Is this spam? #12

Reminder:

This is NOT the spam reporting thread.

This thread is for asking if something should or should not be considered spam. It is meant for questions and discussion.

The actual spam supporting thread is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/273927

Reminder:

This is NOT the spam reporting thread.

This thread is for asking if something should or should not be considered spam. It is meant for questions and discussion.

The actual spam supporting thread is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/273927

highly suspicious: http://www.librarything.com/topic/296652

>3 norabelle414: Not just suspicious. Eminently flaggable. Which I just did. I'm trying to decide whether to flag the poster as well...

http://www.librarything.com/profile/alice95

>4 Lyndatrue: I disagree. Without evidence that this person is the author of the book, I don't think it's flaggable (yet).

>5 norabelle414: It's Spam

https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_books/3371472-Children-Book

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3751935

https://www.librarything.com/topic/297494

I have flagged the post, but not the poster. Fair enough?

>7 abbottthomas: Normally, yes, but that author had been warned about this behavior before. Now they're fair game to get their profile flagged (and did).

OK, this is a new one for me: a site that seems to promote . . Librarything.com:

https://www.librarything.com/profile/libraryinjaipur

>9 karenb:

That's weird. I'd keep an eye on it.

Just dipping my toes in the metaphorical water on identifying spam accounts. Is it enough that an account have no activity? The one I've found is https://www.librarything.com/profile/journal

Having no activity does not mean the account is spam. It’s not uncommon for people to join a site, but then do nothing with the account.

>11 fred_mouse: No. Spam accounts are ones that are pushing some kind of agenda. Usually either trying to get people to click on a link to their website or trying to make themselves look popular in search engines

>11 fred_mouse: But your participation in this group is welcome!

Sadly, most of the accounts I've helped friends and family and acquaintances set up have never been re-visited by the owners either. They're all off having much less productive times elsewhere on the web.

I'm keeping an eye on this account: http://www.librarything.com/profile/Annaaeo

- They made this post which is kind of on topic but doesn't make sense: http://www.librarything.com/topic/271269#6617431
- They've got a spammy-looking URL set as their homepage
- But also they could be the author of the one (non-Twilight) book in their library?

I'm undecided at the moment.

>15 norabelle414:

Odd. She's listed as the author here: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?AuthorID=38921&id=73980 but not on the book cover or on Amazon.

That post is referring to Missing the connection: Social isolation and employment on the Brooklyn waterfront

>16 lilithcat: I don't know anything about Author's Den. Is it a vetted website or just something that came up when you googled?

I think she copied that last line from a random message earlier in the thread. Possibly to get people to click on her profile? (which worked on me, obviously)

That "copy text from a random post earlier in the thread" is a classic spam probe technique. They use known-good text to avoid spam-detection bots on the first post, and then if that gets through they will either edit that comment or start posting spam. As with word salad it's not considered spam by LT standards which are extremely limited in what they call spam, but it does mean the profile's worth keeping an eye on.

I checked out the homepage so that no one else has to. It does contain one article about herbs to stop smoking (catnip?) but all the other articles are about breast/nipple augmentation. I will be surprised if this one doesn't start spamming soon.

I just don't get whether it's an author or a spammer. Is it spamming to try to push the book? Are they pretending to be the author of the book to get spam clicks?

>17 norabelle414:

That came up when I googled.

https://www.librarything.com/groups/marwagidn

So it seems this group is back trying to figure out the site. I think I counted 4 new groups, including the linked one above. Some people have already started flagging this one, but I don't think they should.

All the group seems to point back to the same base (dormant) group, which was questioned about this time last year. (Link to old discussion: https://www.librarything.com/topic/239303#6228475 )

Some of the users have been around since at least 2014...

Not sure if this was someone about to spam or just messing about. Pretty sure the works are fake, but does that make them spam? And is the user then a spammer?

Dissertations
https://www.librarything.com/profile/dissertations

works
https://www.librarything.com/work/2976840/15127376
https://www.librarything.com/work/2976898/15127340
https://www.librarything.com/work/2976950/15127555
https://www.librarything.com/work/2976905/15127368

>23 karenb: Personally, right now, I'd say no. They aren't advertising, or trying to draw people to another link.
It's an account to watch, however.

They added those four dissertations in 2007 so something tells me they're not coming back.

>25 norabelle414: Lol good point.

These two new members joined this morning. They look very similar and have commercial homepage links. I just want to post them here so as to check back on them later.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/rayharris12

https://www.librarything.com/profile/markmartin1

I dunno why I suspect a spamming campaign pending.

Besides, who says Orlando, United States?

"I love to read articles, blogs and also surfing on Net"

sure you do, buddy

And they have exactly the same interests and hobbies - what a coincidence!

>27 2wonderY: If they didn't have photos and were listed as, say, from India, they'd be spam. Could be someone trying to see what will survive as not spam.

I've seen a bunch of accounts promoting an individual, usually touted as having lots of business experience, with links only to personal profiles. They read as spam, but technically they're not? Here's one example:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/phillipcochineas2

new member
http://www.librarything.com/profile/noelleoh
posting about an art exhibit

http://www.librarything.com/topic/298720

>31 2wonderY: I'm not sure that fits as spam. It's an innocent information request. The exhibit was 10 years ago.

Okay, thanks. I think I was just cranky-suspicious this morning.

>31 2wonderY:

I don’t see anything spammy about that.

