Is this spam? #16

Please note this is NOT the spam reporting thread. This is the thread for checking if something you THINK is spam is or is not.

One member is using the Wiki pages as his own personal reference room:
https://www.librarything.com/search.php?search=Sustainability+trust&searchty...

>2 2wonderY:

I don't think it's a proper use of the Wiki, but I also don't think that makes it spam.

It's an NGO library with a paid TinyCat account, and they use those wiki pages as links at the bottom of their TinyCat page. I think it's fine.
https://www.librarycat.org/lib/Sustainability_Trust

I'm not sure what the search in >2 2wonderY: is meant to indicate as a problem. (Or maybe I've just drunken too little coffee today? Please enlighten me.)

I have a lot of notes etc in my own wikipages, so I'm curious.

>5 bnielsen: In some cases it *could* be a company posting advertising for their own business on the wiki, but in this case it is not.

>2 2wonderY: I'm not seeing a problem

I had no idea the wiki pages could be used for personal purposes. I thought it was supposed to be to explain LibraryThing.

I have a personal wiki page. Apparently I last edited it in 2010.

>8 2wonderY: HelpThing is to explain LibraryThing, it is only a small part of LibraryThing wiki.
Many LT groups have pages there, and you can create your own personal page(s).

>9 MarthaJeanne: I think in January 2010 the LT wiki was first released.

>10 FAMeulstee: Always opportunity to learn something new here. I love LT and y’all.

What about https://www.librarything.com/profile/dharmsi? The books sort of look legit, but I suspect that the profile is more on the spammy side of things.

Also https://www.librarything.com/profile/alorawellness

https://www.librarything.com/profile/americanrevolution looks like just marketing to me.

>12 rodneyvc: Doesn't look like spam to me.
>13 rodneyvc: I don't know. They are obviously a small press, but equally obviously the profile is to drive people to buy their books. I'm on the fence here.

>12 rodneyvc: I messaged Kristi about those profiles to get a ruling; but I haven’t heard back from her yet. I hope cataloging a book or two doesn’t protect a spammer account.

I don't think profiles by themselves are spam.

Sure they are. Those pages aren’t looking for customers here on LT; they are trying to improve their Search Engine Results.
Just in the last few minutes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I could add to the list all day.

>17 2wonderY: The ones without books are pure spam. Its some of the recent ones that have books catalogued that are a little more difficult to judge.

>14 anglemark:

equally obviously the profile is to drive people to buy their books.

I would assume that any publisher/press with an account on LT wants people to buy their books.

>19 lilithcat: Presumably. But LT is a place to catalogue your books. If you don't do that at all but just use the profile as a billboard to get customers, I'm not sure it's OK.

>14 anglemark: >16 MarthaJeanne: >18 rodneyvc: >19 lilithcat: >20 anglemark:
This has been a running disagreement among users since the start of the Great Spam Profile Hunt. I tend to agree with >16 MarthaJeanne:, though others are more ... proactive ... on killing profiles.

>20 anglemark:

But booksellers and publishers are welcome on the site. It seems odd to me to suggest that merely by cataloguing their catalogs they are spamming.

>22 lilithcat: Sure, I agree. In the case we are (at least I am; follow the post history backward) discussing, they haven't catalogued any of their books.

>23 anglemark:

Jeez, they only joined yesterday.

https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24043/Mr-Hoorns-Intellectual-Corner-%7C-The...
https://www.librarything.com/profile/LordMartron (DO NOT FLAG)

I'm leaning toward flagging the group and sending the profile a author warning note, but wanted to get opinions before I did.

>25 gilroy:

I thought there was something about authors not starting groups to discuss their own work, but I can’t find it now, so perhaps I was mistaken.

>26 lilithcat: I want to say it was considered one of those groups or topics that were "pointless" or "Meaningless." Or a private group of less than 2 members.

>27 gilroy:

The group has two members, and I don't quite see how fans wanting to converse with an author is "pointless" or "meaningless".

>28 lilithcat: Frequently the groups are created to advertise a specific book, which is where groups got flagged before.
This one was set up by the 18 year old author, to discuss their own writing (advertising?) and the new member was created 1 day after the author with no books cataloged yet.

