Spam reporting thread #75

PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING SPAM

Distinguish between the following, and flag the highest level of the violation:

-- Type 1: Irredeemable commercial spam: make sure to flag the member's profile, as well as the spammy activity. This type includes things selling strollers, pharmaceuticals, live-streaming sports games, porn, and/or trying to create traffic/links to sites for such things. Sufficient profile flags will automatically result in temporary suspension and deletion of the member's activity, so use your profile-flagging powers wisely and carefully.

-- Type 2: Teachable moments: DO NOT flag the member's profile, but DO flag the violating activity (e.g. self-promotional Talk post, group, or local venue). This type includes promotional activity that violates the Terms of Service (TOS), but where the member is potentially redeemable, e.g. overzealous authors, overzealous publishers, or other members with small TOS violations but who are otherwise using the site legitimately. These cases should be reported to staff (by sending a message or email to staff and/or or posting on this thread), so the member can be taught how to use the site.

Specific procedures:
-- Overzealous authors or publishers (these fall under type 2): do NOT flag the member's profile. Report to staff here or privately. You can also send the member a polite message pointing them to the terms, mentioning the "no promoting" language, and pointing them to the Do's and Don't page for authors: http://www.librarything.com/about_authors.php NOTE: Because all profile comments are now private, others cannot tell that you have left a message, so please include that information when you post in this thread.
-- Suspected sock-puppetry to promote a book, write fake reviews, and/or stack ratings: do not flag the profile, but report to staff here or by message, so staff can investigate. This is a serious violation for which members can be permanently banned.
-- Profile flags for commercial spammers only (type 1): On the member's profile page, click on the "report for spam" link, then follow instructions to flag the member. Again, this is only for commercial spam, not for "overzealous" authors, publishers, or booksellers, which should be reported to staff instead. See Talk post: http://www.librarything.com/topic/85810
-- Spam or promotional posts in a Talk topic (type 1 or 2): flag the post as an abuse of the terms of service.
-- Spam or promotional groups (types 1 and 2): flag new groups using the "flag this group" link.
-- Spam lists: report in this thread, and flag the member if it's commercial spam.
-- Spam works (type 1 spam): flag the work as spam on the work's editions page, and then vote on proposed work spam. Make sure to read the guidelines before proposing or voting, especially for what is not spam. Voting page: http://www.librarything.com/spam_works.php
-- Spam in a review (type 1), or an explicitly promotional review (type 2): flag the review as an abuse of the TOS, using the red flag.
-- Spam or promotion in "published reviews," or other CK fields (type 1 or 2): post here and/or delete.
-- Spam or egregious promotion/advertising in venues or events (type 1 or 2): post here and/or delete. Note that authors are permitted to add events for their books.
-- Spam in book links / quick links: post here and/or edit to remove spam.
-- Spam author names listed on a work: No current procedure. Tim has asked us not to change CK to indicate spammers, and not to combine spam authors together.
-- Not sure if it's spam? Post here, and explain why.

Please note that Tim has asked us not to use either CK or the combining system (whether works or authors) for spam fighting.

For more information see these wiki pages:
Procedures for flagging and reporting spam: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Spam
Spam works, guidelines for flagging and voting: http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/HelpThing:Spam_works

(A copy of these guidelines, for pasting in new threads, can be found here or at the top of previous threads.)

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338017 (Note: group is "join to post".)

https://www.librarything.com/profile/ALBdam (Message left)

>2 lilithcat: This now makes what seemed like an innocent group suspect...

Author spam by https://www.librarything.com/profile/nataliasuazobooks

The user has been removed before I could finish posting.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/338502

Overenthusiastic author - do not flag (I left a message)
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Gijo_George

https://www.librarything.com/topic/338546

already gone

https://www.librarything.com/topic/338584#unread
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23599/My-Group
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23598/My-Group

Ah, profile is gone.

According to google, this was an employment agency in Vietnam.

All gone.

Author spam:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/338596

Message left:

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

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338641
Profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/DD_Jones (Do not flag. Already messaged)

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/21707993/reviews/154906124
(will flag work after review is gone)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/improveranking

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/27513136/reviews/210344119 (flag as spam after review disappears)
profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/deltawhatsapp

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/27545014/reviews/210717727
profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/SheriWright

reviews: https://www.librarything.com/work/24662087/reviews/182498752
https://www.librarything.com/work/24655701/reviews/182447583 (flag works later)
profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/crystlclmn

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/27352788/reviews/208855763 (flag work later)
profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/JaidenMacdonald

sounds like a fun group:
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23600/Limb-Lengthening-Surgery
profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/llspecialist

and gone

The first flags came quickly, but

https://www.librarything.com/topic/338675#n7718853
https://www.librarything.com/topic/338674#n7718850

need one more flag each. Now gone.

(Author spam from https://www.librarything.com/profile/Donna_Faith)

Author spam:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/338761
https://www.librarything.com/topic/338760

Message left: https://www.librarything.com/profile/FarhanShaikh

Gone now.

>18 lilithcat: What on earth is "a development practitioner in the social impact space"?

>19 gilroy:

No clue, but then I'm old.

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/19300543/reviews/139910373
(mark work as spam after the review is gone)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/smithtrading786

>21 karenb: Now flagged.

profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/1z0103221
msg: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338119#7731313

already gone

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

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339042#n7736262

gone

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339097
Profile
https://www.librarything.com/profile/hiblnjhuLee
Gone

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/339115

https://www.librarything.com/profile/PaulaDail (No message left, as member does not allow comments.) Her "review" of her own book appears to be a link to her website: https://www.librarything.com/work/21723009/reviews/154169058 but it's not. The domain is apparently for sale. Weird.

