Author

Topic: The 1st hero account ranked up from senior?! Cleary an abuse, alts or bought? (Read 951 times)

legendary
Activity: 2338
Merit: 10802
There are lies, damned lies and statistics. MTwain
<...>
Total 100 merits sent to the alt.
I've noticed that you're using an outdated version of the sMerit Network (last update 20180608 on the screenshot, while the real last update is last friday 20180622), having updated it since then. The information for the case study is the same nevertheless.
Depending on what I update on the Merit Network, I'm required to create a new file, so I guess the link you've bookmarked has changed since then.

It may be easier to access through the Merit Dashboard, since the Merit Network Tab there is always up-to-date with the correct link.

Alternatively, on the Dashboard itself you can find the same information either of the following:
    - Filtering the User Summary Tab by Name = BitPanda.com
    - Filtering the Received Merit Tab by To User Name = BitPanda.com
    - Filering the TXs Tab by  To User Name = BitPanda.com (here you can also add multiple users to see the TXs sent to and fro amongst them. i.e. add two or more names both to the From User Name and To User Name to see the TXs between them).


legendary
Activity: 1288
Merit: 1926
฿ear ride on the rainbow slide
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;u=974724 fengxia
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/fengxia-974724




100 merit from 3 different users for this brilliant post:



Translated as:



Perhaps not that brilliant....

frankkkkkkk https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/frankkkkkkk-322576
and
xx63245613 https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/xx63245613-331517

are alts using the same wallet address FLm1q8QPW7USP4f3SuMyaFtAffRrQJpQJo

So it is fair to assume that:
zrunfeng that is a tagged (by Suchmoon) signature spammer is another alt - as well as the merited account - fengxia





legendary
Activity: 1288
Merit: 1926
฿ear ride on the rainbow slide
https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/bitpandacom-903452 (DT sender has same website listed on their profile - CEO of Bitpanda.com giving 50 merit to username bitpanda.com)




Total 100 merits sent to the alt.
legendary
Activity: 1288
Merit: 1926
฿ear ride on the rainbow slide
sr. member
Activity: 728
Merit: 254
What did just happen here? Did he got nuked or what?
How come his activity got decreased to zero? and all the post got deleted?
Simple, the user deleted all his posts. I assume he never created any topic. You can not delete a topic (except mod/admin) but you can delete the comments you make.
He must have been hit by mods I guess, account like this needs to be blocked!
sr. member
Activity: 728
Merit: 254
This is technically crazy! what is the penalty this? I believe there are penalties for those abusing the merit system?
copper member
Activity: 630
Merit: 420
We are Bitcoin!
What did just happen here? Did he got nuked or what?
How come his activity got decreased to zero? and all the post got deleted?
Simple, the user deleted all his posts. I assume he never created any topic. You can not delete a topic (except mod/admin) but you can delete the comments you make.
copper member
Activity: 1526
Merit: 2890
They have deleted all their post history after the RED tag  (yesterday they had posts), this probably prove that they are alts.

What did just happen here? Did he got nuked or what?
How come his activity got decreased to zero? and all the post got deleted?

legendary
Activity: 2534
Merit: 1517
#1 VIP Crypto Casino
How simple it is to end the lives of others, but I believe you should understand the laws of the universe: If you knocked someone down, one day he will be knocked down!

Since some accounts did the same thing in few hours after the tag, I don't think few less afk accounts will be a big loss for him. Who knows how many accounts he owns.
legendary
Activity: 2912
Merit: 6403
Blackjack.fun
I can see at least one staff member opposing this..
Doesn't that seem a little questionable where a moderator is giving merit to so many posts that are being deleted?

Forget the part where they're staff: where's the sensibility in determining quality posts when you rapid-fire merit to users who consistently have deleted posts? (i.e. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;u=1762404)

The Russian moderator gives merit for users that help identify spam. Which is why there are so many deleted posts on some of the merit history of Russian users.

It indirectly does help keep the forums clean. The Russian forum is quite tidy, organised and often a good read.

