aren't running this farming business, until I have a response.
Someone is making big money out of this.

I don't mind people making money, but such a massive degradation of this forum I do mind.
When "real" new bitcoiners, like K~Ehlyr end up in conversation with these farmed accounts...   well, read his thoughts above.

I'm guessing new members like K~Ehlyr, and any non-members looking in, must think all bitcoiners are f**king retards!

*** bbc. spammer list

Wow.... and oh my god... This thing is huge, isn't it??  It must take some work collating the data as you are, but once seen the patterns are unmistakable!

See how near to my already quoted u=number this member you quoted is? (u=662306 above and u=662242 quoted below from bbc.report list.



I have a list of all the active farmed accounts between 662280 (just above bbc.report list u=662242) and 662342 (past the farmed account you quoted in your conversation u=662306). It is not just post count=activity!


https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/kellor-662242                       Kellor ***
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/rustnan-662243                                                             RustNan
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/fredomago-662244  Fredomago
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/piladeer-662247                                         Piladeer
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/kaller-662280                      Kaller ***
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/rastman-662284                                                             RastMan
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/frodomaga-662285  Frodomaga
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/palider-662288                                         Palider
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/kalder-662294                      Kalder
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/rastoman-662295                                                             RastoMan
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/flodemaga-662298  Flodemaga
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/palodar-662306                                      Palodar
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/kolder-662310                      Kolder
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/rastanan-662312                                                             Rastanan ***
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/flademago-662316  Flademago
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/pamadar-662318                                          Pamadar
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/koamder-662322                      Koamder
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/rastadon-662326                                                              Rastadon
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/fademigo-662329  Fademigo
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/bitcoingirlclub-662330                                          Pamoldar
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/kolamider-662337                      Kolamider
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/rostadom-662342                                                              Rostadom
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/fidemoga-662347  Fidimoga

I have added their names, and spread them into category's. (so you don't have too)
Can you see the pattern here? Check the first posts if you need further confirmation.  

Over 1500 spam posts here between 22 farmed accounts.
(list covers nearly 4 hour time span)
There are thousands more.

*** bbc. spammer list
added  https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/fidemoga-662347  Fidimoga (23)

If an account farmer (or anyone) makes a large number of low value posts then they will likely get banned. A well established account will need to make a decent number of low value posts before they are in danger of getting banned. An account farmer could simply make generally interesting posts to get around violating this rule. An account farmer would need to put in a generally small amount of effort to not break this rule.

Yes, someone with a lot of accounts can make a decent amount of money just by posting in signature campaigns.

If you assume that someone can make 0.001BTC per post (which I do not think is unrealistic, and is even maybe low), and over the long run, can make one post every 2 minutes (again, not unrealistic, but the post quality would not be very good), then someone can make roughly $18 per hour just by posting while participating in a signature campaign if they can find enough threads to reply to throughout the day.

When you compare this to making $8-$9 per hour, flipping burgers at McDonalds posting large numbers of posts can be very appealing to a certain group of people.

There are certain policies in place that make it harder on a certain type of spammers, primarily those who post links to spam, and those who use automation to create accounts with the intention of creating a single post (from each account) that is an advertisement. These policies generally give a little bit of value to accounts because higher level accounts due to relaxed posting requirements. The forum also explicitly allows for people to have as many accounts as they want because of things like freedom of speech.

I agree that we have a problem with users making too much 'white noise' making it difficult to have a decent conversation about Bitcoin, however I am not sure how to fix this issue. Over the past couple of years, several solutions have been suggested, however if implemented, they would likely do much more harm then good.

It is not quite that simple.
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/post-a-spammer-thread-1591598 Gives a better, slightly confusing, methodology to finding them.

I will try to publish clearer information here now I'm up to speed!