ETA: and here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/339117 and here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/339116

>26 lilithcat: Those seem to be gone. Too bad we can't message her. The other weird thing is that she only has the one book entered, but has been a member since 2016, and has several books on her author page.

I noticed she had to specify that she was the LEAD editor on her one book she'd entered...

I just found this: https://www.librarything.com/topic/285479#6423823

Perhaps she turned off messages so she couldn't be told she is spamming. Anyway, I'm flagging as she knows this is not allowed.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339126
Profile. https://www.librarything.com/profile/hveakbhuLee

Gone!

>29 MarthaJeanne: It may take more than a few flags because she has been here a while. Perhaps notify LT staff?

>31 Taphophile13:

It may take more than a few flags because she has been here a while.

Also because she's an LT author.

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/15114375/reviews/110158500
(work to be flagged after review is gone)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/testingstrip

work from previous post:
https://www.librarything.com/work/15114375/summary/110158500

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/26051948/reviews/196061518
(flag the work after the review is gone)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/herryadam12

Trolling for reviews in the wrong place: https://www.librarything.com/topic/339186

Message left: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Mark_Harbinger

>35 lilithcat: I love his whole "Why did this get flagged?!" post...

>36 gilroy:

I know! Maybe he should have read the rules first?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/nick7900

Advertising that he writes dissertations for people.

Can we disappear his deleted topic?
https://www.librarything.com/topic/339390#n7752280

That was fast. All gone.

Good. I really hate these.

Author spam
https://www.librarything.com/topic/339551

dhight

I left a message.

>41 2wonderY:

Looks like that account is removed, maybe because he had this older one: https://www.librarything.com/profile/DavidHight

Author spam

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339748#unread

UniqueGrace

I left a note.

So did I.

See also https://www.librarything.com/topic/339749

Gone.

>43 2wonderY: >44 MarthaJeanne: Considering she doesn't know her homonyms, based on her profile, I wonder how much editing her book needs...

Judging from the first few paragraphs in "Look inside", even just SpellCheck would have helped.

She did politely ask my who to contact to offer her book.

Author spam

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339814#unread

Why he is advertising a German translation with a link to an Italian bookstore is beyond me.

(https://www.librarything.com/profile/rogermaxson)

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Coinbasesupportvbn
ETA: gone

>50 norabelle414: That one disappeared very quickly.

>50 norabelle414:
And it was just one of dozens of fake support accounts added yesterday. Good catch!

>53 norabelle414: Both gone

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

Posting comments on other threads like this one: https://www.librarything.com/topic/339875#n7771278

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/27834162/213155847
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/metamask-support

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/27834091/213155235
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/etherscan-support

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/17871489/130835779
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/amperisbattery

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/kibocodereview
review: https://www.librarything.com/work/24132239/reviews/177842089
(after the review is gone, we can flag the work)

Author spam:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/339898#7772319
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ThomasIssahOsazeBook

author spam

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339902
https://www.librarything.com/profile/VincentRudolph

I left a message.

Author Spam
https://www.librarything.com/topic/339904
https://www.librarything.com/topic/339905

https://www.librarything.com/profile/markmossbooks (I left a message)

>61 gilroy:

Also:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339906
https://www.librarything.com/topic/339903

Oh, missed those.

Wondering if we have a PR person posting for a bunch writers...

>63 gilroy:

This last guy is self-published, so likely not as far as his posts are concerned.

The book in >59 haydninvienna: is described as "independently published", so that's probably not a publicist, either.

I think the authors just have the weekend free for spamming.

the users in >57 karenb: and >58 karenb: need more flags

works
https://www.librarything.com/work/27539894/210664517
https://www.librarything.com/work/27539897/210664558
https://www.librarything.com/work/27539899/210664604

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

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

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339963

Gone.

author spam:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/337685#7776529
https://www.librarything.com/topic/337682#7776531
https://www.librarything.com/topic/337286#7776533

Can someone leave a message on her profile Aryama, I am not sure how to word it.

ETA: Gone

And another:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/340038
https://www.librarything.com/topic/340037
https://www.librarything.com/topic/340036
https://www.librarything.com/topic/340035

ETA: Gone

>68 FAMeulstee: done

>70 norabelle414: Thanks.

>68 FAMeulstee: >69 FAMeulstee: All gone.

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/digitaljob
review: https://www.librarything.com/work/27820530/reviews/213034968
(flag the work after the review is gone)

Is there a way to mark a long running thread as spam? Rather than have to flag each individual message?
(Cripes, I'm half tempted to apply to admin a group, just to bring the thread under control.)

>73 gilroy:

I don't know of any way to do that. But if you'll post the link to the thread, some of us can help to flag the messages.

>74 lilithcat: However an admin could really make the whole thread disappear. Flagging will never do that.

>75 MarthaJeanne:

Oh, I agree, but I gather gilroy isn't certain about becoming an admin.

If it's the group I'm thinking of, I don't blame him.

>74 lilithcat: The thread is a mammoth that takes an age to load... and it populated with 13 year olds as near as I can tell.

>77 MarthaJeanne: most likely is.

On what grounds would you be flagging the entire thread? If it loads too slowly for you or you don't like 13-year-olds then just ignore the thread or don't open it.