It is discussed here: https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.38817096

And of course, nothing could go wrong.

Let's take for example SIR    golovayv, a fine example of a user who cares about the forum, who has received enough merits to rank up
with an impressive post history from which I want to quote one extraordinary post:

My native language is not English. With my level of English knowledge, I have to use Google translate to write posts. But I do not want to look stupid or lazy, I check the text several times and also use Grammarly apps for Google Chrome.

Indeed what could go wrong.....

There will always be people who love Bitcoin and people who hate it. Someone because I missed the opportunity, someone topo that he wanted instantly to get rich. But the most important people for Bitcoin are those who believe in him at any price and at any time.


hero member
Activity: 536
Merit: 513
@Thirdspace and TheQuin I think that our mistake in trying to understand it is that we still use logic.  Grin
I've seen it in the past that when people who have something to hide get into troubles they somehow stop using their brain.
Just like the morons that come in the Reputation section asking for a red trust removal and end up with one or two alts tagged also  Grin

I think you've got it. We were looking for reason where none exists.
That could be the case, what I thought was that they are trying to hide their post history and expecting that after 120 days the merit history will also become non-accessible. The logic is not complete as negative trust still works and we can actually investigate their whole merit history, but they may not be aware of that if they have just bought the accounts, or their target is people who are not familiar with these things.
legendary
Activity: 1288
Merit: 1926
฿ear ride on the rainbow slide
I can see at least one staff member opposing this..
Doesn't that seem a little questionable where a moderator is giving merit to so many posts that are being deleted?

Forget the part where they're staff: where's the sensibility in determining quality posts when you rapid-fire merit to users who consistently have deleted posts? (i.e. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;u=1762404)

The Russian moderator gives merit for users that help identify spam. Which is why there are so many deleted posts on some of the merit history of Russian users.

It indirectly does help keep the forums clean. The Russian forum is quite tidy, organised and often a good read.

It is discussed here: https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.38817096
hero member
Activity: 2576
Merit: 883
Freebitco.in Support https://bit.ly/2I9BVS2
@Thirdspace and TheQuin I think that our mistake in trying to understand it is that we still use logic.  Grin
I've seen it in the past that when people who have something to hide get into troubles they somehow stop using their brain.
Just like the morons that come in the Reputation section asking for a red trust removal and end up with one or two alts tagged also  Grin

I think you've got it. We were looking for reason where none exists.
legendary
Activity: 2576
Merit: 1043
Need A Campaign Manager? | Contact Little_Mouse
This is an obvious merit abuse and they did it in an professional way (I think Cheesy).

It posted an post (literally a useless shitty post) and then merited it and then deleted the post. I hope this user who has alt accounts must be banned permanently for abusive merit farming.
member
Activity: 486
Merit: 27
HIRE ME FOR SMALL TASK
Total abuse, are they already ban?  No doubt that the person behind that is a scammer. Thanks to merit system their moves are limited. I have also open a case like that and i hope that there will be an action.

https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/what-merit-abuse-or-not-4514565
copper member
Activity: 630
Merit: 420
We are Bitcoin!
Looks like we've got a few cases of a kind, gaining the infamous status of "de-ranked"


cough! cough!! cough!!!
Cry SOMEBODY PLEASE get this man a gun! murder me in the street!
 Cry


PS: Good job mate for your genius data finding.
legendary
Activity: 2338
Merit: 10802
There are lies, damned lies and statistics. MTwain
<...>

Looks like we've got a few cases of a kind, gaining the infamous status of "de-ranked":




22 cases at least (the ones I can detect) that de-rank but maintain the merit from the original rank.
copper member
Activity: 630
Merit: 420
We are Bitcoin!
legendary
Activity: 2912
Merit: 6403
Blackjack.fun
I can see at least one staff member opposing this..
Doesn't that seem a little questionable where a moderator is giving merit to so many posts that are being deleted?

Forget the part where they're staff: where's the sensibility in determining quality posts when you rapid-fire merit to users who consistently have deleted posts? (i.e. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;u=1762404)

Exactly the part that he is staff is more troublesome in my opinion, and if he is a merit source it's even worse, but that's just my opinion.