Here's another of those accounts that talks about how great this business person is. They never add books and link only to an online bio. They seem like spam that is working around our guidelines. Any thoughts?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/hussainalnowais2

If that isn't spam, then I don't know what spam is. As there are no working links it's on the harmless side, but it's still spam.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/jamescharleg147

Although seemingly innocuous, I tracked this fellow down elsewhere, and he/they are all over the place. This is a spammer. Already banned from reddit and medium.com for spamming. I'm sure there are hundreds of more places to find this one.

https://speakerdeck.com/jamescharleg147
https://twitter.com/JCharleg
https://vimeo.com/jamescharleg147
https://www.dailymotion.com/jamescharleg147
https://medium.com/@jamescharleg
https://www.reddit.com/user/jamescharleg147/
https://www.deviantart.com/technoheadz
https://www.managewp.org/members/25979/james-charles
https://www.storeboard.com/jamescharleg

etc etc

Agree?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/jamescharleg147

He's gone now.

Found this in the Spam folder. I can't decide whether it should be rescued or not. It is Spam, but perhaps author spam?

New member LBC69 just joined and has nothing on profile page.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/299619

It's not about a book, though. It's a weekend event, which includes authors, but also editors, designers, artists, a film company (? distributor?), etc. It seems to be held annually.

Seems to be well-intentioned. Tip them off about Local Events in a profile comment. I wouldn't consider the post to be spammy.

>41 anglemark: I'm not fluent enough in French to do it myself.

>42 2wonderY: Same here, I'm afraid. My French is very rudimentaire.

I just left a message, with help from Google translate.

I'd changed my post in the Spam fighters thread, but forgot about this one.

>46 anglemark: With my rudimentary skills in French (and other Romance languages), I only briefly noted the content, and also that the profile itself contained no books. I agree that, in the end, it wasn't spam, and even counter-flagged the remaining flag that someone else had place on it.

I've removed the link to the topic as well, to prevent further flagging.

lilithcat left a note on the profile in French, but I strongly suspect that the account belongs to someone who only made it to make that post, and may not ever return. Not linking to it here, since I notice that posts in this thread are often acted upon as though they'd been posted in Spam fighters.

I'm not sure I think promoting a book event is off limits here. I view that as a community service, very different from promoting your book.

Possible spam profiles, but they could be legit. Checking back later to notice any activity.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/phef025

http://www.librarything.com/profile/muratayirkan

http://www.librarything.com/profile/HWOH5

>47 2wonderY:

Two of them have already disappeared.

Looks like spam

http://www.librarything.com/profile/clcneedham

>49 2wonderY:

I'm ambivalent on that one. I can see a learning center joining to catalog books, and they did just join today. Right now, I'd give them the benefit of the doubt, but keep an eye on them.

>50 lilithcat: I agree. Will check back on them.

>49 2wonderY: I'm in the no but watch group too.

I think this is probably spam except that the user and author have different names -- though they both start with K.

http://www.librarything.com/author/konstantinelm

>53 Crypto-Willobie: I'm not seeing it. Are they throwing the book around as "READ ME!" type things?

>54 gilroy:

See: http://www.librarything.com/topic/299914

>55 lilithcat: Uh, it's gone.
Plus, one post makes it a teachable moment, meaning no spam flagging.
If there's multiple posts, AFTER being warned, then it is flag away. So I continue to say no.

>56 gilroy:

The post should be flagged, the profile not.

>57 lilithcat: True. But the initial question was not about either the post or the profile, but about the author page.

>58 gilroy:
Yeah, my directions got muddled.

This is a TV channel, but it's for meditations. Can't tell if it's nonprofit.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/pyramidchannel8

http://www.librarything.com/topic/300141#
http://www.librarything.com/profile/nadiajemai
Weird? But the profile says they're a librarian

>61 norabelle414: Yeah, it had me confused too. I don't have French, and most of the posts by that account have been made over in one of the two groups that he (or she) joined.

http://www.librarything.com/groups/bounhasgroupe2
http://www.librarything.com/groups/gidn20182019 (No posts here yet, but it's the same group of people, and I'm pretty sure that they're not spammers.)

I dunno. I'm really confused.

>62 Lyndatrue: I didn't notice the groups they posted in. I'd guess they meant to post in one of those groups but accidentally posted in Book Talk (as often happens). Not spam.

>61 norabelle414: Just seems a bit confused by the site. Recommended a book for the same book:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/nadiajemai/recommendations/bymember

Do we have a script to use for when someone is trying to get people to take a survey about books? It's not spam but they should probably be told not to do that.

This profile looks spammy - http://www.librarything.com/profile/roofworxadelaide - thoughts?

>66 rodneyvc:

Definitely spam. I've flagged the profile.

OK, I don't think this is spam and I'm not asking anyone to flag it. I certainly don't have the heart to kick them out. I just don't think this is the proper place for such a thing and I doubt putting it on a book site will reach the people who really need to see it. It looks as if there may be several similar groups on FB which would seem to be a better place to get attention.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/CampFirePets

Your thoughts?

>68 Taphophile13: I totally give them credit for being creative. It's a pretty spetacular way to catalog all those pets. Possibly more effective than a website (too time intensive) or some other database (time intensive & expensive). An easy URL to hand out. Standardized tagging. Easily identifiable location. I would guess they are using LT as a cataloging tool & not a social media hub/advertising. There are weirder things cataloged on LT.

>69 lesmel: Yup. Just read their google doc. Someone ("a librarian") volunteered to catalog the pets into one single place for searching instead of multiple FB/TW/IG pages/hastags/accts.

Someone from a drug rehab clinic in Mumbai. It looks awfully like spam to me but not gonna pull the trigger on this one myself: https://www.librarything.com/topic/279794#6687122

>71 haydninvienna:

Someone did, because that user is gone now.