>79 norabelle414: On the grounds that more than half the posts are with links to spam and information farming sites.
I actually saved one of those 13 yr old's accounts that had gotten closed improperly.

>80 gilroy:

On the grounds that more than half the posts are with links to spam and information farming sites.

But why should the posts that aren't spammy be made to disappear?

Oh! Is this the Manga group where they're all trying to get around their schools' blocking of sites? I emailed the site about that, and, according to Kristi, Tim said there were no "actionable TOS violations". If you see links to actual spam, you might want to point those out to TPTB.

At this point there's at least one post in the continuation thread pointing out which users tend to post spam or malware links. I don't have the kind of computer environment where I can risk clicking on them, but maybe someone else can check?

I think there are several people in the group with a genuine interest in keeping things civil and it would be nice if two or more of them could be appointed admins. (I'm generally annoyed at the admin-appointing process (or lack thereof) if you can't tell.)

>82 Watry: If users are pointing out that a particular link is harmful I would consider that enough evidence to flag (the message, not the user) without clicking on the link.

>83 norabelle414: I did consider but no one mentioned a particular link, just a user.

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/22612998/reviews/163216754
(work can be flagged after the review is gone)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/DigitalSolutions

>85 karenb: Gone.

>86 2wonderY: Gone.

user catalog: https://www.librarything.com/catalog/influencermarketing/yourlibrary
10 works, each with spam review and spam cover. Flag the covers first or the reviews?

Author spam
https://www.librarything.com/topic/340178#n7782453 Gone.

I left a message at https://www.librarything.com/profile/N.B.Saltsman

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/340214 (NOTE: I am unable to flag the post at this time; it just spins and spins, and tells me to go write a book.)

Message left on his profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/NoahTone

>90 lilithcat: Me, too. He seems full of himself, so I'm not bothered that we may be putting him off.

Warned before as https://www.librarything.com/profile/NoahjCotter

Author spam

https://www.librarything.com/topic/340290

(https://www.librarything.com/profile/AlanLoya)

>93 MarthaJeanne: Same author over in historical fiction group:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/340291

>94 gilroy: The one I listed is gone. Yours is gone now, too.

Make sure to mention if you have or have not left a message for an author, since all messages are private now

Note the homepage

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

It’s a heavy day for new Spam profiles. I find them looking at new profile pictures every morning. There have been 20 or so already today, and they seem to still be coming.

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/19549787/141425916
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/amazingtips

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/26740403/reviews/202374257
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/PetTips
(once the review is gone, we can flag the work)

Rather different author spam, as he is just beginning to write his book and wants it edited here.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/340492
(https://www.librarything.com/profile/TerryRussellMoore)

>101 MarthaJeanne:

Did you leave him a comment? As all comments are now private, we can't tell.

Yes, but he can't find it, he says.

Oh, now he has found it and has 'adjusted his post', but still wants to post his book for people to read.

Ah, well. In the meantime the topic is gone.

>93 MarthaJeanne:, >94 gilroy:

https://www.librarything.com/profile/AlanLoya is back at it:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/340588

I left a comment, not that it's likely to do any good.

An author with one book that he is advertising: https://www.librarything.com/profile/subguy

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339566#7785210
https://www.librarything.com/topic/339566#7785212

>105 VivienneR:

Did you leave a comment on his profile? (As all profile comments are now private, we can't tell.)

NOTE TO ALL:

I have edited >1 lilithcat:, as well as the wiki page linked therein, to reflect the fact that profile comments are now automatically private, and asking that those who do leave comments indicate that in their posts in these threads.

Specific language: NOTE: Because all profile comments are now private, others cannot tell that you have left a message, so please include that information when you post in this thread.

Author spam
https://www.librarything.com/topic/340617

(by https://www.librarything.com/profile/kkuhns)

Selling hair extensions:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/340619
https://www.librarything.com/profile/wholesalehairs
(ETA: gone)

>108 MarthaJeanne: Guessing you left a message?

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/22889868/reviews/165795438
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/eumaxindiaseo
(work can be flagged after the review is gone)

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/26476731/reviews/199780047
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/addonsseo

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/4825974/reviews/26382395
(work already marked as spam)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/officebuy

https://www.librarything.com/topic/340828
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Greatwrites

Author spam. I've left a message.

ETA: And they've started a group for their book.

https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23661/Only-You-Can-Attract-Me

>115 amanda4242: Two groups
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23660/Only-You-Can-Attract-Me

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/23603236/172320954
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Amaravathi-Plots

Review needs flagged
http://www.librarything.com/work/27975672/reviews/

Profile
https://www.librarything.com/profile/questioncloud1

And the work
http://www.librarything.com/work/27975672/reviews/

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

https://www.librarything.com/topic/321768#7805309

Gone.

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/341031

Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/RosanneGallagher

https://www.librarything.com/topic/341067
Profile: jg.g.j.

ETA: gone!

Reviews first, then works

http://www.librarything.com/work/28042720/reviews/
http://www.librarything.com/work/28042228

Member
https://www.librarything.com/profile/JeremyGarza

>124 clamairy:

Was this author spam? If so, was a message left on the profile? https://www.librarything.com/profile/LisaPerskie

>125 lilithcat: Looks like it. I was in a hurry this morning and didn't have time to check. The author's name has an additional surname, but it must be her.