It's called learning from the superior.

I think it's more like "monkey see, monkey do".

@Thirdspace and TheQuin I think that our mistake in trying to understand it is that we still use logic.  Grin
I've seen it in the past that when people who have something to hide get into troubles they somehow stop using their brain.
Just like the morons that come in the Reputation section asking for a red trust removal and end up with one or two alts tagged also  Grin





legendary
Activity: 2100
Merit: 1167
MY RED TRUST LEFT BY SCUMBAGS - READ MY SIG
bitch slap them

no other way to discourage such actions.

hero member
Activity: 2576
Merit: 883
Freebitco.in Support https://bit.ly/2I9BVS2
that seems right, he needs to spend some time again just like starting over a newbie account Cheesy
36 two-week periods, about 72 weeks (~15 months) to get back 500 activity
unless the system has inner counter keeping track maximum potential activity even with deleted posts 
if he's a bit smarter, he would have left 1 post in every two-week period to lock in potential activity Tongue

They definitely lose the activity permanently. It is odd they deleted the posts after getting tagged as the account is worthless now anyway. Maybe they saved all the posts and want to reuse them from another alt account they have without getting caught for plagiarism.
hero member
Activity: 1232
Merit: 738
Mixing reinvented for your privacy | chipmixer.com
I might be wrong on this, but since they've deleted all the posts, they must wait now 500 days for this account to get back to Hero levels, was it worth?  And having an account with 10 posts and 500 merits will immediately trigger attention from other members, just like in my case, If I hadn't found this topic first I would have started a new one....
that seems right, he needs to spend some time again just like starting over a newbie account Cheesy
36 two-week periods, about 72 weeks (~15 months) to get back 500 activity
unless the system has inner counter keeping track maximum potential activity even with deleted posts 
if he's a bit smarter, he would have left 1 post in every two-week period to lock in potential activity Tongue
copper member
Activity: 630
Merit: 420
We are Bitcoin!
Another case for removing merit associated with deleted posts.

I can see at least one staff member opposing this..

It's called learning from the superior. The full history will be accessed here: http://loycevsbasement.privatedns.org/Merit/history/382413.html
Thanks to LoyceV

By the way I have a deducted post about the staff:
[staff] xandry: may I ask an explanation? <=== https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/staff-xandry-may-i-ask-an-explanation-response-received-4330297


update:
I can see at least one staff member opposing this..
Doesn't that seem a little questionable where a moderator is giving merit to so many posts that are being deleted?

Forget the part where they're staff: where's the sensibility in determining quality posts when you rapid-fire merit to users who consistently have deleted posts? (i.e. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;u=1762404)
Thank you actmyname. It does look questionable (not little but very much)
copper member
Activity: 2562
Merit: 2510
Spear the bees
I can see at least one staff member opposing this..
Doesn't that seem a little questionable where a moderator is giving merit to so many posts that are being deleted?

Forget the part where they're staff: where's the sensibility in determining quality posts when you rapid-fire merit to users who consistently have deleted posts? (i.e. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;u=1762404)
legendary
Activity: 2912
Merit: 6403
Blackjack.fun
The account only ever received 50 Merit in one transaction so it must have been a Hero account on 24th Jan. Then for whatever reason, they have deleted the post history.

I wonder why would they do this...

My guess is that one or more was a bought account, and they didn't want to be caught based on past post practices.

Or they are looking to make it an attractive newbie account sale. Hero potential with activity and Merit.

I might be wrong on this, but since they've deleted all the posts, they must wait now 500 days for this account to get back to Hero levels, was it worth?  And having an account with 10 posts and 500 merits will immediately trigger attention from other members, just like in my case, If I hadn't found this topic first I would have started a new one....

I hope that more DT members will tag them so no noob buys them.
In the end, you can say it ended up with a lot of counterfeit merits taken away from the streets forum.


Another case for removing merit associated with deleted posts.

