Conversation Bots | Bitcointalksearch.org

Welsh

staff

Activity: 3304

Merit: 4115

Quote from: pugman on August 07, 2019, 03:55:02 PM

I think it'd be helpful if patrollers are allowed to issue temp bans? I am not aware if they are allowed to that, as far as I can possibly recall. And there needs to be a little boost to the moderation team here, streamers on twitch have more mods than what bitcointalk does. Undecided

Moderators cannot issue temporary bans only admins, and global moderators have the ability to do that. Moderators don't even have the ability to issue a permanent ban other than the nuke option. Twitch streamers also have an agenda when "hiring" moderators in that they are either rewarding long term viewers, appointing friends, or giving an incentive for users to stick around, and watch them. I do agree that there's a few sections which require additional moderators, but I'm not sure whether there's enough reporting data in those sections in the right time zones etc.

pugman

legendary

Activity: 2383

Merit: 1551

dogs are cute.

Quote from: actmyname on August 06, 2019, 06:19:40 PM

Quote from: pugman on August 06, 2019, 06:16:28 PM

I don't think the count of posts that are deleted matters when it comes to banning someone, context does. There could be many reasons for posts to be deleted, and people don't really get permabanned for spamming as they do plagiarism/doxing et al. Temp bans are the usual ones that users get for spamming, so for all you know many of the spammers who get their posts deleted frequently in a short span of time would have probably been temp-banned.

Temp bans, then. Even a rough range would be good.

I know that insubstantial posts result in exponential ban times (7, 14, 28 and then I believe a perm) but even for this user I don't think they've even been temporarily banned. If the leniency has been increased, then sure. But after 100+ reports don't you think some action should be taken?

Oh for sure, I agree about that. I mean, Hilarious himself has expressed in the past and has even a pinned thread in the services board addressing the very same issue.

I guess, you could message the moderators of the board where the aforementioned spammer shitposts asking why wasn't any bans issued to him or if he was actually temp-banned before? Aren't there also 1-day bans too??

I think it'd be helpful if patrollers are allowed to issue temp bans? I am not aware if they are allowed to that, as far as I can possibly recall. And there needs to be a little boost to the moderation team here, streamers on twitch have more mods than what bitcointalk does. Undecided

tranthidung

legendary

Activity: 2310

Merit: 4085

Farewell o_e_l_e_o

Recent months, there are some spam attacks, and they use woke-up newbie to spam the forum. They use one account to make first post, then move to second account to make second one, and so on. Then, when time-gaps between posts pass on, they come back with first account, make the second post from first account, and repeatedly do this to spam the forum.
New Yobit spam is coming to town, beware
Massive spam bot attack underway
Those latest spam attacks mostly relates to someone who run services on Yobit, and mostly come from Newbies woke up in April or May this year. I will find a warning thread on this and share link here later.
Here: Brace yourselves,massive number of brand new & newbie accounts waking up lately.

Quote from: Bitcoin_Arena on May 19, 2019, 01:36:28 AM

1. Seven days later, the number of average users per day in the last month is almost twice the value that was quoted:

Code:

833 users/day in the last month, 417 users/day in the last year.

2. 22,951 Accounts have now woken up in the last one month, Also almost double the number of accounts i reported had woken up 7 days ago (12,369)
< ... >

o_e_l_e_o

legendary

Activity: 2268

Merit: 18748

Quote from: actmyname on August 06, 2019, 06:19:40 PM

But after 100+ reports don't you think some action should be taken?

I completely agree, and have talked about this before. Half of the spam posts are machine generated or text spun plagiarism. They can generate new posts in less time than it takes to report them. Reporting starts to feel like banging your head against a wall, when for every post you get deleted the spammer makes 3 more, and we don't actually take any action against the account. It's just a never ending game of whack-a-mole, when we should just be unplugging the machine at the wall.

Seeing the same name pop up on your report statistics again and again is frustrating, to say the least. I'm starting to think that having a set number of posts deleted within 30 days should prompt a manual mod review of your account for consideration of an escalating ban.

actmyname

copper member

Activity: 2562

Merit: 2510

Spear the bees

Quote from: pugman on August 06, 2019, 06:16:28 PM

I don't think the count of posts that are deleted matters when it comes to banning someone, context does. There could be many reasons for posts to be deleted, and people don't really get permabanned for spamming as they do plagiarism/doxing et al. Temp bans are the usual ones that users get for spamming, so for all you know many of the spammers who get their posts deleted frequently in a short span of time would have probably been temp-banned.