>69 lesmel:

There are weirder things cataloged on LT.

That's so true!

These are cuties.

>68 Taphophile13:
OK, now I just want to pet them all. Despite living far away.

>68 Taphophile13:
Also, does this mean that LT now has unlocked some achievement re: cats & the internet? Not sure what is unlocked, but there must be something.

>68 Taphophile13: I can see how a catalog called "TinyCat" would be appealing to them ;-)

Checking back today, I see their catalog has grown. I still don't think most people would think of LT if looking for a lost pet but if it helps them reconnect I'm all for it. I especially like the use of tags: fluffy tail, pink nose, etc. Best of luck to all the kitties.

Another odd one (and I am not gonna click that website link): https://www.librarything.com/topic/213116#6690178

Yes, and I posted it on the regular spam fighters thread. Thanks for pointing it out.

I flagged that post, and the profile.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Kafsabi

Already fixed. :-}

Thoughts on http://www.librarything.com/profile/nectarcbd - profile and cataloged works look majorly spammy.

>80 rodneyvc: Clearly spam. The reviews on the "books" are not reviews but ads for CBD oil.

The books by this author looks spammy too: http://www.librarything.com/author/terndersolomon

>82 rodneyvc: That's the author and his actual books. All appear legit at the moment but it's something to keep an eye on. I'd suggest someone put the author advertising warning on his page, just to be safe...

This site seems to be some brief topical tutorials on computer programming stuff, set up by one guy. No obvious sales stuff going on there. Thoughts?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Tutorialpath

>84 karenb: Spam.

Keeping an eye on this:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/302924#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/mellisasharapova

This profile looks very close to spam to me:
http://www.librarything.com/profile/joycecpallc.com

also created a venue with a logo as a picture
http://www.librarything.com/venue/112726/Joyce-CPA-LLC

Which I deleted as spam, and flagged the venue picture. Am I overly sensitive?

>87 rodneyvc: This reads like advertising copy for an accounting firm. But I'll let someone else chime in before I flag it.

>87 rodneyvc: Yes, looks like spam.

>87 rodneyvc:

I was debating about it, but thought I'd leave it and wait. Someone has accepted her "friends" invitation, and that person didn't look like a spammer, so there was a possibility that she knows someone already on the site, and was intending to use it to catalog her office books.

New profile to watch

http://www.librarything.com/profile/basarlawinc

Don't flag yet.

>92 karenb: I'm leaning toward yes, since it reads as a PR copy but I want someone else to read and comment...

>92 karenb: definitely spam. No real location, just advertisement.

>93 gilroy: >94 2wonderY:

That's kinda what I was thinking too. Apparently the church and movement are real, but based in Brazil. I haven't looked at the Facebook link to see if it's an imitation or the original (I'm not on FB much).

Probably okay, just want to see if they add any titles:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/GrayCity

>96 2wonderY: It looks like a book pirate to me...or, barring that, a phishing site.

>97 Marissa_Doyle: They joined Reddit yesterday with the same patter. Their FaceBook page says they have 450K titles. Shall we flag it?

>98 2wonderY: Definitely sounds phishy. I'm on board with not giving them another platform to advertise.

User MelinaDruga created a new account and has posted in many places. Not my sort of thing to manage, so I'm not sure of the protocols. She's awfully close to spam in some cases, and I think these two posts may be spam? (Because they repeat the info she's posted on her profile, as well as other places)

https://www.librarything.com/topic/303674
https://www.librarything.com/topic/303673

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/MelinaDruga (someone leave a note, please?)

>100 karenb:

(someone leave a note, please?)

Done.

Posts should be flagged, but not the profile.

ETA: Had a very nice response to my comment, apologizing and saying that she saw reviewers looking for books so thought it would be okay to offer her own. I referred her to ER and MG.

>102 karenb: Nope. Looks like an account that probably had books, and now it doesn't. I don't see anything spam-like in it. No worries.

>103 Lyndatrue: I disagree. There's no evidence that the account ever had books, and it has three links to an outside website (four if you count the username itself). Looks like SEO to me.

>104 norabelle414:

SEO?

There's no rule against links to outside websites, and there is certainly no rule against accounts with no books (practically everyone who ever posts in Name that Book has an account with no books!).

A great number of the members of the Folio Society Devotees group have no books entered. They come here just for the forum.

It was the links that I wondered about. Alas, I already cleared my history and can't telll you what was iffy about them (and the account is now marked as spam).

I don't think the account is spam because it doesn't have any books, I just don't think anyone can prove that an account looks like it probably had books at one point.
I think it's spam because it posted the same link to a conspiracy website 4 times, with no other information but a one-sentence bio of the conspiracy theorist, posted twice.

Honestly, if that account was truly Rodney Howard-Browne, I still don't feel bad.

>105 lilithcat: There's no rule against links to outside websites

There should be if the only reason for the account, the post, or whatever is to add those links. SEO is the practice of creating pages across the internet of links to your website in order to get it to have a higher ranking on search engines.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Tuneright

No link, but there's a business with that name in London, so it seems like SEO to me. Hasn't added any books since the account was created. (And any proper repair shop has more than three of those books.)

>110 karenb: Nope, not spam. Probably someone who thought listing their library was a good idea, but lost interest.

>110 karenb: No. Not spam.
A) It's a 7 year old account.
b) no links or any reason to believe they are trying to direct clicks to their business.
c) They have books, how many doesn't matter.

Leave that one alone.

>111 2wonderY: Thanks.