I can see at least one staff member opposing this..


copper member
Activity: 630
Merit: 420
We are Bitcoin!
I see now that even the main culprit Ajpa94 has turned into a newbie...
Are they trying to hide the post, keep the merit and then start re-ranking ....sorry I just don't get it.

Close your eyes and try to eliminate others factors...
An unbreakable record in BitcoinTalk history. Extra ordinary result! 500 merit from 6 activities and a newbie account  Grin

We have better version of nullius  Tongue

hero member
Activity: 1078
Merit: 514
Well, it doesn't get any more obvious than this. And has been also reported time ago already, kind of suck for all people that are trying to get merits honestly   Sad
Yeah. I think those people who try really hard to get merit must be feel punked themselves. I hope the forum will take all necessary staff for those merit abusers.
legendary
Activity: 2814
Merit: 2472
https://JetCash.com
Another case for removing merit associated with deleted posts.
legendary
Activity: 1554
Merit: 2037
The account only ever received 50 Merit in one transaction so it must have been a Hero account on 24th Jan. Then for whatever reason, they have deleted the post history.

I wonder why would they do this...


My guess is that one or more was a bought account, and they didn't want to be caught based on past post practices.

Or they are looking to make it an attractive newbie account sale. Hero potential with activity and Merit.

legendary
Activity: 2912
Merit: 6403
Blackjack.fun
The account only ever received 50 Merit in one transaction so it must have been a Hero account on 24th Jan. Then for whatever reason, they have deleted the post history.

I wonder why would they do this...

I see now that even the main culprit Ajpa94 has turned into a newbie...
Are they trying to hide the post, keep the merit and then start re-ranking ....sorry I just don't get it.

It would be better to tag all of them if this is their plan, after all this kind of activity clearly shows they can't be trusted.






legendary
Activity: 2534
Merit: 1517
#1 VIP Crypto Casino
They have deleted all their post history after the RED tag  (yesterday they had posts), this probably prove that they are alts.
legendary
Activity: 2338
Merit: 10802
There are lies, damned lies and statistics. MTwain
<...>
The account only ever received 50 Merit in one transaction so it must have been a Hero account on 24th Jan. Then for whatever reason, they have deleted the post history.

Yep. The data on the Dasboard from last Friday shows:

Current Rank: Hero Member   
Date Created: 20/04/2016   
Activity: 641
Posts: 641 (same as activity..)
Merit: 550
Initial Merit 500
Received Merit: 50
Tx Received: 1
Merit Sent: 113
Tx Sent: 10

Perhaps the account has been sold/bought and the activity deleted.
hero member
Activity: 2576
Merit: 883
Freebitco.in Support https://bit.ly/2I9BVS2
I run into Kda2018 on the segwit2x topic, saw his empty message and while I was waiting to see if there is an image loading I looked at his merit .......WTF?Huh

Quote
Activity: 10
Merit: 550

How the hell was this even possible???
And is he trying to delete his post history?

http://archive.is/EstL5

(those are edited messages).

The account only ever received 50 Merit in one transaction so it must have been a Hero account on 24th Jan. Then for whatever reason, they have deleted the post history.
legendary
Activity: 2912
Merit: 6403
Blackjack.fun
I run into Kda2018 on the segwit2x topic, saw his empty message and while I was waiting to see if there is an image loading I looked at his merit .......WTF?Huh

Quote
Activity: 10
Merit: 550

How the hell was this even possible???
And is he trying to delete his post history?

http://archive.is/EstL5

(those are edited messages).
hero member
Activity: 1330
Merit: 569
There is no other convincing argument to put forward. I am always careful in reaching a conclusion based on circumstantial evidence, but this is obviously more than that. Its an outright abuse of the merit system and a slap on the face of those who decides to gain merit in the most decent, legit and hardworking way without wanting to circumvent and frustrate the very essence of the merit system. I am sure a lot of people must have received PMs geared towards exchange of merits just for ranking up without quality posts to stand for that but choose to ignore for the sake of the community.