At it again

http://www.librarything.com/work/28050413/editions/

http://www.librarything.com/work/28050409/editions/

And member
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ReneBurns

This one doesn't seem to want to be zapped: https://www.librarything.com/profile/hsapclawwyandotte

>128 rodneyvc: Gone.

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/14023213/reviews/112319650
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/poolpatiosx
(we can flag the work after the review is gone)

Sharing this profile blurb just for chuckles:

“Nice to meet you all. Myself George Levine and I am from the USA. My hobbies is playing cricket, spending time with my friends and making food for them on weekends. I am always facing problems in making food for them on weekends because my time is always spent on writing an essay assignment but then I found websitename/best-dissertation-writing-services/ which helped me in choosing the best dissertation | writing services. Now, I can make food for them easily.”
(edited out the link)

Sounds like George needs writing services even for a short blurb like this.

Works:

http://www.librarything.com/work/28095879

http://www.librarything.com/work/28095782

Profile:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/DarrellCarr

Flag the reviews and then the works:
medical supplies
https://www.librarything.com/work/book/215799102
Covid tests
https://www.librarything.com/work/28100902/215798977
https://www.librarything.com/work/28100887/215798679

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

>134 Taphophile13: More reviews by same user:

https://www.librarything.com/work/28100923/215799207
https://www.librarything.com/work/28100911/215799102

review: https://www.librarything.com/profile/elitebutlers
https://www.librarything.com/profile/elite9extensions
(Flag the review away first, then the work)

works:
https://www.librarything.com/work/26389155/198998053
https://www.librarything.com/work/26389158/198998062
https://www.librarything.com/work/26389159/198998065
user:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/skipbinteam

works:
https://www.librarything.com/work/26347840/198672208
https://www.librarything.com/work/26347843/198672275
https://www.librarything.com/work/26347846/198672312
user:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/skipbinwahire

Reviews, works and profile

https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=AndreFrench

https://www.librarything.com/catalog/AndreFrench/yourlibrary

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

Heavy Spam profile building this morning. I just slapped down 30 or so. How about profiles without pictures? Is there a way to track their creation?

>139 2wonderY: The list of recent members at the bottom of the page here: https://www.librarything.com/zeitgeist/members

>140 norabelle414: Aha! I knew it must exist, but never did find it. Thanks!

https://www.librarything.com/profile/USA_Marriage_Bureau
subtle

https://www.librarything.com/topic/337310#7824366

https://www.librarything.com/profile/karmaplace2022

Looking for more posts

Huh. I would have expected more posts. But that was it.

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/341463

Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/Tom_J_Menzel

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/28023773/reviews/214980688
(we can flag the work after the review is gone)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/pharmaengineers

>145 karenb:

I can't believe they gave themselves only three stars!

>146 lilithcat: I KNOW RIGHT

Author spam. I've left a message.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/quintashawallacebook
https://www.librarything.com/topic/341637
https://www.librarything.com/topic/341636
https://www.librarything.com/topic/341635
https://www.librarything.com/topic/341634

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/28130674/reviews/216085717
(We can flag the work after the review is flagged away)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/situsdaduonline

Should I start a thread for amusing Spam, or just share the occasional funny blurb here?

One from this morning:

“ In the first place, people will think you're really smart since you know all these interesting things about biology. Second, if you know some interesting Dirty Biology pick up lines related to their subject, it will make the conversation more interesting and people will be more inclined to want to talk with you. In a third instance, if you're looking to learn more about someone, using biology pick up lines can be a great way to accomplish that. Last but not least, you'll be a great student, teacher, and friend if you use these lines in your classroom or other social settings.”

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/9774853/reviews/58472105
(we can flag the work away after the review is gone)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/SitePlanet

Both suspended already

Selling crystal meth online

https://www.librarything.com/profile/hornesangela212

For the second time in a week I have run across an odd thing. Putting a spam link in an author's profile. I didn't pay attention the first time but this time I did and am reporting it here. The guilty party is https://www.librarything.com/profile/blandervansby who has inserted a link to one of the birth and death authors for today, Marv Wolfman. Look up in the top right corner above the wikipedia link and there is a "AAA - Auto Club Coupon Code"

Marv Wolfman

Link is gone now. I've deleted it.

>157 lilithcat: Thanks. Is this a common thing?

>158 RBeffa:

I've never noticed one before, but it's certainly possible that this is not a unique instance.

>159 lilithcat: Under the blandervansby profile is a badge for posting 45 web links but I don't have any idea how to trace where that person put them.

>160 RBeffa:
>posting 45 web links but I don't have any idea how to trace where that person put them.

The Zeitgeist Helpers Log page covers the last 7 days of links being added:
https://www.librarything.com/log_helpers.php?view=links&span=168

Unfortunately that user name doesn't appear so must have been earlier, and wasn't caught at the time via Zeitgeist. I don't know of another way, do we know would a report to staff have success (presuming they have the facility to directly look at the user's alltime link contributions, with a view to purging them)?

>161 Nevov: It could be that the user doesn't show because the account has been removed as spam.

If you find on the list where >157 lilithcat: deleted the link it says "lilithcat deleted the link No title (Link missing) (English) (unconfirmed) "
I think that means all of the links added by that user have been removed so I don't think we should worry about it

>162 norabelle414: I doubt removal of a profile undoes CK additions.

>163 2wonderY: Links are knowledge that is common but they are not Common Knowledge in their format on the site. A lot of other things get removed when an account is removed as spam, like Published Reviews and Lists created. The only explanation I can see for why lilithcat's line in the Zeitgeist log would look different than other deleted links is that the link was removed by the system.