I'm just going to keep an eye on it.

Will someone with better virus protection than me check the homepage? Is it literary or escort service?

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

The profile image says escortservice.

I'm thinking yes, but I could be wrong:

https://www.librarything.com/work/26127365/196729247

This is the only work by the user https://www.librarything.com/profile/vegandesign

I don't think so. Amazon has it.

>32 karenb:

No, not spam. It's a legitimate book, and it's not uncommon for authors to join LT, list only their own book, and never come back.

>33 MarthaJeanne: >34 lilithcat:
Thank you for the help.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/353441

What do we think? Assuming the video is what it says it is (I haven't clicked), is this a learning opportunity (flag the content, don't flag the user but send them a message)? Or not spam at all?

New member’s profile picture

https://www.librarything.com/pic/10234717

What is the site policy?

From the Terms of Servce:

Do not upload X-rated or otherwise highly objectionable pictures.

I would say that this qualifies, but I don't see where to flag the picture.

I referred it to Kristi.

>38 MarthaJeanne:

I don't see where to flag the picture.

It's not possible to flag a member's profile picture.

From Kristi:

So, per our TOS: https://www.librarything.com/privacy you cannot upload x-rated images. That looks like a valid profile, so long as they aren't running rampant around the site with TOS violations. Let me know if you see others.

You can flag the image, as will I, and I will send them a message reminding them of our TOS.** ETA: I'm seeing now there's no way to flag profile images, which seems odd. Will bring this to the team to address. In the meantime, I'm logging in to remove the image.

>41 2wonderY:

I'm seeing now there's no way to flag profile images, which seems odd.

I don't think it's odd at all. Unlike Author and Venue images, profile images are personal. They don't affect other members' data or work level data. Giving other members the ability to remove something on a member's personal profile would be problematic. I think reporting a perceived TOS violation to staff and having them deal with it is the appropriate way to handle such issues (which are, I believe, pretty rare).

>42 lilithcat: Agreed. I could easily see things happening like "not a picture of the user". Anyway, while otherwise against TOS, this is not spam. Let staff take care of it.

The homepage is a gambling site

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

>44 2wonderY: "The homepage is a gambling site"
Yes, it's spam. (Trying to be sneaky, and also spam.)

I don’t like the dotcom name and the links, even if it’s books, even if the offer is free.
What do you think?

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

Translation:
“Download the general psychology textbooks of Yahya Seyed Mohammadi (PDF) 257 pages with the best quality, compiled by Bama PDF site.

Specialized psychology texts pdf

Translation of Yahya Seyyed Mohammadi's book on psychology

Specialized language of psychology pdf“

>46 2wonderY: I would say if they are offering their own books (author or publisher), then the profile is not spam. If they are offering free copies of someone else's books (or pretending to offer books but actually directing people somewhere else), then the profile is spam.

In this case I found the company on Instagram and they are just pirates, so I would flag

https://www.librarything.com/work/18631743/135883433

The user name is remarkably similar to the work.

>48 karenb:

Although oit's not unusual for authors to catalog only their own books, a bit of Googling suggests that there is no such book, and that "cpkcomputers" is a business in Australia:
https://www.pinterest.ph/ckpcomputers888/
https://www.ckpcomputers.com.au/

So, yes, spam.

Ick! Author self-promotion at its finest:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/355070#n8279010

Are we excited yet?

>50 2wonderY:

Absolutely no doubt. I flagged that post.

Here’s the member:

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

I’m not inclined to write to him. Anyone else?

>52 2wonderY: I've dropped the standard New Author intro message

https://www.librarything.com/topic/355123
https://www.librarything.com/topic/355000#8279611
https://www.librarything.com/topic/354220#8280243

This person is not listening to what she's being told in the three threads now. She has nothing cataloged, just joined the site October 28, 2023.
https://www.librarything.com/profile/SEdmundson

I'm tempted to flag her, because she's been told no and won't accept it. But I desist until others weigh in.

It’s not spam, just obnoxious.

Though if the member she keeps contacting complains, she might find herself banned for harassment.

>54 gilroy: Flagging is for commercial spam only. Harassment should be reported by email.