Temp bans, then. Even a rough range would be good.

I know that insubstantial posts result in exponential ban times (7, 14, 28 and then I believe a perm) but even for this user I don't think they've even been temporarily banned. If the leniency has been increased, then sure. But after 100+ reports don't you think some action should be taken?

pugman

legendary

Activity: 2383

Merit: 1551

dogs are cute.

Quote from: actmyname on August 06, 2019, 01:55:22 PM

I'm just confused about how many posts a user has to have deleted (in a short amount of time) before they're given a ban. Take a look at the 'most posts deleted' list and you'll find a (relatively) small percentage of them actually banned. (of course this is only concerning permbans)

One particular user that I've been reporting consistently has almost as many posts deleted as they have up: https://bpip.org/profile.aspx?p=Vinaa77 (696 posts to 476 deleted)

I don't think the count of posts that are deleted matters when it comes to banning someone, context does. There could be many reasons for posts to be deleted, and people don't really get permabanned for spamming as they do plagiarism/doxing et al. Temp bans are the usual ones that users get for spamming, so for all you know many of the spammers who get their posts deleted frequently in a short span of time would have probably been temp-banned.

actmyname

copper member

Activity: 2562

Merit: 2510

Spear the bees

Quote from: Welsh on August 06, 2019, 01:49:47 PM

Probably, but they leave a trace every time they sell merit at least, unlike account sales. Therefore, finding these serial merit sellers should be an easier task. There's been a few busted since the introduction of the merit system. AFAIK, considering the amount of users who have ranked up under the new system merit abuse isn't as big as originally thought to be.

The transparency of merit is one of the two best parts about it. The other would be the fact that since there is a finite amount of airdropped merit, there are only so many accounts that can rank up clandestinely... and then the account farming market is forced to create non-spam posts: exactly the result we want.

Over time, spam will falter. Even without reporter activity increasing, the number of spammers should decline: it's just natural selection Wink

I'm just confused about how many posts a user has to have deleted (in a short amount of time) before they're given a ban. Take a look at the 'most posts deleted' list and you'll find a (relatively) small percentage of them actually banned. (of course this is only concerning permbans)

One particular user that I've been reporting consistently has almost as many posts deleted as they have up: https://bpip.org/profile.aspx?p=Vinaa77 (696 posts to 476 deleted)

Welsh

staff

Activity: 3304

Merit: 4115

Quote from: Upgate on August 06, 2019, 01:53:48 AM

Selling a merited account is now a very big business. Someone can now buy account of his choice now. I do suspect is now a well organize teamed up group to create account and get it merited and sell it. The only way we can stop them is to understand the way they operate and report them

Probably, but they leave a trace every time they sell merit at least, unlike account sales. Therefore, finding these serial merit sellers should be an easier task. There's been a few busted since the introduction of the merit system. AFAIK, considering the amount of users who have ranked up under the new system merit abuse isn't as big as originally thought to be.

eternalgloom

legendary

Activity: 1792

Merit: 1283

Quote from: FFrankie on July 10, 2019, 07:19:54 PM

How come we never give anyone the benefit of the doubt maybe they are just two non speaking english people in some 3rd world country on some dialup trying to have a conversation

I don't know, if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. Source
Given that there are indeed many people selling these "bump services", as actmyname mentioned, it's pretty likely that it's the case here as well.

Even if you're right, then there's still no reason to allow such spammy discussion on this English(!) speaking forum.
If you can't hold proper conversation in English, stick to the local boards.

tbct_mt2

hero member

Activity: 2366

Merit: 838

They use conversation bots to do pyramid quoted posts for their services.
I have a guide here: [TIPS] to avoid pyramid quotes (for Newbies)
Unfortunately, pyramid quoted posts are so many, and real users (not bots) do this too. I hope someone still regularly do it, will read my guide and stop pyramid quoting.

