Spam reporting thread #55

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
-- 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: http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Spam#Procedures_for_flagging_and_repo....
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.)

http://www.librarything.com/topic/242484
http://www.librarything.com/profile/robertben784

"El Classico Livestream" : https://www.librarything.com/profile/moramanush1

http://www.librarything.com/groups/ssploikamax
http://www.librarything.com/profile/ssploikamax

AND ...

http://www.librarything.com/groups/alphamanpro

Enthusiastic author. Please don't flag the profile. A comment on the profile has been made.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/Bulelwa
http://www.librarything.com/topic/242532#

live stream links

http://www.librarything.com/topic/242579#
http://www.librarything.com/profile/shahedshikder

a bunch of Chinese

http://www.librarything.com/topic/242603#
http://www.librarything.com/profile/davehyl05

and

http://www.librarything.com/topic/242610#
http://www.librarything.com/profile/huanyige05

that was fast

Enthusiastic author. I've left a message on his profile.

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Bruno_Cabral
https://www.librarything.com/topic/189369
https://www.librarything.com/topic/242545#5821291

>8 amanda4242:

It's very weird how he posted in two threads that are utterly and completely unrelated to his work.

>8 amanda4242: To make it easier, here's the link to the post made in your first mention:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/189369#5822422

Bet anything it's a drive by author, though.

>9 lilithcat: I've gave up trying to find logic in spam a long time ago.

>10 Lyndatrue: Thank you! I never can remember how to link to a specific message.

Self promotion by a new author:

https://www.librarything.com/venue/73055/Facebook-Fan-Page

https://www.librarything.com/venue/97932/https-%25252F%25252Fwww-facebook-com%25...

author profile: https://www.librarything.com/profile/taohailey
friends profiles who set up the venue pages:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/MelSurani
https://www.librarything.com/profile/joanwolf

I've deleted the venues and flagged the images for voting.

>12 2wonderY: I think all three profiles need to have the note about self promotion put there.
Then at least they're warned.

>13 gilroy: The author got them when I flagged the images. I wasn't quite sure how to word it to the other two. Do you want to give it a go?

>14 2wonderY: I think I'll just drop the usual. It seems boiler plate enough since they set up for the other author anyway.

get your Chinese diplomas

http://www.librarything.com/topic/242704
http://www.librarything.com/topic/242703
http://www.librarything.com/topic/242702
http://www.librarything.com/topic/242701
http://www.librarything.com/topic/242700
http://www.librarything.com/topic/242799
http://www.librarything.com/topic/242798
http://www.librarything.com/topic/242697#
http://www.librarything.com/profile/asdsdm00o5

https://www.librarything.com/profile/EtservicesVa
https://www.librarything.com/profile/victoryrehab (see pictures for the spam content)
https://www.librarything.com/profile/SuncoastWebSolutions

>18 Collectorator: I'm about to leave a comment on the profile.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/ian-anthony

The group certainly needs to be flagged (I'm also flagging the two topics within the group, to help hasten its demise).

http://www.librarything.com/groups/spiritualityformille

It's one of those idiotic join-to-post groups.

What am I missing? I don't see the spaminess.

>20 2wonderY: The group was formed to sell the book. I note that the link to the book is now gone. I also see that the profile was changed to remove the advertisements for the book. I'm trying to decide how to proceed. Yeah, ian-anthony seems to recognize that it was wrong, but I have no trust that it'll continue in virtuousness. The speed in which those things were removed shows that someone was paying attention. I think I'm leaving the information on this, just in case the user decides to push the envelope again, down the road.

You do know that once you have flagged you can leave the group again, don't you?

>22 MarthaJeanne: Yes, of course. It isn't necessary to join to flag it, in any case. I joined to flag the two posts in the group (I'm nothing if not methodical), and then rejoined to remove those flags (because sometimes I have pity). I see there are now four flags.

Chinese university spammer: https://www.librarything.com/profile/asdsdm00o9

http://www.librarything.com/topic/242936#
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Smith_Joyces

Essay writting services
Although, if the ad has that poor grammar I wonder how a teacher would react to the essays.