The Hot Reviews page is currently burdened with multiple self-reviews of newly self-published books by https://www.librarything.com/profile/MickeyMole, which each have a single thumb--I suspect from a secondary account for that purpose. I'd be a good Thingamabrarian and try to educate Mr. Mole about the benefits of becoming an LT Author and playing by the rules, but my temper is a little short to do a good job of it this evening. Anybody feeling generous and humanitarian?

>57 paradoxosalpha: I don't think there's anything in the terms that says authors can't up-thumb reviews of their books, and I don't think there's enough evidence to prove that MickeyMole and Matt_Ransom are the same person. Though we could suggest to LT staff that they look into it.

Ah, no. I suppose Mole and Underwood may have a tiny mutual admiration society. The style of Mickey's reviews were such puffery, that I mistook them for self-reviews.

>59 paradoxosalpha: That's true, but that user also has hundreds of reviews of other books that are written in the same style

>61 2wonderY:

Yes. It's a publisher advertising books, which is just as much spam as if the author did it.

https://www.librarything.com/work/31314687

This is an actual valid item that can be purchased from Amazon, B&N, BAM, and the like. A spammer used it to hang a faulty review on but it is a valid item.
https://www.amazon.com/Stocking-Stuffers-Men-Christmas-Boyfriend/dp/B0CN98MFGP/r...

Please vote no to the spam vote.

>63 gilroy: Sorry; that was me. I retracted my vote.

But it has 0 members and 1 review. I'm not sure how that's possible

Because the member who entered it and wrote the review has been suspended. If you try yo see the review, it isn't there.

Asking about the book listed on this fresh spam profile.

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

>67 2wonderY:

No, it's a legit book. If you check the author, he's got a lot of books catalogued here. That particular book was also catalogued by a private member.

Darren G. Burton

>68 lilithcat: The profile, however, is spam. Run the presentation through Google Translate and you'll find it's for a lottery site.

>69 anglemark:

>67 2wonderY: was wondering about the book, not the profile.

I expect Spam profiles will hang around till staff return. Their deletions have gotten periodically sticky.

>70 lilithcat: I think (hope?) my reply shows I understood that.

>71 2wonderY: This one's already gone, apparently.

https://www.librarything.com/work/16003585/summary/118413302

The review contains basic instructions but no links.

>73 karenb:

Looks dubious to me.

>73 karenb: There is a website in the title and another site is referenced in the review. They are not linked but still looks like spam to me.

Got a friend request from a random new member

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

Anyone else?

This one feels fishy to me, but I might be wrong:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/358189

I think it is spam.

ETA Already gone.

>76 2wonderY: No, but my policy is to never trust a LibraryThing thing account with no books added.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/tripsitter - not sure than one book catalogued indicates freedom from spam!

>80 rodneyvc: True!

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

Looks like commercial spam. (amazed at the number of external web links) What does everyone else think?

>83 Hartofthematter:
Definitely. Flagged.

>84 lilithcat:
Great; thanks

>84 lilithcat: and gone.

That was a lot of links.

>86 MarthaJeanne:

Those long lists of links are generally a pretty good indication that the profile is spam.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/massage1
ummh! looks like spam

>88 Hartofthematter: Definitely spam if you translate it.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/FFGame
Almost looks legit! Not sure.

>90 rodneyvc:

Interesting. The books are definitely legit, and the "About my Library" translates to A collection of my favorite book genres, especially Epic Fantasy.

But the "About Me" looks spammy: FFGAME - is Asia's largest prize-giving entertainment brand. (This is also on the photo.)

And something of a red flag: It was created at the same time as a lot of spam acoounts.

>90 rodneyvc: Does anyone want to click on the homepage link? That would be definitive, I think.

>92 2wonderY: I did. It goes to some kind of games/gambling site. Looks quite professional, though, not like some small spam site.

>93 anglemark: Thus the better class of spam profile. If we let this one pass, there will be plenty more. The only point of these is to enhance the Google algorithm for website recognition - theirs, not LT.

How about waiting tp see if more books are entered.

I’ve referred it to Kristi and asked for an official verdict.

>92 2wonderY: That has to be spam, in my book, and in LibraryThing's I'd say.

Spam because it's a gambling site. The official view may not agree.