Findingnemo

hero member

Activity: 2366

Merit: 793

Bitcoin = Financial freedom

Quote from: Upgate on August 06, 2019, 01:53:48 AM

Quote from: Welsh on July 10, 2019, 03:25:46 PM

Common theme, and there are multiple people on the internet selling this sort of bumping as a service. Charging some obscene amounts for it too. Unfortunately they are always with lower ranked accounts, and don't care about getting nuked, and will just make a new account, and post again.

Selling a merited account is now a very big business. Someone can now buy account of his choice now. I do suspect is now a well organize teamed up group to create account and get it merited and sell it. The only way we can stop them is to understand the way they operate and report them

These kind of conversation will never get merits unless they have high ranked alt accounts but even if they got it can be tagged for merit abuse so their intention is to bump the threads or farming the account for ANN bumping.

Upgate

member

Activity: 560

Merit: 14

Quote from: Welsh on July 10, 2019, 03:25:46 PM

Common theme, and there are multiple people on the internet selling this sort of bumping as a service. Charging some obscene amounts for it too. Unfortunately they are always with lower ranked accounts, and don't care about getting nuked, and will just make a new account, and post again.

Selling a merited account is now a very big business. Someone can now buy account of his choice now. I do suspect is now a well organize teamed up group to create account and get it merited and sell it. The only way we can stop them is to understand the way they operate and report them

Welsh

staff

Activity: 3304

Merit: 4115

Quote from: actmyname on July 11, 2019, 12:06:26 PM

But here's the thing: most people don't care about the middle 80% chunks. What they'll focus on is the first few posts and they might read the last (most recent) couple posts for some up-to-date info. The bumping services are there for a reason: they work. The amount of setup for an ICO scam is so low-effort now. Pay some people $100 total, get a bumping service, wait a few months and you've made 5 figures.

Exactly, and there's big money in it for a reason. There are ways to try, and combat this from a forum point of view which have been discussed over and over, but I believe the conclusion was we would be limiting genuine users, and hurting them wouldn't be worth putting in the extra restrictions. Unfortunate, for us as newbie accounts are easy to whip up so they really couldn't care less about losing the account.

TheNewAnon135246

legendary

Activity: 2198

Merit: 1989

฿uy ฿itcoin

Reminds me of those annoying Telegram bots trying to shill exchanges.

actmyname

copper member

Activity: 2562

Merit: 2510

Spear the bees

Quote from: hilariousandco on July 11, 2019, 11:12:45 AM

Banned them both. Found these two as well:

https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/zaarariba-2566417
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/werokez-2561296

I had those in the OP. I suppose if they're that easy to find, the owners really don't care, huh?

Quote from: nutildah on July 11, 2019, 11:18:35 AM

but with the newest time around, they create accounts faster than I can list them. The Vitor Services people bought a huge batch of zero-to-low post aged accounts from 2013-2016 instead of creating them. None of them have a single merit, all are Newbies. Don't know what they're hoping to achieve by doing that exactly.

Aye, it is pretty suspect when you've got literal pages crawling with Newbie remarks of "good project" et al. and fake questions/dialogue.

But here's the thing: most people don't care about the middle 80% chunks. What they'll focus on is the first few posts and they might read the last (most recent) couple posts for some up-to-date info. The bumping services are there for a reason: they work. The amount of setup for an ICO scam is so low-effort now. Pay some people $100 total, get a bumping service, wait a few months and you've made 5 figures.

nutildah

legendary

Activity: 3010

Merit: 8114

Quote from: actmyname on July 11, 2019, 10:51:10 AM

Quote from: nutildah on July 11, 2019, 05:35:23 AM

How do you recommend we report them? Specifically accounts that belong to thread bumping services?

Thread and/or report message that relates to the thread bumping service.

Archives are very useful for showing duplicate deleted posts as well as any edits after posting.

A thread is not needed but should make it more accessible to look over the information. A much more organized method thereof.

I have done that a couple times:

https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/ann-thread-bumperspammers-vitor-services-5160199
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/russian-bump-bot-ring-wmerit-abusers-exposed-5120454

but with the newest time around, they create accounts faster than I can list them. The Vitor Services people bought a huge batch of zero-to-low post aged accounts from 2013-2016 instead of creating them. None of them have a single merit, all are Newbies. Don't know what they're hoping to achieve by doing that exactly.

hilariousandco

global moderator

Activity: 3990

Merit: 2717

Join the world-leading crypto sportsbook NOW!