>162 norabelle414: when lilithcat deleted the AAA spam link shortly after my post it left that strange link removed message while the profile was still active. I reported the profile as a spammer. I had not found the profile listed under the zeitgeist log then and assume the spammer put it up some time ago. The spam link I saw approx a week ago was different than the triple a one. I think it may have been a fake Costco or similar but it was the same kind of thing that popped up a bunch of fake coupons.

It's not the first spam link I've seen on an author page, for sure.

>164 norabelle414: The link was not removed by the system; the system avoids naming the former user who added the link. (I've found another link added by the same user.)

> 165 When you see such a problem again, maybe wait to report the profile as spam? At least until we can puzzle out the problem(s) as much as possible.

>166 karenb: Well, there wasn't much to the profile. blandervansby had zero books, joined in January 2022 and had 45 links for a badge. That was it. I was unable to find any of those links on LT by searching the user name. I did not immediately report the user as spam.

Searching a person's activity on LT using the user name basically doesn't work, as it feels very much like stalking. There are a few things that can be found if you know how, but it is not straightforwards.

Oddly, this account “has been deactivated” but the profile picture persists.

https://www.librarything.com/pic/9097459

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/341787

Do Not Flag (I've left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/Nova17

>171 norabelle414: Teen from the Manga group who probably meant to post in that group.

>171 norabelle414: Member took advice and deleted the message.

>173 MarthaJeanne:

And has moved it to Writer's Brag and Rag Bag: https://www.librarything.com/topic/341788, a more appropriate place.

I really want to tell the kid, "First, improve your grammar, spelling, and punctuation." But I'll refrain.

I made a few spelling corrections. My mother taught Middle School English, and I sometimes corrected spelling and grammar on writing assignments for her before she read them for content. I can't read this for content because the mistakes are so disruptive.

And this in an era with spell check and grammar check.

>173 MarthaJeanne: *unfurls "Mission Accomplished" banner*

>174 lilithcat: Actually, not really an appropriate place.
What they seek is not available here.
We are not a writing forum. They should NOT be posting that much of their book here at all and really Brag and Rag bag is kinda quiet. Hobnob might have been better, or Writer Readers, but none of them are truly appropriate.

We aren't a secure forum. We aren't critique people. We aren't beta readers.

>177 gilroy:

The group description says, among other things, this group could engender a story-critiquing coterie.

I agree this is not a secure site, but that’s a separate issue.

re: spam links on author pages

When you see these, please drop a note to staff about the author (and don't mark the spamming user's profile). They can search in ways that we can't.

(I found another spam link, and that's essentially what Abigail said.)

Author spam, already picked up a couple of flags: https://www.librarything.com/topic/341627#7839260
https://www.librarything.com/profile/garthmiro

>180 haydninvienna:

Did you leave a comment, so he knows what he did wrong?

>181 lilithcat: Im actually not entirely sure how to do that.

>182 haydninvienna:

Just go to the person's profile. At the bottom of the page, you should see a box that says "LibraryThing has moved to an all-private message system and removed the public wall on profile pages. All posts can be accessed in Messages. See Conversation in Messages." The second sentence is a link to a page where you can send a message to the person.

Because all messages are now private, no one other than the sender and recipient can see them. In this thread, it's important to note whether you have left a comment, so others know you've done so and don't bombard the person with comments.

>182 haydninvienna: There's also a button at the top of a user's profile page on the right side. Here's the script I use if you want to copy it:
______________

Hello, and welcome to LibraryThing!

Please note that author and publisher self-promotion is not permitted on LibraryThing except in the places specifically set aside for that purpose. This is to keep the site and particularly the "talk" threads from being overwhelmed by authors and publishers promoting their own work. Promotional posts made in many places will quickly be flagged as spam and disappear. But there are a few designated areas in which self-promotion specifically *is* permitted:

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

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

Here is a page that explains how authors can use LibraryThing:
https://www.librarything.com/about/authors

And here are the terms of service, which prohibit advertising and promotion:
https://www.librarything.com/privacy
_______________

>179 karenb:
>re: spam links on author pages
>When you see these, please drop a note to staff about the author (and don't mark the spamming user's profile). They can search in ways that we can't.

I've added that advice to the "Spam in Quick Links" section of the wiki page, with a link back to >179 karenb:
lilithcat you may wish to cast an eye over my edit, and possibly do an update to >1 lilithcat: on similar lines too?

>185 Nevov:

The links in question were not "Quick Links". Those only appear on the Work page. These were in the "Links" section of the Author page.

Ah, indeed. I will redo my edit with that in mind. Sorry!

Edit: re-done, thanks for pointing it out. Have returned the Quick Links advice into its correct state, and written a new but similar-worded bullet point "Spam Links on an author page" to cover this advice.

>183 lilithcat: >184 norabelle414: Thanks both, noted.

Author spam
https://www.librarything.com/topic/341800
I left a note
https://www.librarything.com/profile/FritzBlackburn

>185 Nevov: Thanks for updating the wiki; I keep forgetting that it's there.

I'd suggest leaving the link and simply contacting staff. That gives staff complete information, and they'll delete the bad link when they're done with it.

>191 karenb:

I've updated it to say that. Thanks!

Spam reviews on these accounts:
https://www.librarything.com/reviews/RufusCannon
https://www.librarything.com/reviews/ErnestoHardy
https://www.librarything.com/reviews/GonzaloScanlon
https://www.librarything.com/reviews/LynnHine
https://www.librarything.com/reviews/LucasWrighte

>193 Nevov: Wow, that was a lot of mole-whacking. Go you.

