Wikipedia talk:Sockpuppet investigations

There's an AfD open for the article on Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo, which is tied to the SPI case for Nightowlanime. A brand new account has popped up arguing for notability for Lamentillo. It's certainly a single purpose account, but I don't know if that would be enough to argue for sock/meat. The prior cases were from 2023, so I suppose this will have to be checked purely by habits. I will say that this does seem to follow some of the same naming style as the other accounts, where it's a word/name followed by a four digit set of numbers.

Should this go to SPI? I feel like the account is certainly related. ReaderofthePack(formerly Tokyogirl79) (｡◕‿◕｡) 11:37, 2 April 2026 (UTC)

It's been reported by now: Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Nightowlanime. -- asilvering (talk) 20:28, 2 April 2026 (UTC)

Hey! I filed this SPI case awhile ago and got to the point where behavioral evidence needs evaluation following checkuser data. Since the user is actively editing, I would like to get this resolved as soon as possible. Link20XX (talk) 19:02, 2 April 2026 (UTC)

Sorry, there's a backlog and all I can say is that it will take as long as it takes. The technical data has suggested "not sock", so for now please proceed as though they aren't one. -- asilvering (talk) 20:21, 2 April 2026 (UTC)

Should I make request if this is a newly created account with an unexpectedly good knowledge of wiki markup and specific rules, albeit with questions about the correctness of their citation, rather than a direct suspicion of a connection to another definite account? Solaire the knight (talk) 16:49, 21 April 2026 (UTC)

There are people who edit Wikipedia regularly over a period of years before registering, so that would be hasty. Largoplazo (talk) 17:20, 21 April 2026 (UTC)

And there's no way to distinguish such cases from actual circumvention of blocking or restrictions on controversial topics? Solaire the knight (talk) 17:31, 21 April 2026 (UTC)

None other than experience, and judgement, no. -- asilvering (talk) 03:10, 22 April 2026 (UTC)

What Asilvering said. Some of our finest and most respected editors gained experience and knowledge before registering their accounts. We would collectively be weaker as an editing community if we were to reflexively block accounts that are "too knowledgeable". Heck, I knew where all the noticeboards were and what the core policies were before I registered my account - granted, 20 years ago, but still. Risker (talk) 03:37, 22 April 2026 (UTC)

I see. I just found it odd that a user who created an account after two anonymous edits (that I saw) suddenly showed a very good understanding of a number of technical aspects of the project. Solaire the knight (talk) 05:35, 22 April 2026 (UTC)

Do you keep track or any stats and records to do with sockpuppetry? I would be curious to see things like the most prolific sockpuppet.

It's for a thing. ~2026-24620-21 (talk) 21:59, 21 April 2026 (UTC)

We do not. -- asilvering (talk) 03:09, 22 April 2026 (UTC)

Is this the place to report sockpuppetry? If not where do I report it? Wikbehere (talk) 13:23, 23 April 2026 (UTC)

@Wikbehere, go to WP:SPI, type the name of the "master" into the box, and follow the instructions on the next page. -- asilvering (talk) 15:32, 23 April 2026 (UTC)

The box of the archives Wikbehere (talk) 15:47, 23 April 2026 (UTC)

Would if the person is a long term abuser? Wikbehere (talk) 17:43, 23 April 2026 (UTC)

The title of this section just became super ironic.-- Ponyo^{bons mots} 19:29, 23 April 2026 (UTC)

Thanks @Ponyo. I figured I'd circle back to this when I had a minute, but seems you beat me to it. -- asilvering (talk) 21:37, 23 April 2026 (UTC)