Bookstore spam
http://www.librarything.com/topic/243126#

But not http://www.librarything.com/profile/BalconesBooks

https://www.librarything.com/profile/InjuryCase
spam content is with the picture

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

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

Enthusiastic author:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/243225#

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

Please don't flag the profile. I left the standard message.

author spam

https://www.librarything.com/topic/243224#

I left a message on the profile:
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Leslie_North

more spam!
http://www.librarything.com/profile/cxhbdfgbd

one example from the group 75 Books Read
http://www.librarything.com/topic/243446#

http://www.librarything.com/groups/shaunwickendenfashio
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Shaun_Wickenden

http://www.librarything.com/work/18820894

>34 MarthaJeanne: I just deleted the "description" of the book, which was nothing but links.

ETA: When it's a "private member" that's added it, I'd expect that staff can still see the name and profile. I wonder if it'd help to poke Lorannen (although it seems cruel to do so, considering she's in the middle of dealing with ordering for SantaThing).

Missed that. Thank you.

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

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

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

live stream link

https://www.librarything.com/topic/243822#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Ladon1957

https://www.librarything.com/topic/244032

Overzealous author.
Profile already noted, please don't flag.

adult videos, wallpapers, etc.
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Sexmasti

Chinese

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

I incorrectly marked this entry as "SPAM" Slaughter Karin. Since I was unable to reverse this mismark, I voted "No". Would someone be able to unmark this entry? Thank you

>43 Conkie: I'm not sure whether staff can reverse that marking, but I went ahead and voted "No" on it for you. If it was you that added an author photograph as the book cover, I can tell you that the cover will be flagged as "Not a cover" sooner or later. Were you somehow just trying to add that photograph to the author page?

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

Author promotional spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/244152

For information only - do not flag: https://www.librarything.com/profile/izabooks I have left a private comment for him.

and on Christmas Day!
http://www.librarything.com/profile/pauaihjt7986le
http://www.librarything.com/topic/244207

I was browsing the spam folder, and noticed that a work had been added (by someone who had not yet gone to the tombstone phase). I took care of that, but the work itself is still there. I flagged the cover as spam, but I have no experience in doing that with a work.

http://www.librarything.com/work/18851613/137174709

I've never seen a work quite like this. It almost looks legitimate, somehow.

http://www.librarything.com/work/18851613/details/137174709

I'm just so confused (pity I don't read Chinese).

ETA: I should add that "1" is a valid author, although I'm not sure it's valid in all those cases (but appears to be correct in a couple of them).

http://www.librarything.com/author/2212294583

>48 Lyndatrue: Works can be flagged from the editions page, which I have done, so now it is up for a vote.

>48 Lyndatrue: Thanks for the satisfying early morning project. Cleaned up "1."

>50 2wonderY: Just now drinking that first cup of coffee, and it was wonderful to see that the problem I'd left when I went to sleep is now fixed, and for a bonus, author "1" is (mostly) repaired. XXOO

Chinese diplomas

https://www.librarything.com/topic/244330#
https://www.librarything.com/topic/244331#

https://www.librarything.com/profile/UW0002

ETA: RIP

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

the About Me translates to: Customer stream is an agency that specializes in search engine optimization, web design and paid traffic. The agency is located in the heart of Regensburg. Http://kundenstrom.com/

https://www.librarything.com/profile/hanata4291

Profile picture caption: buy the best insulation to Choose

author spam
http://www.librarything.com/topic/244492

I left a note on the profile
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ChristyLB1987

Chinese

https://www.librarything.com/topic/244506#
https://www.librarything.com/topic/244507#
https://www.librarything.com/topic/244508#
https://www.librarything.com/topic/244509#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/rtrtrytry

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

more spam( why?)
http://www.librarything.com/profile/xcfhbfxd and many messages on the 75 Books Read 2016
http://www.librarything.com/topic/244626#

https://www.librarything.com/topic/244477#5853981
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ChandiGarhFlorist

New author started out on the wrong foot and 4 posts automatically went to the Spam page.