If it were up to me, people like this user should not be allowed in the community. If it were to be a newbie, I would advocate a form leniency not for Hero Member who would have been here before the implementation and would have known what led to it then willfully decides to circumvent the process, the highest form should be meted against such.
legendary
Activity: 2338
Merit: 10802
There are lies, damned lies and statistics. MTwain
<...>
Well I will do an even deeper investigation on those. A lot of them seems shady accounts...

I'll update the Dashboard today if all goes well, so perhaps a few lot  more ranking-ups will occur; hopefully the legit way ...
legendary
Activity: 2534
Merit: 1517
#1 VIP Crypto Casino
Nice catch but there's something wrong with the title. It wasn't the first Sr. to rank up to Hero. According to DdmrDdmr's dashboard there are already 8.

https://public.tableau.com/profile/ddmrddmr#!/vizhome/BitcointalkMeritDashboard/GlobalSummary



Well I will do an even deeper investigation on those. A lot of them seems shady accounts...
hero member
Activity: 2576
Merit: 883
Freebitco.in Support https://bit.ly/2I9BVS2
Nice catch but there's something wrong with the title. It wasn't the first Sr. to rank up to Hero. According to DdmrDdmr's dashboard there are already 8.

https://public.tableau.com/profile/ddmrddmr#!/vizhome/BitcointalkMeritDashboard/GlobalSummary

hero member
Activity: 1246
Merit: 588
What only concerns me right now is that if AJpa94 would say to you and proves that he/she will stop abusing merit system. Is it possible that you are going to remove the tagged? just curious tho
That's a bit silly, isn't it?

Think about it for a second:

How does one, exactly, prove that they won't merit abuse anymore?
Why do they deserve a second chance just based on their word?
Does the same thing happen when someone says they won't shoplift again?
The tag stays. For a significant amount of time.

It doesn't matter anymore if how would that person prove to you that he/she would stop abusing the merit system. Basically what I want to hear is actually that you are not going to remove it anymore(which i think your answer is similar to that in my understanding). Because even if that person proves it. The damage is still done since that certain account's ranking is not going to decreased anymore.
copper member
Activity: 2562
Merit: 2510
Spear the bees
What only concerns me right now is that if AJpa94 would say to you and proves that he/she will stop abusing merit system. Is it possible that you are going to remove the tagged? just curious tho
That's a bit silly, isn't it?

Think about it for a second:

How does one, exactly, prove that they won't merit abuse anymore?
Why do they deserve a second chance just based on their word?
Does the same thing happen when someone says they won't shoplift again?
The tag stays. For a significant amount of time.
hero member
Activity: 1246
Merit: 588
Explicit merit abuse between Ajpa94, Karodozo, Kda2018, Livermore_.

It's pretty obvious that Aj just sent the merit to those users in order to get a return. Smiley

Probably if this accounts has different owners, they might be friends or worse they might create a syndicate. Thanks for tagging tho. What only concerns me right now is that if AJpa94 would say to you and proves that he/she will stop abusing merit system. Is it possible that you are going to remove the tagged? just curious tho
copper member
Activity: 2562
Merit: 2510
Spear the bees
Explicit merit abuse between Ajpa94, Karodozo, Kda2018, Livermore_.

May 27, 2018, 02:05:03 AM: 50 to Karodozo
May 27, 2018, 02:07:16 AM: 20 from Karodozo
(2 minutes apart!)
March 12, 2018, 07:23:46 AM: 30 from Karodozo

May 27, 2018, 02:31:02 AM: 50 to Kda2018
May 27, 2018, 02:50:37 AM: 25 from Kda2018

June 20, 2018, 11:17:33 AM: 13 to Livermore_
June 20, 2018, 11:19:19 AM: 30 from Livermore_
It's pretty obvious that Aj just sent the merit to those users in order to get a return. Smiley
legendary
Activity: 2534
Merit: 1517
#1 VIP Crypto Casino
Work in progress, continue tomorrow