>112 gilroy: OK, I have some follow-up questions:
a) Yes, it's a seven-year-old account. I'm not sure what that means to you, here.

b) No, no links, but a unique business name for the location given. That's the element that made me consider this a possible spam account. AIUI, links aren't necessarily required to build SEO rank.

c) I'm not sure that the presence of any books automatically means an acccount is not spam. I've seen many spam accounts with a few books added, clearly to try to disguise the spamminess of the account. I also noticed a correlation with discussions in the Spam Fighters! threads about how many books a spam account is unlikely to have. (For example, if a discussion gave three books as a likely cutoff when looking for spam, there were more spam accounts with four books.) Would you agree?

>113 karenb:

7 year old account - They've not done anything spam related in seven years. Why would they start now? Nothing on that profile, outside of the name, says SEO. Beyond that, why can't a business want to catalog their books? Why must we hunt down every business just because they chose to make an account?

I've detested the great spam profile hunt since it started, honestly, because I always thought proper businesses like this one would get wrapped up in the hunt with the spam fighters.

To me, if they have books, the books must be looked at if they are legit. If they exist and are legit, then it doesn't matter how many they have. If they're like the escorts and other true spam bots, they aren't real books.

>114 gilroy:

Thanks for the detailed response. I too want to avoid marking legit accounts as spam, because of course LT is for businesses to use. Many kinds of businesses do.

I think this was discussed recently in one of our threads.

Publisher member has reviewed all of their entries and includes a Kindle or Amazon purchase link in every single one:

http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=coldcoffeepress

One to keep an eye on - http://www.librarything.com/profile/victormitchell - I'm itching to flag!

>117 rodneyvc: Someone/thing else whopped him - damn!

https://www.librarything.com/profile/zxc55

New account to watch. Created a thread in off topic where they are quoting sports figures. Thread is titled Sports Betting -- Which leads me to believe it may convert soon.

Thread to watch: https://www.librarything.com/topic/304494

>119 gilroy: You're right. Not yet spam; but I quashed their first attempt earlier this morning, also posting in Off-topic and not so subtle.

Here is a profile to watch:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/DeborahPeterson

Although she has added real books, they are patterned as if she just used a keyword. Her 'About me' and Homepage suggest she is here to drum up business. Also I'd bet that English is not her first language, though the address is MA.

I am glad that such a resource as this one exists on the Internet. There are many people who are lovers of reading books, articles, novels, poems in our world. Many more people who loved to read were before. The number of lovers to read has become less. This is bad but there is a piece of good news that resources like this resource continue to work. I love to read too. I love to write paper. Writing papers is my work. Writing of papers is my duty which is connected with the work. Writing papers is the hobby that I love. Since writing papers is my hobby, I love my job. I love my office and the team that works with me. I work for the company that provides services like personal statement writing and services like writing other types of papers for students, schoolchildren and people who need papers that have some types. The company for which I work has many employees who are professional writers, so I am a professional writer. Now I can boast that I am a professional writer.

Ugh.

It's a service for students who are too lazy to write their own papers. Disgusting.

>121 2wonderY: The photo is from here:
https://www.colum.edu/academics/faculty/michelle-yates.html
it's definitely spam

>123 norabelle414:

Whoa, that's bad. Using someone else's photo?

Flagging.

"Get a free quote today from (company name) in (place)..." but with no contact info given, no URL. Both accounts for the same moving company. Definitely spam-ISH. Technically not spam?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/SethRegan4562
https://www.librarything.com/profile/BillySallee7452

>125 karenb: No, definitely spam.

>119 gilroy: No change there, but the auto-spam catch shows other sports betting posts being caught. Also, sex dolls!

Is this a spam work?

http://www.librarything.com/work/22986000/editions/

>128 2wonderY: Not only is it spam, but the account that added it looks to be needing flagging too. I'll also bet that's a stock photo from somewhere.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/masterredd

ETA: I think one of the less obvious tipoffs here is the statement by the poster about "reading" everything, when it's a website.

It’s a blog. People read blogs. That’s my hesitation.

What about the lone reviewer of the work? https://www.librarything.com/profile/masterredd

(No other activity thus far)

A sudden burst of vague activity...

https://www.librarything.com/profile/shywriter7
https://www.librarything.com/topic/155149
https://www.librarything.com/topic/277851
https://www.librarything.com/topic/304144
https://www.librarything.com/topic/304142
https://www.librarything.com/topic/304001
https://www.librarything.com/topic/288125
https://www.librarything.com/topic/175133
https://www.librarything.com/topic/302009
https://www.librarything.com/topic/304265

>132 davidgn:

Not yet, I think, but one to keep an eye on. Many of the posts read like those one often sees from incipient spammers.

(I also can't imagine why a shy writer would want to join the Pro and Con group!)

>132 davidgn: I think possibly a youngster. I initially flagged and then removed it. Yeah, some comments are less than thread relevant, but all in the Welcome to LT group.

Another one of those profiles that sound spammy. Late-career consultant?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/drgerardjellig1

Sounds spammy to me.

Oh, my:

https://patch.com/new-jersey/southbrunswick/south-brunswick-superintendent-jerry...
https://www.bobbraunsledger.com/lets-hear-it-for-failure-bullying-underage-drink...

>136 lilithcat: Thanks, I didn't think to GTMFA (doh! too easy). I'll start doing that for these iffy-seeming accounts, which may be part of a PR effort following some, er, unfortunate events.

This site is only about this book about how to go about becoming a pilot. The book is free.

The free book site then points you to a site where the guy is selling books and online courses. I can't decide if it's spam or not.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/privatepilot

>138 karenb: To save others time, that link was indeed spam, and is suspended (as all spam should be). No, I never saw the actual link, but based on the description alone, I'd say it was.