He is in danger of being automatically suspended. I've left a message on his profile
http://www.librarything.com/profile/genlsk

His review of his book
http://www.librarything.com/work/18869461/137312082
also violates TOS and needs flagged.

still- messages in Chinese- more this evening
http://www.librarything.com/profile/syhrtduh
one example in 75 Books Read
http://www.librarything.com/topic/244924#

matrimonial platforms
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Sonimatrimonial
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Sonisite

sensitive skin products
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ReddyPrashanth

http://www.librarything.com/groups/haveueverseenthis
http://www.librarything.com/profile/needla002

used cars

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

chiropractor

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

computer network support

https://www.librarything.com/profile/anthonynewman103

more used cars

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

branding services

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

SEO

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

Hmmph, you'd think the spammers would get New Year's Day off.

Everything from >64 Taphophile13: through >68 Taphophile13: still needs more flagging, too. :-{

Author just joined and is pushing his book in several threads.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/36875#5864008
https://www.librarything.com/topic/142074#5864039

I have left message on profile so don't flag https://www.librarything.com/profile/seanmaddox

Apparently some spammers thought the holidays would be a good time to sneak in. These are mostly from December:

home sales
https://www.librarything.com/profile/miamihomesales

legal translation services
https://www.librarything.com/profile/lflegaltranslation

tile & marble
https://www.librarything.com/profile/usatileaventura

waterfront homes
https://www.librarything.com/profile/venetianislands

ibogaine detoxification program
https://www.librarything.com/profile/clearskyibogaine

copters
https://www.librarything.com/profile/whistlecopter

cars
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Carsdesk

insurance disputes
https://www.librarything.com/profile/GIRMedicalClaims

more lumps of coal:

drug testing
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ommanagement

oceanfront & luxury condos
https://www.librarything.com/profile/edcookrealestate

penny stocks
https://www.librarything.com/profile/allpennystocks

division of DirectWeb Advertising
https://www.librarything.com/profile/epublish4me

country club
https://www.librarything.com/profile/LindseyMorgan

HVAC services
https://www.librarything.com/profile/AlphaAirLLC

I've just seen a thing over in the spam folder that's going to take a LOT to clean up. It's still in the flagged but not suspended stage, and here's (at least some) of the problems.

There's five books in the catalog (they may or may not be real books, but they're all by the same "author)), and that often keeps the suspension from happening. There's three posts, and far as I can tell, they're visible to the groups they're in. Three posts, three different groups. Halp!

Please note that it's best to get rid of those posts via flagging first, before flagging the profile (somehow, if the profile is flagged, they don't always seem to clean out, but stay behind with the "this user has been removed as spam" message replacing the post).

Profile:
http://www.librarything.com/profile/drshahriarbd

http://www.librarything.com/topic/245636#
http://www.librarything.com/topic/245638#

http://www.librarything.com/topic/245637 (that's a join to post group)

http://www.librarything.com/groups/kindlereaders

>74 Lyndatrue: The author is NOT a real author, or at least no one but this very inventive spammer has the books.

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

I don't even know where to start. I'm probably going to drag in staff here.

ETA: Guess I'm slow on the uptake. It's the AUTHOR doing all of this. :-(

ETA2: Well, now I guess I'll just have to hope that things get cleaned up by magic, since the account's now suspended. The author is still there, and the works, such as they are.

>74 Lyndatrue: Thanks for bringing me in! I've got the account in question suspended for spam activity now, and the Talk posts should disappear in the next hour or so. I'm not convinced the books themselves are spam—as >74 Lyndatrue: mentions, they could be real, but the account certainly wasn't acting in good faith.

I'll keep an eye on the Talk posts. If spamming the account doesn't make them go away, then that's a flaw in our system, and I want to get Tim to fix that, which is why I went ahead and took the account down.

ETA: I've found some evidence that at least one of the books exists (at least here, on Amazon, which I know isn't absolute proof, but better than no results?

ETA (again): Talk topics are gone!

>76 lorannen: Thank you, and welcome back from your well-deserved vacation!