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/26634869/editions/201373458
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Artstori

Been a while since I marked a work as spam (even had to look up how to do it ;-)

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/28208837
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Academiacoaching

>195 rybie2:

That is a legitimate book: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9563927869/ref=nosim/librarythin06-20

>195 rybie2: I don't think that's spam. The book has a valid ISBN which was added manually and the cover looks like a real cover. Also I put the text of the review into google translate and it looks like a normal review (makes references to the thing being reviewed being a book, and references to the author)

>197 norabelle414: Okay, sounds good, thanks. That wall of text reviewing their own book made my brain hurt I guess ;-)

>198 rybie2: I didn't see any indication that it's their own book? I think it's just not a book that was already entered into LT.

>198 rybie2:

It's not "their own book", as far as I can tell. Same author as Coaching para intervenciones en crisis.

Reviews need flagged
https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=dutchantiqueclocks

Member
https://www.librarything.com/profile/dutchantiqueclocks

>201 2wonderY: Gone.

This morning’s Spam patrol smile:

“ hello!! As there are numerous victims due to indiscriminate eating and drinking, we are a community eat-and-run boss that is made up of top experts related to Toto Site to prevent and prevent such damage.”

>203 2wonderY: Is that some weird google translate? I have no idea what it means, lol

Several reviews here violate the terms and need flagged:

https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=MarcelRayDuriez

>205 2wonderY: That's the author self reviewing all their works? Anyone drop a note on proper LT use?

>206 gilroy: I didn’t. Don’t want to get into a dialog with him.

And he’s not self reviewing; he’s quoting other reviews.

Also his author page picture with advertising text.

https://www.librarything.com/pic/9115175

BTW, if that is an example of his "expertise in authoring", no wonder nobody else has entered his books.

He can't reply to me.I've blocked him.

>207 2wonderY: All those that aren't copied reviews are self reviews. He's only entered his own works.

Self reviews are not a violation of the TOS.

As far as the image, I generally direct the uploader to the Contributing Photos to LibraryThing wiki page. If they don't remove the improper material in a couple of days, I'll re-upload it to the author page and then flag the image with the improper material.

>210 lilithcat: Not saying they are violations. Just that they are very tacky. Which some people do include in their notification to the author about how to use LT.

>210 lilithcat: I tried 3 times to edit my comment, including a link, but only got error messages.

This author profile: https://www.librarything.com/author/syedqurancenter
Had various non-correct CK in it, added by user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/syedqurancenter

I've blanked all the CK out, which included an external link in the short bio, and Relationships: single (!). Uncertain if this is from a genuine misunderstanding of the difference between CK and user profile page, or a spam/advertising attempt. The user's page is already showing as "Unconfirmed member" so I believe it must have had some spam flags for that to happen, I've not done any flagging from this.

>213 Nevov:

The user's page is already showing as "Unconfirmed member" so I believe it must have had some spam flags for that to happen,

No. See https://www.librarything.com/topic/311957

>214 lilithcat: Thanks for that link, bookmarked for future reference.

Reviews need flagged:
https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=dexhireperth

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

>216 2wonderY: Gone.

Author spamming groups. Most threads already gone. This is for tracking purposes.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/342022

https://www.librarything.com/profile/traciwatersbook
(I have left a profile message)

>218 gilroy:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/342023 still needs a flag.

Gone now.

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/342025

Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/MarcelRayDuriez

ETA: I just noticed that this is the same account as >205 2wonderY: but it's unclear if anyone left a message at that point so not sure if this should be considered "strike two"

We got another one

https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23712/IN-A-CHANGING-WORLD-UKRAINE-TALK
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Alexander2022 (I left a message on the profile)

>221 gilroy: I was just coming to report that one.

I didn't yet flag the group in >221 gilroy: as it's on the face of it asking for discussion: "Please join the talk and promote a solution." which could be acceptable for a group? Or does the fact of the author having a book on that precise subject disqualify them from having a benefit of the doubt? Do we wait until they show a sign of "PS I have a book on this" and flag at that point as commercial solicitation?

>223 Nevov: They have used the book title as the name of the group and the book cover as the group picture. A similar group without those two problems would be totally acceptable.

Yes I see, so a type 2 teachable, and flag as a self-promotional group.

>220 norabelle414: They seem to be tripping up on author images too, I've flagged today a duplicate of their existing primary but which had extra/different bio material as a description, and they have a second image up for a vote that's not an author pic. And they have had previous images flagged (last week? Can see them in the Removed, currently the latest two. The author pic had bio in the description and the other was for being a non-author pic).

>226 Nevov: I thought I recognized the picture from the "flagged images" page but I wasn't sure the context in which it had previously been posted. They're definitely on thin ice.

>226 Nevov: I took his burial location out of CK.

It’s gone already, I’m sure. But this was just odd - a sponge manufacturer advertising here:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/SpongeCenter

>230 2wonderY: wow! That’s bold.

>231 yolana: I’m shocked that it’s still up. Normally, one flag and ten seconds and it’s gone. There are three others I’ve flagged (not as nasty) that are still there too. The few I did just before disappeared as usual. Did I break the system?

>232 2wonderY: I noticed that too. Maybe give it a day and if its still up we can let staff know something's broken

>230 2wonderY: Gone now

Let’s get rid of this one quickly

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

https://www.librarything.com/topic/342093#7852298

Topic is gone ten minutes after she posted.