>139 Lyndatrue:
I saw the profile before it got suspended, and marked it as spam: the intent was clearly promotional-only, hence spam.

>139 Lyndatrue:, >140 Petroglyph:
Thanks.

What about this site? Kids books (and an app) that are customized using your kid's name. Technically/maybe a publisher? (Not a LT Publisher account.)

https://www.librarything.com/profile/mykingdombooks

I'm not going to worry about a publisher who apparently hasn't done anything untoward in nearly 2 1/2 years.

>142 lilithcat: More like selling an app customized to use your kid's name. Gone now.

This next one, is it someone goofing around, or an attempt at spam?
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Emlin_Erojo_Nabua
silly "reviews": https://www.librarything.com/work/23066516/reviews/167157813

OK, this work is clearly spam, but it seems to be a real work that was edited to make it spammy? Book is combined with other copies of the original book (Real Estate Development - 5th Edition: Principles and Process by Mike E. Miles).

https://www.librarything.com/work/16116102/167459346 (see review)

Help? Please.

>144 karenb: I separated out the bad work, so it can be spam flagged

>145 gilroy: Sorry, I should've posted to the combiners. Thanks.

Enthusiastic author or spammer? http://www.librarything.com/profile/Ronpo

Over-enthusiastic author, I'd say.

Heck, I'd call him "under-enthusiastic", since he hasn't bothered to catalog his own book!

>149 lilithcat: Yes I spotted that - inclined me towards spammer!

Probably a spam account. Will look again tomorrow.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/TylerEVinson

>151 2wonderY:

I don’t see anything spammy about it. Spam accounts don’t usually catalog art books.

I've seen spam accounts add a few books as cover.

>153 2wonderY: Yup. Looks like an essay writing service to me.

>151 2wonderY: I've seen a similar version of that profile four times now. I'd say essay purchase service.

>153 2wonderY: I have too.

>154 Marissa_Doyle: I recommend that students . . . use the services of the Academized.com reviews.

Look's spammy to me.

OK, this account has a weird search link instead of a direct URL, but it may be harmless?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/seanbrown01

>157 karenb: So close to spam. The picture, for what its worth, seems genuine!

>157 karenb:

This is interesting: https://www.librarything.com/profile/positiveSEO1

Note the search links - so, yes, I ‘d say they’re both spam.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/AMACBU
https://www.librarything.com/work/12198819

I'm not sure. Leaning toward yes, since the lone tag is a website, but the profile has been around since 2012 and this appears the only thing they did...

>160 gilroy: yes spam work. The zero copies of the work are the web address.

Two profiles to keep an eye on. Not spam, but might move in that direction:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/cesarmusson

http://www.librarything.com/profile/kunalverma110034

keep an eye on

new member https://www.librarything.com/profile/alokprajha created two groups for reviews:

https://www.librarything.com/groups/indianauthors2
https://www.librarything.com/groups/yellforme (someone already flagged this one)

>163 Taphophile13: Considering the groups are just for soliciting reviews, I'd say they can be flagged. The profile needs watching.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Selvester Looks like a dodgy home page. GOOGLE SEZ the link posted many places, in forums on other sites.

(edited to clarify)

What if it's a company that provides services to authors & publishers? Digital conversion

https://www.librarything.com/profile/steve_george

>165 karenb: The description makes me want to point staff toward this one. Age the factor.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/307134#

I honestly don't think this is spam, just someone who doesn't know what they're doing, but better to be safe...

SEO - https://www.librarything.com/profile/digitalmist
...with three books about SEO in their library. Web site is defunct.

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/sonace

Two of these books include URLs in the Info field:
https://www.librarything.com/work/13329509/92483210
https://www.librarything.com/work/13323529/92426917

The other three books in the user's library, similar author names, but no URLs:
https://www.librarything.com/work/13318446/92378523
https://www.librarything.com/work/13314432/92345362
https://www.librarything.com/work/13321074/92403940

Looks spammy to me, but it is possibly poorly constructed spam?

https://www.librarything.com/work/11037485/70898953

>171 karenb: I'd say yes, and I'm about to flag the profile... Jeeze, Louise, it's from 2011.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/dinorvolen

Please mark the work as spam, and I'll vote yes.

I'm off to sleep. I'll check back in the morning...

What about http://www.librarything.com/profile/thisGuy33 - recent activity looks spammy!

>173 rodneyvc: What do you think is spammy about it?

> it looks like using lt as a book selling forum, particularly the two most recent profile pics.

>173 rodneyvc: Looks like an Easton Press collector trying to sell one of their books. Not anything spammy I can see...

>173 rodneyvc:

I've noticed a lot of people who join LT to become members of the various fine press groups, and confine their activity to those groups, not even cataloguing their libraries. Those groups don't seem to mind members using their forums to buy/sell/trade those books.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/307054#6829540

Want to say Enthusiastic Author, but not sure.

>178 gilroy:

Yes and no.

The poster is apparently a co-author of the first book mentioned (although, curiously, he hasn't listed himself as the author, just the first-named author), but the second is by an entirely different person.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/307905

It has already garnered flags. so people do think it's fishy. But I'm putting it here for people to tell me yes or no. Parts of it twist my senses because it doesn't "Feel" right. And asking questions on the profile, as directed, gets a snide vague response...

ETA: I've gone back, checked the thread, then removed a flag I placed there, based on the discussion here.