Banned them both. Found these two as well:

https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/zaarariba-2566417
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/werokez-2561296

actmyname

copper member

Activity: 2562

Merit: 2510

Spear the bees

Quote from: nutildah on July 11, 2019, 05:35:23 AM

How do you recommend we report them? Specifically accounts that belong to thread bumping services?

Thread and/or report message that relates to the thread bumping service.

Archives are very useful for showing duplicate deleted posts as well as any edits after posting.

A thread is not needed but should make it more accessible to look over the information. A much more organized method thereof.

nutildah

legendary

Activity: 3010

Merit: 8114

Quote from: Welsh on July 10, 2019, 03:25:46 PM

Common theme, and there are multiple people on the internet selling this sort of bumping as a service. Charging some obscene amounts for it too. Unfortunately they are always with lower ranked accounts, and don't care about getting nuked, and will just make a new account, and post again.

How do you recommend we report them? Specifically accounts that belong to thread bumping services?

actmyname

copper member

Activity: 2562

Merit: 2510

Spear the bees

Quote from: FFrankie on July 10, 2019, 07:19:54 PM

How come we never give anyone the benefit of the doubt maybe they are just two non speaking english people in some 3rd world country on some dialup trying to have a conversation

Because they're the same conversation and the third-world tool for justification is well beneath you by now, mate.

FFrankie

hero member

Activity: 2254

Merit: 960

100% Deposit Match UP TO €5000!

Quote from: actmyname on July 10, 2019, 06:41:33 PM

Quote from: Welsh on July 10, 2019, 03:25:46 PM

Common theme, and there are multiple people on the internet selling this sort of bumping as a service. Charging some obscene amounts for it too. Unfortunately they are always with lower ranked accounts, and don't care about getting nuked, and will just make a new account, and post again.

Doesn't seem like they're trying to bump any announcement threads, though. It seemed to be contained in some Local threads as well as useless Altcoin Discussion threads.

That's why I thought it was an account-farming situation: they weren't doing anything for others...

How come we never give anyone the benefit of the doubt maybe they are just two non speaking english people in some 3rd world country on some dialup trying to have a conversation

actmyname

copper member

Activity: 2562

Merit: 2510

Spear the bees

Quote from: Welsh on July 10, 2019, 03:25:46 PM

Common theme, and there are multiple people on the internet selling this sort of bumping as a service. Charging some obscene amounts for it too. Unfortunately they are always with lower ranked accounts, and don't care about getting nuked, and will just make a new account, and post again.

Doesn't seem like they're trying to bump any announcement threads, though. It seemed to be contained in some Local threads as well as useless Altcoin Discussion threads.

That's why I thought it was an account-farming situation: they weren't doing anything for others...

Welsh

staff

Activity: 3304

Merit: 4115

Common theme, and there are multiple people on the internet selling this sort of bumping as a service. Charging some obscene amounts for it too. Unfortunately they are always with lower ranked accounts, and don't care about getting nuked, and will just make a new account, and post again.

o_e_l_e_o

legendary

Activity: 2268

Merit: 18748

I see these kinds of conversations pop up not infrequently when I'm looking through my customized specific-boards-only patrol link looking for good newbies to merit. Sometimes you get more than two accounts involved. If you look through their posting history, you can often find more conversations which will lead you to other accounts they are also farming.

Regardless, once reported they are usually nuked pretty quickly.

actmyname

copper member

Activity: 2562

Merit: 2510

Spear the bees

Quote from: ?? on ??

Next time you can invest in smth

Do you mean different blockchain investing projects?

Exactly, like investing in real estate or collectible assets

I know only a couple of projects on real estate

You can watch blockbattle and take a closer look to one project where you can invest in collectible cars

Unfortunately I have no time for this, give me please a concrete example

Curio Invest, they are finalists. And they have even game to win tokens

Cool, got any link?

Sure https://www.curioinvest.com/game. This is a link on game, it’s on their official website

Ok

Case 1: iziderox and Homorton

Quote from: ?? on ??

Next time you can invest in smth

Do you mean different blockchain investing projects?

Exactly, like investing in real estate or collectible assets

Case 2: zaarariba and werokez

Same users exchanging these bland conversations... seems to be (attempted) clandestine account farming

Topic: Conversation Bots (Read 526 times)