But the profile is worse - Porn alert! and still there.

I sent a message to Kristi. We really don't need this garbage on LT. Note: I object to anyone trying to get sex through LT and posting pictures against the ToS, regardless of what equipment they have.

Why are some profiles sticking? It’s maddening.

>236 MarthaJeanne: Looking at why the profile is still up - thanks for the note!

ETA: Actually I need to keep it up for another hour or so to test why spam profiles aren't coming down soon enough. Thanks for your patience, all.

>238 kristilabrie: Thank you.

Now if I could just also delete one of those pictures from my brain.

>239 MarthaJeanne: Yeah. While I'm transgender myself, that profile and that post were totally inappropriate on LT. I flagged them too.

And let's not forget, the legal age for joining most internet sites is 13 - so there may easily be minors on LT. So, huge nope.

You know what? I'm a lot older than 13, and I don't want to have these things thrust upon me. If you put it up on a site meant for that sort of thing, fine, I don't care because I'm not going to go there. But this is a site about books.

>241 Nicole_VanK: If you look at the Manga and Anime group, we have a LARGE group of under 18 but over 13 here

This Texas law against censorship on social media, what will that mean for spam hunting if it gets through the courts?

Somehow this one has been here since 2021! Please flag the reviews then we'll flag away the works.
https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=dubaigirls
profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/dubaigirls
(At least no pictures this time.)

ETA: Thanks everyone. The reviews are gone and the works have been marked as spam. I hope when the profile is taken down that these tags also disappear:
Tag > please+make+full-text+search+by+clicking+here.+HomeExploreIndian+(it goes on)
Tag > 2021-11-13 06:35:28 Indian Escort Girls Business Bay(plus more)

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/23340638/169748469
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/qualitythought123

>246 karenb: Argh, this one is still up!!

Found two spam profiles today:

https://www.librarything.com/profile/JustinAllard
https://www.librarything.com/topic/337944#7855323

https://www.librarything.com/profile/molydoly
https://www.librarything.com/topic/337988#7855168

Edit: looks like the first profile is gone already :)

Looks like both are gone.

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/342179

Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/Lorenzo_DeStefano

>252 norabelle414: Looks like people flagged them anyway

>253 gilroy: I wonder if it is general users encountering the spam who flagged the profile, unawares of any discussion here, and missing the rule bulletpoint on the flag confirmation page advising to report overzealous authors by email.

Might be worth keeping an eye on if this is increasingly common (though I don't know if much can be done, the comment wall did a lot of heavy lifting on author spammers and it might just be inevitable that more will be flagged and get profile blocks nowadays).

It's strange that author spammers are knocked out quickly, when commercial and porn spammers aren't.

Of course, there are those who report themselves.

He's gone, but https://www.librarything.com/profile/qualitythought123 from >246 karenb: is still around. Part of that may be that the other had been up a while before we caught it.

Gone now.

>254 Nevov: Usually it comes from people not reading the post, just seeing a profile to flag and placing a flag on it.
Happens all the time in the Is This Spam thread too.

"don't flag author accounts" is more of a spamfighters rule than a site-wide rule. I think most of the general LT users don't know that rule.

Well, if the spamming authors don't bother to learn the rules, they can't really complain about others who also don't follow them.

>257 MarthaJeanne: Gone now.

>259 norabelle414:

"don't flag author accounts" is more of a spamfighters rule than a site-wide rule.

No, Tim has asked that those accounts not be flagged. See: https://www.librarything.com/topic/170097#4550744

In my book, that makes it a site-wide rule.

He's been resurrected. All good.

>261 lilithcat: It applies site-wide, yes, but it's not general knowledge. It's not on the site policy page and I don't think there's any reason to expect members who are not in the spam fighters group to know about it.

>263 norabelle414:
>I don't think there's any reason to expect members who are not in the spam fighters group to know about it.

It is there written as one of the five Important Rules, upon the confirmation page we see on every author flag we place. But flaggers no doubt become inured to that page with repetition, just habitually clicking through it as "yes I want to flag", without reminders such as in here.

So the style of report as in >252 norabelle414: is definitely useful, advising feedback left, do not flag. And even if it does happen, having the author in contact with staff (to ask for their profile unblocked) offers them the chance to fully appreciate it's site policy rather than mere grumpy users singling them out or anything.

>262 gilroy:
>He's been resurrected. All good.

Have they been naughty again I wonder? I'm seeing temporarily blocked.

Edit: more accuracy

selling drinks

https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23718/Is-It-Summer-That-You-Aren%E2%80%99t-...
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ylivetv

And gone.

Review
http://www.librarything.com/work/28334704/reviews/

Work
http://www.librarything.com/work/28334704

Profile
https://www.librarything.com/profile/JohnMaths

Author spam

https://www.librarything.com/topic/342321

I’ve left a note
https://www.librarything.com/profile/SteveGhent

>267 2wonderY: They also posted here and I just pasted my usual note into the topic: https://www.librarything.com/topic/342323

https://www.librarything.com/profile/TaciloTS
https://www.librarything.com/topic/342337

ETA: gone already!

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/342306#7861822

Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/DavidCGere

>270 norabelle414:

Post is gone now.

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/342349
https://www.librarything.com/topic/342348

Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/SatyaSundarB

>272 norabelle414: Also this review https://www.librarything.com/work/28342357/reviews/218638630

>272 norabelle414: >273 MarthaJeanne: Something made people say that was more than just an author, cause they are gone now.
The book felt very spammy to me as well.