>180 gilroy:

I don't see any reason to think it's spam. This user also tried to start a thread in Book Talk about role-playing: http://www.librarything.com/topic/307821 I think he or she simply likes games, use the the social functions of the site for that purpose, and gets annoyed when others don't go along.

>180 gilroy: I thought "Ick" too. But it doesn't appear to be a site prohibited activity. Unless she starts adding links to off-site stuff. Not sure what she means by "profile tokens."

Okay, now. She (middle name Rosa) really needs a talking to.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/307927

Well, now, I've apparently attacked said user, said nasty things against them. (My mostly rude comment? Bless your little heart. Oh, she might be upset about "You know what they say about assumptions.")

Funny, all I was trying to do is gather information on the contest. *shrug*

>183 2wonderY:

I gave it to her.

>184 gilroy: But where? You must have left a private profile message, because I don't see any kind of communications.

>186 2wonderY: it was entirely a private profile conversation. If I'd made them a public discussion, I'd copy it here.
However, I did leave a note to lorannen, telling staff that I have no problem with them looking at the conversation.

**eyebrows raised**

I tend to make most profile comments private, unless it was a specific notation of site policy, like the author notification. Just feels more proper. *shrug*

>185 lilithcat: Thank you for that, though some might argue Respected. :)

That poster is getting out of hand.

>183 2wonderY: To close the loop: https://www.librarything.com/topic/307930

Link to book site. Message instead of spam?
https://www.librarything.com/profile/coachelfranklin

>192 karenb: I may be in an unforgiving mood today, but I'd call that spam.

I always start the day looking at the new profile pictures and I notice today a possible Spam operation.

Multiple new accounts with no profile material except for a photo of a beautiful young woman on each, and very similarly structured profile names.
So I'm collecting them here to refer them to Loranne.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/Kathleen.E.Carpio
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Laura.P
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Imelda6
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Hazel.Beatty
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Imogene.K
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Erma1994
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Betty.D
http://www.librarything.com/profile/TinaNesbit
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Paula1990
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Laura.Quintero
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Gregory1978
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Ruth1976
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Minnie.Ross
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Heidi.D
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Kirsten1976
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Cynthia.S.Weeks
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Margaret.Diggs
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Roberta1997
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Elizabeth.J
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Melissa.Weir
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Louise.C.Simmons
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Kelly1971

Brides for sale?

It might be interesting to run a few of those photos through an image search--I wouldn't be surprised if they are all "borrowed."

>194 2wonderY: aaand ... Gone.

Just the name, no URL, no activity since the account was created last month.
https://www.librarything.com/profile/adildigitalmarketing

Let's talk about this new member

http://www.librarything.com/profile/MaxHudson

He added several books, but his profile is all about his guitar reviews website.

>198 2wonderY:

I don't consider that spam, not at this point anyway. A lot of members use their profile to talk about nothing but their websites. He doesn't appear to be selling anything.

>198 2wonderY: Depends on you opinion of spam. There are some who will flag it immediately. Others will let it sit. Personally, I'll let it go until they do something or catalog something to make it spam

Thanks both of you. Sometimes a head correction is needed.

This is plainly solicitation, whether one thinks the cause is worthy or not:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/308436#6856469

This looks like...attempted spam?
Something didn't quite come together here.
https://www.librarything.com/venue/113302/Computer

>202 2wonderY: are you asking about the entire thread or just the single post? I found every post by that member disturbing... until I realized what group it was.

>203 davidgn: Yeah, I agree. Here's the link for profile flagging as well. Plus we need lorannen to kill the local.
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Rakesh_003

>204 gilroy: Well, as I said further down that thread, their extolling of their books and authors is Spammy as well. But it was the GoFundMe link that, upon reflection, seemed most egregarious. As John says, the discussion of Amazon's business practices is a pertinent topic; it was the way the member approached it here on LT that crosses the line. I myself refuse to buy anything from Amazon, but I guess I'm reached by their tentacles when I shop AbeBooks. But what's a reader to do?

This new profile photo raised my Spam alarm, but I'm posting it here for a later look.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/malabakpmg

I googled the name Sipho Malaba, and it is a South African male name. And at least one person by that name is involved in digital marketing.

https://www.librarything.com/work/22774180/editions/170298751

This satbinder guy...
https://www.librarything.com/profile/satbinder

Has reviewed this...
https://www.librarything.com/work/22774180/reviews/170298751

Which looks like a rat's nest. I don't even know where to start with this.

>207 davidgn:

That's so weird. There's been some bad combining, that's obvious.

Oh, and then there's this: http://www.librarything.com/topic/308487

Y'know, I think this particular poster is looking for a book, as he joined the Name that Book group. So he may not be spam, but there's something odd with the work

Yeah, which is the link I meant to have at the top.

>209 davidgn: Something tells me the family's secret plan may not have worked out...

Collecting these for referral to Loranne. These creeps have been here before.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/SusanScott51
http://www.librarything.com/profile/ElvieMassey
http://www.librarything.com/profile/carmenmason
http://www.librarything.com/profile/lilianacopeland

>211 2wonderY:

Is there some doubt in your mind as to whether these are spam?

Seems pretty clear to me. In fact, I flagged about two dozen similar profiles yesterday.

There is nothing blatantly spammy about them. I would think staff would like to address them as they probably come from the same server and perhaps can be blocked more broadly.

>213 2wonderY:

Actually, they may not be patently spammy, but they are obvious spam.

When I saw nearly two dozen sultry-looking young women*'s photos in "Recent Profile Pictures" (oy, just saw there are another slew of them), and further noticed that they all were private accounts with no books, I figured something was up.