Starting deeper investigation

For reference
Karodozo: 0x3f18A564Df8bb042379a18dBfFce2ACB60eb71d9

Code:
0x3f18A564Df8bb042379a18dBfFce2ACB60eb71d9



ArchimedesIX NO ETH, poor account

Kda2018

Code:
0x2Da4508F12cF70c92beB4D517aDa86d24461EdAc

https://etherscan.io/address/0x2da4508f12cf70c92beb4d517ada86d24461edac
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CD_WEzNMK5j5yWNJ6mNj4g7LjbUDICKF7EGcDvxWwI8/edit#gid=26998889

TheCrimsonFucker No eth found
Raizou http://archive.is/oJR4D#selection-4561.13-4561.55
Code:
0x609a9C5Ab4b64FD4c60E658FA82a73087619e233
https://etherscan.io/address/0x609a9C5Ab4b64FD4c60E658FA82a73087619e233


Mihawk
    Gekkoo
Eddyc
Lumberjack1935
    PascalCoin
hero member
Activity: 784
Merit: 1416

E.g. this post received 55 merit by 3 users:
Re: Merit & new rank requirements
January 31, 2018, 03:58:21 AM
Merited by Livermore_
(30), Karodozo (20), Lumberjack1935 (5)



https://albertoit.github.io/Visualization/Merit%20js%20tool/filterMeritLocal.html?id=ajpa94

Quote
Sent by Ajpa94Total Merits 119

Received by Ajpa94Total Merits 200



Here you go, this is the full merit history for these:

https://albertoit.github.io/Visualization/Merit%20js%20tool/filterMeritLocal.html?id=Lumberjack1935

https://albertoit.github.io/Visualization/Merit%20js%20tool/filterMeritLocal.html?id=Livermore_

https://albertoit.github.io/Visualization/Merit%20js%20tool/filterMeritLocal.html?id=Karodozo
legendary
Activity: 2408
Merit: 2226
Signature space for rent
Really it's huge merit abuse. For this kind of people happening corruption on merit system. I know basically no one tag merit abuser. But in this kind of user should be tag. So other people will be aware.
qwk
donator
Activity: 3542
Merit: 3413
Shitcoin Minimalist
Yep, highlighting again:
Re: Merit & new rank requirements
January 31, 2018, 03:58:21 AM
Merited by Livermore_ (30), Karodozo (20), Lumberjack1935 (5)

I'm satisfied with my status as a Sr. Member! Of course if there was not this new system, at this moment I'd be Hero, but for months I have selected only good projects to spread the word and rightly, I don't care what if I get paid or not! The truth is that in the last 3 months, with the explosion of airdrops, there was another explosion, the explosion of farm accounts to get airdrops and passive devs from this situation! I'm not that old of the forum, but I'm in favor of learning, it's worth a lot more good post than some satoshis gotten in bounty campaign. Are there chances of a few months there will be some update on the merits and so people will rise in rank? However, as Lauda said a few previous pages, if the person applies, it's impossible for her to not receive some merit. Smiley
hero member
Activity: 784
Merit: 1416
Well, it doesn't get any more obvious than this. And has been also reported time ago already, kind of suck for all people that are trying to get merits honestly   Sad
legendary
Activity: 2338
Merit: 10802
There are lies, damned lies and statistics. MTwain
<...>
Yes, I was wondering about this one too, as he came up on the stats as one of the most recent merited users, and I had not read any of his posts to date. No wonder... Not only are the amounts merited unbalanced with the posts’ content in amounts that are unusual to see, but most of the meriting goes on for oldish posts, which is rather uncommon too.
copper member
Activity: 630
Merit: 420
We are Bitcoin!
~
Man this is ridiculous to see. I feel poisoned when I see these kind of activities but I had too much with people saying I am hypocrite/exchanging words with these abusers/discouraging words from some people around here etc. May be this is going to be my last rabbit hole digging:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/staff-xandry-may-i-ask-an-explanation-response-received-4330297 <=== Calling out [staff] xandry for an explanation: Thank you  

Good finding by the way. Good job.
legendary
Activity: 2534
Merit: 1517
#1 VIP Crypto Casino
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