Remember when the go-to filler books were Harry Potter and not LOTR? How times have changed. (or not)

ETA: Whoops! Didn't refresh the page before posting, so I didn't see Kristi's response. D'oh.

>98 karenb: I think Kristi IS the official view.

>99 2wonderY:

Agreed. I flagged it when I saw her message.

I've noticed that a lot of spam profiles I flagged earlier today haven't disappeared yet, though.

>100 lilithcat: It’s no longer as automatic as it used to be. I asked Kristi to flush them, as it would be nice to have a clean slate for the weekend. Looks like she hasn’t yet.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/346143#8463548

His first post doesn't seem to fit the post he is answering, and then the weird 'Don't click on this link.'

>102 MarthaJeanne:

"This user has been removed as spam."

So I guess that answers that!

edufrienz99 presents as author publisher of children’s ebooks. But one of their image uploads shows that it’s a subscription offer:

https://www.librarything.com/pic/10679898

>194 Yuck. I can't quite see flagging them as long as that is the second picture on their profile, not used anywhere else. You might want to point them to the ToS and author and publisher pages. And I will happily flag if the image and/or text shows up anywhere else.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/babbibliography has posted his blurb for his website in three differefnt groups now.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359329#n8473491
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359332#n8473557
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359336#n8473638

>106 MarthaJeanne:

That's not spam, that's a time sink!

Cutting and pasting the same message, leading to their.own website, in multiple spaces is spamming.

>108 2wonderY:

It's a collective of professionals creating a comprehensive database of books related to their fields of practice and of interest to book lovers and book collectors.

It's not strange that they are trying to find the places where their invitation will be seen by the target group.

Gone now, but the group where it fit was very dormant (8 years), and the other two it was off topic.

Can someone more adept than me check to see whether the book added is legitimate ?

Awfully spammy profile

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

>112 2wonderY:

I think it's just the typical author profile.

The book is legit:
http://bookangel.co.uk/blog/cryptocurrency-investing-the-fundamental-analysis-gu...

>112 2wonderY: By searching independently of their member / work record, I found a website offering a free -.pdf download of exactly such a book, available 3/29/24 (or 29/3/24 outside the U.S.) and with an apparent Amazon link for its purchase. I may have inadvertently contributed to their website traffic, but I went no further. From what I’ve seen, I’d say it’s likely a legit book.

ETA: Yeah, what lilithcat said!

Thanks!

What do you think about this? https://www.librarything.com/topic/361007

>116 lilithcat: Spam.

And gone.

>117 MarthaJeanne:

He's at it again: https://www.librarything.com/topic/361008

That one won't totally disappear.

For reference: https://www.librarything.com/profile/DeadshotOmega

My goodness, look how many tags he gives his books!

I've notified Kristi.

>119 MarthaJeanne: considering he is pushing using ChatGPT to tag his books...

ETA There's questions on the second thread about why it's getting flagged. Perhaps Kristi needs to chime in here to let us know if that's truly spam or not.

I separated this: https://www.librarything.com/work/32387976/summary which I think if fine now, from this:

https://www.librarything.com/work/11753977/summary which seems spammy to me, as well as the profiles I clicked on, but is it spam?

Thanks

Oh, that's an odd thicket. It makes me worry about AI-generated users adulterating the whole social sphere here. Maybe that's not what's happening. But you're right; something smells off.

I stumbled on the tag Open Access Publishing https://www.librarything.com/tag/open%20access%20publishing and found tons of similar stuff. Willing to help out, but want to be more clear about which to/not to flag before I do any flagging.

>124 CtrSacredSciences: These are the guys who are the primary users of that tag: https://www.enago.com/academy/

>126 gilroy: They have books listed, and they don't seem to be there just to sell you some product. So, though I will keep my distance, I would say not a spam account.

>125 anglemark:

I don't think they are "guys." I think they are AIs being used to promote AI-generated pseudo-content. They might start "reviewing" soon, and their tagging patterns are already fishy.

>127 Nicole_VanK: That was linked the >124 CtrSacredSciences: and >125 anglemark: I just forgot to hit reply. I wasn't asking.

>130 Nicole_VanK: Thank you for explaining