So I did Google image searches, and - what a surprise - same photos crop up under different names. In fact, some of the photos I just noticed are the same as some I flagged yesterday.

I would think staff would like to address them as they probably come from the same server and perhaps can be blocked more broadly.

In that situation, I've emailed lorannen directly. I don't know how often, if at all, they check this forum

*Not that I have anything against sultry-looking young women. I like to think I was once one myself.

I do message Loranne directly. I give her the link to the list here. It's efficient.

>214 lilithcat: How do you Google search an image?

>216 2wonderY:

There are a couple of ways.

From the Google Image search page: https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&ogbl you can either enter the URL of the image location, or, if you have the image on your computer, you can upload the image to the search box.

Thanks for looping me in directly, folks! I know there was some discussion as to whether messaging me was the right move. I can confirm—it's very helpful! I'm often only looking at Spam Fighters! threads once or twice a day, but direct messages more often. You're certainly not required to message me directly, but I might see it faster. I want to make sure our collective anti-spam efforts are as efficient for all involved as possible.

In the instance of >211 2wonderY: these actually weren't all connected (there were a couple of discrete chunks of them). In the past, when we've seen this same pattern, they were all tied to the same IP address, so I was able to get them all in one go (and blacklist the IP address). Periodically, they refine their techniques and try to get a bit more clever, as they've done here.

One thing I started doing recently that should help is, each time I come across any flagged profile, I check for connections to other profiles—a single flag will do the trick.

2wonderY (#216):

How do you Google search an image?

If you're using Chrome, the simplest way is to right-click / control-click on the image and choose "Search Google for image" from the menu. lilithcat's methods from #217 will still work, of course, but you don't need the extra step.

By the way, lorannen, may I say how much I appreciate you suggesting that we message you directly, rather than that we email you? Thanks.

Perhaps I am overly suspicious, but when Carol.P, with only one book in her library, and that one by Karolina Petkuviene, makes a post plugging that book: http://www.librarything.com/topic/309080, I see red flags.

Anyone else?

>221 lilithcat: Topic is now gone.
LT has two books by that author, so maybe just an enthusiastic author on their first day?

>222 karenb:

Could be. I wouldn't flag the profile in any case.

>223 lilithcat: No, I wouldn't either.

If a work seems spam-like but forgot to include a URL or other contact info, is it still spam?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Derekcapo

https://www.librarything.com/work/10398926

>225 2wonderY: I would label it as an account to watch.

This account has eleven books, all real books and related to their business, but with identical tags that refer to outsourcing in specific countries. The profile has the name and a logo but no link. Just fishy, or actual spam?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Connectaccounting
https://www.librarything.com/catalog/Connectaccounting/yourlibrary

I don't think it's spam.

A spammer wouldn't bother to a) catalog 11 books, b) rate their books (and I think it's noteworthy that the ratings vary).

The similarity in tags is likely because the books are all books about accounting in Australia, so likely address the same/similar issues.

I'd leave it alone.

What is a 'casino lawyer'? That's the tag this new member used on his profile photo:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/GorinVladislav

A lawyer who represents gambling joints.

So, yes, spam.

This https://www.librarything.com/work/9120010/editions doesn't appear to be spam. It's is listed in WorldCat with the given ISBN as a guidebook with a map: https://www.worldcat.org/title/weekend-breaks-from-hyderabad/oclc/289096068

>231 r.orrison: LoC has it. https://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/search?searchCode=STNO&searchType=1&recCou...

Doesn't mean it wasn't being used in a spammy way, but the book itself seems innocent.

>231 r.orrison:, >232 MarthaJeanne:

There appears to be a series of "Weekend Breaks" books: http://www.librarything.com/search.php?search=weekend+breaks&searchtype=neww...

Legitimate work. One can assume that it is there for spammy reasons, but many articles are catalogued on LT. If fact there are several by that author. Any usefullness to the spammer is minimal now for a computer that was marketed in 2007.

keeping an eye on this one

http://www.librarything.com/profile/bsphamthitrang

Something doesn't look right here???

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Arquitectonica

>237 fdholt: It's an architecture company using LT to catalogue non-book items. Not great, but not spam. It is allowed to enter perfumes, dresses, bobcats, and also tiles.

Here's a self-promoter

http://www.librarything.com/profile/dominaterealestate

see
http://www.librarything.com/pic/7069171

Is he promoting book or business?

>239 2wonderY: My guess is, both? I already hate him, though. I'd flag the book and the profile, myself, but will wait for someone else to chime in.

>239 2wonderY:

Enthusiastic author. There is NO rule against an author promoting himself on this profile.

If he starts in with it on the forums, that's something else.

>240 Lyndatrue:

You seriously want to start flagging legitimate books just because it's the author who catalogued it?

Please, all, remember that improper flagging is in itself a TOS violation.

>239 2wonderY: Uggh! But I don't see anything really flaggable.

>241 lilithcat: I said I *wanted* to flag it. I'm pretty heartless before I've had enough coffee (I got up very late, and just finished the second cup a bit ago). I only flag things that are obvious, or that others (such as yourself) have pointed out.

Yes, I do recognize that it's not actually flag-worthy, but still get to hate him, or at least to dislike him a bunch. My own flagging is usually limited to the late-night spammers.

Ah, well.

>243 Lyndatrue:

but still get to hate him, or at least to dislike him a bunch.

Perfectly acceptable!