>274 gilroy: It is a book that is for sale on Amazon, and was added to LT using Amazon data. I'm sure it's a terrible book but the book entry in LT itself is not spam.

Although one can have one's doubts about a 48 page book that claims that in 10 days the book will teach you everything you need to know to get rich as an IT consultant. Even if it is being sold by Amazon.

Plenty of books claim to do things that they can't (self-help/diet/business/astrology) but they are, unfortunately, still books

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Sethweitkampbook has left author spam in several groups

https://www.librarything.com/topic/342368#n7862741 gone
https://www.librarything.com/topic/342365#n7862738 gone
https://www.librarything.com/topic/342366#n7862739 gone

A spam profile I just knocked down is marketing ceramic ottomans. Hmmm. Hope nothing broke.

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/28153337/reviews/216341793
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/hokislot258gacor gone

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/28153348/reviews/216342017
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/slot258gacorhoki gone

(Flag the works afte rthe review is gone.)

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/28153269/216340560 gone
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/slotonlinegacor61 gone

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Shadia_Khan flagged but not gone

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/28205278/reviews/216977817
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/homesolutionz

(we can flag the work after the review is gone)

new group to give away his book:
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23733/The-Sun-Moon-Sand-and-Star-series-GIV...

I left message on profile
https://www.librarything.com/profile/JeremyForsyth#

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/tatacarnaticaflats
Book and review: https://www.librarything.com/work/28375969/219044783

Curious to know why this account is provisional, yet cannot be flagged when it’s an obvious call:

https://www.librarything.com/pic/9170778

>286 2wonderY:

I noticed earlier today that the option to flag an unconfirmed member is gone. It should come back!

Their one work has already been suppressed as spam.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/theprofit3

ETA: another one!
https://www.librarything.com/profile/theprofit0

....and gone

topic: https://www.librarything.com/topic/342542#n7869341
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Transasiasg

ETA: Gone while I was posting, apparently.

>289 karenb: Gone.

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/342616

Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/Michelleadamsbook

>292 norabelle414:

And:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/342617

>292 norabelle414:, >293 lilithcat: Both gone.

Author spam:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/342636

Message left:

https://www.librarything.com/profile/mdw1947

user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/buyerberry
work: https://www.librarything.com/work/26507043/200113048

er, gone before I actually posted. Thanks for checking the list of works already marked as spam!

Spam reviews on these accounts:
https://www.librarything.com/reviews/Andria35a
https://www.librarything.com/reviews/tommym007
https://www.librarything.com/reviews/dishanp23

She knows enough to add a book or two, but this is just a free way to get the business link more places.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/nancycaroll1

>298 2wonderY: Gone.

Sharing a classic profile description for your pleasure:

Why do your force yourself to bring a native idea to your mind? Well, you should take the proper association of our experts for rendering the impactful solution. In this way, you become active to propagate interactive information as you ever deserved. Getting the Assignment Help is beneficial for you in case you cannot determine the right fact for attaining the most validated answer in the defined time. Nobody should have to stress about running the basic idea and implementing it in real-time concern. We are one of the best academic writing agencies to offer you the best thought and content creation development. No matter what type of problem you facing is, do not forget to stay connected with our experts. To know more information, you can surf our web address.

Location
Dublin, Ireland

Ha! Another good one!

>300 2wonderY: What sort of grade would you get these days if that person wrote your assignment for you? My teachers back in the olden times would have failed me.

>302 MarthaJeanne: Sounds like failed google translate

>300 2wonderY: Reminds me of a Danish translation of a cover blurp for a Wodehouse novel. Original: "This bust busting gut buster has Uncle Fred and Wodehouse himself at the very height of their work" Danish "translation": Denne buste, der udbryder tarmbøsningen, har onkel Fred og Wodehouse selv i højden af ​​deres arbejde.

I had no idea what the Danish sentence was supposed to mean :-) So I bought the book. :-)

Author spam, via his spouse:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/342833

I've left a message: https://www.librarything.com/profile/sire22

>305 lilithcat: Apparently, they were offended they couldn't advertise...

Well, what's the point of joining a book site if you can't advertise your book?

Buy crystal meth online

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

Review and work
http://www.librarything.com/work/27606016

Member
https://www.librarything.com/profile/shawndavidson

work: https://www.librarything.com/work/27733756
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/cashiondent

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/28371386/reviews/218981297
(flag the work after the review is gone)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/bandartaruhan

Author spam:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/342926
https://www.librarything.com/topic/342927
https://www.librarything.com/topic/342924
Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/geraldandersonbook

>311 norabelle414: The first two are gone, but the third still needs flags.

Also https://www.librarything.com/topic/342925

The one above is gone. This one could still use a flag, but can't disappear because someone responded to it.

Author spam
https://www.librarything.com/topic/339005#7885861

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

Will someone else write to her please? I’m not in a position to do just now.

>313 2wonderY: done

Author spam:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/342977
https://www.librarything.com/topic/342978

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

I've left on message for him.

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/343010

Do not flag (I left a message): https://www.librarything.com/profile/MichaelThal

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/343010

Message left: https://www.librarything.com/profile/MichaelThal

review: https://www.librarything.com/work/26424497/reviews/199269695
(we can flag the work after the review is gone)
user: https://www.librarything.com/profile/lambangphoithat

This thread is getting way too long. I'm going to continue it.