Hi, all. Sorry if this is the wrong place, but I cannot find anywhere on this site to report a completely inappropriate email I received through LibraryThing on 7/24/2019, but missed it my email until today. I have not opened the email, but I can see it. (I use Outlook 365.) This conversation is at http://www.librarything.com/conversation/Sara33, and it apparently shows in my Conversations also. I have never contacted this person, much less conversed with him/her/it. Can someone please make it gone, and hopefully cast the sender into outer darkness?

I have my settings such that people can email me (if I ever get around to creating my library, reviewing and sharing books, etc.), so I'd like to keep that feature the way it is. But, is this kind of contact common? I hope it is not. If you need to see the whole email, let me know. I can also send you a screen shot created without opening the email, but there won't be any header information.

Again, I do apologize if this is the wrong place to report this, but I searched all over for quite a while and did not find any better option. If there is one, please do let me know. Sorry to bother everyone with this, but I really want it gone.

LauraLeighM

>245 LauraLeighM: See https://www.librarything.com/topic/309462

Short version: someone made a bunch of spam profile messages. Anyone who had their account set to receive email notices about profile messages received an email from LT with the text of the spam message included. The spammer did not get your email address or any other information. LT immediately took steps to stop them and prevent future occurrences. Feel free to delete the message.

I remembered that message, but couldn't find it today. Thanks so much for the quick reply!
LLM

Not exactly Spam but these are clearly sock-puppet reviews, which have combined to get this book a spot in the Hot Reviews roll-call. They're all from recent accounts with just a few books and all use ecstatic (and overlapping) vocabulary to fawn over this book.
I'm not sure if it's against the tos but it is contemptible.

http://www.librarything.com/work/22612924/reviews

ETA: Or if not sock-puppets then neighbors and co-workers who owe her money...

>248 Crypto-Willobie:

Sock puppets are definitely against the TOS: Do not set up "shell" or "sock puppet" accounts for any purpose whatsover.

And the other books are mostly non-titles with the same ecstatic reviews. As if multiple members don't know how to add books correctly. I'd point this to lorannen so she can deal with it.

This new member has added two inappropriate images, one on a venue, the other is his book cover.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/zeekiechao

Keeping an eye on this, which might be the reincarnation of a spam network from 2017:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/JadrankaCuculovic
https://www.librarything.com/topic/255736#6057936

The account is very spammy, but I'm not sure about the works. (There are 20 of them.)

https://www.librarything.com/profile/netengineer

>254 karenb: Most of the books look like alt-medicine crap, in English, Spanish and Catalan, but there are a couple on search engine optimisation which may be written by the account holder. I'd vote for the whole lot being spam.

>254 karenb: All 20 books were added through Amazon. Not spam works.

>256 norabelle414:

Agreed. Not spam. Just because someone has lousy taste in books, and catalogs what he himself has written, doesn't mean the books or the account is spam.

Oddly, he can't even be bothered to get them all on the same author page.

Is this why I'm getting a CAPCHA now every time I log in, sometimes multiple ones? Because spam is out of control?

>259 jillrhudy:

You are getting it because of this: http://www.librarything.com/topic/310583

Something is not quite right about these two authors:

http://www.librarything.com/author/stricklandjoseph
http://www.librarything.com/profile/JosephStrickland and
http://www.librarything.com/author/ellingtoncat
http://www.librarything.com/profile/CatEllington

The books are OK, but the second author flagged the covers on her own books, even though some are correct. See:
https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Ellington/e/B07CSLCNW4/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Sometimes authors object to earlier editions being visible on LT.

>261 fdholt: Amazon needs to start making the effort to do the following:

1. Sell books that are actually books. Yes, I do not believe that there's a market for "reviews" written by some non-entity, and for a book that was jointly authored by these two and a third entity that may or may not exist (B.J. Patterson).

2. Audit sales records for churn (i.e. sales that may or may not be actual sales, and yes, I know that statement's vague, and I don't care).

I dunno. There was more, but honestly, what's the point? Personally, I question whether there's a market for anthologies of reviews, other than by very well known reviewers...

Here's another one you can add into the mix.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Eric_Wilson

Maybe?

https://www.librarything.com/topic/311204#

>264 Crypto-Willobie:. Probably.

>264 Crypto-Willobie:

Not enough evidence, yet.

>264 Crypto-Willobie: Author spam. Author should be noted on their profile

>267 gilroy:

Why do you think that's the author?

>268 lilithcat: Post is gone now, but the post said "I wrote this about..." if I remember correctly. Could it be publisher spam? Also possible. Not just someone pushing the book.

>269 gilroy:

Are you sure? Because I looked at the post and saw nothing suggesting the poster wrote the book. I'm pretty sure she was talking about writing her review

Believe me, I'm pretty sensitive to author spam, and neither in her post nor on her profile did I see anything that looked like she wrote the book she was reviewing.

>270 lilithcat: (and >269 gilroy:) Personally, I'm not sure that she's the author. However, on Amazon, where the "book" is also listed, one of the four reviews (all amazingly five stars, and full of praise for this amazing book) sounds very like the post that's now gone.

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9887989142/ref=nosim/librarythin06-20

I no longer trust Amazon reviews, and I'll spare you all the ten paragraphs or so I'd like to write about them. The author has written other books (none of them are ones that interest me, but that's nothing to do with whether they're worthwhile or not.

I dunno. I'd make a bet that we don't hear anything from that particular account again. So it goes.

Is the work spam or just the review?

https://www.librarything.com/work/12507201

Neither, in my opinion. This is consistent with the rest of the member's library, which is very specialized. The member just doesn't understand how the author field should be used. I changed a few.

I've started a new topic as this is getting long. Perhaps this conversation should stay here.

moved to current thread

Related:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/28/business/online-reviews-fake.html?nl=todayshe...