I didn't flag any of the books, even though it seemed odd not to, since the *only* owner of said books is Mr Suspended. I am quite sure all of them exist (for certain values of exist), whether or not they have the slightest value as books. I have a vague sort of pity for him, since I'm sure he's just like the rest of those types that think they'll just try a little advertising to try and get their books out there. It's rather sad, but in this era of self-publishing, too many "authors" don't really grasp the marketplace.

Ah, well. So it goes.

Thanks again. :-}

Cricket betting
https://www.librarything.com/profile/JSCricket

premium wooden sunglasses
https://www.librarything.com/profile/tetewood

Chinese

https://www.librarything.com/topic/245688
https://www.librarything.com/topic/245689
https://www.librarything.com/topic/245690
https://www.librarything.com/topic/245691
https://www.librarything.com/topic/245692
https://www.librarything.com/topic/245693
https://www.librarything.com/profile/sdkdave01

More Chinese university spam: http://www.librarything.com/profile/abbeqjmv120

and more spam!
http://www.librarything.com/profile/zsdgvzdsgb
a lot of messages in the 75 Books Read group-one example
http://www.librarything.com/topic/245993#

lots of Chinese diplomas

https://www.librarything.com/profile/ertsaffg01

http://www.librarything.com/groups/dissertationwritings
http://www.librarything.com/profile/jeni045

These sites for cheating students get me even madder than the garbagy hormone ones.

No, wait. They are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, because "every student is pressured with the burden of competing with the other. Studies, extra-curricular activities along with the added pressure of becoming an established individual are too much to deal with." Of course you can't expect those poor (but rich) students to write their own papers.

Gone now.

https://www.librarything.com/groups/thesiswritingservice
https://www.librarything.com/profile/jeni605

A new-ish member trying to drum up art business:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/246686#

I might be too rude, can someone else leave a profile comment?

http://www.librarything.com/profile/Brinlie.Jill.Searle

>86 2wonderY: I left a message on the profile. I would keep a watch on this one because this isn't even an author but someone just trying to drum up business. If another spam post appears I would also flag the profile.

>86 2wonderY: I read through some of her "reviews" (books I wouldn't read anyway, or else already had). The review of Black Beauty is a nutshell version of her "style" (yeah, I'm not very kind, but I don't care). Her reviews are nearly all self-referential (and also tend to give away plot endings, such as they are).

>88 Lyndatrue:

?? I can't find a review of Black Beauty by her.

>89 lilithcat: Mea Culpa. It was actually Flowers for Algernon.

http://www.librarything.com/work/2516333/reviews/136289782

I'm not sure that she's all that old, either.

Enthusiastic author just joined today. Reviewed his own book and links to three Amazon sites so you can get his book too.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/246699#

Don''t flag the profile; I left a message for him.
https://www.librarything.com/profile/PeterFulton

>90 Lyndatrue:

Well, she's old enough to be getting married: http://www.librarything.com/work/699894/reviews/136289250

>91 Taphophile13:

Here, too: http://www.librarything.com/topic/246702# (though I note that this was posted well before your message to him).

>93 lilithcat: Thanks. Didn't see that one. I suspect there may be others.

I think we need one more flag on both posts.

>94 Taphophile13: I just flagged both, and they still need one more each.

I flagged them both (>93 lilithcat: and >91 Taphophile13:). They are now gone.

Ugh. I hate the accidental double post thing.

Is it just me, or is it more noticeable now that most spam is corralled? It seems as though more people are showing up to flog their latest masterpiece, of late.

Perhaps I'm just cynical. Oh, wait. I was always cynical.

Author spam
http://www.librarything.com/topic/1835#5891421
https://www.librarything.com/topic/10591#5891493

(Don't flag https://www.librarything.com/profile/jsimonharris)

>98 MarthaJeanne: You missed one:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/120143#5891407 (Folio Society)

Hope that's all of them.

I ignore several groups, so yes, I miss some spam.

But I check out new groups like:

http://www.librarything.com/groups/paperwritingservice
http://www.librarything.com/profile/jeni606

and

http://www.librarything.com/groups/dissertationwriting2
http://www.librarything.com/profile/jeni0455

>98 MarthaJeanne: He'd be borderline for me, because his posts in those two threads do TRY to engage in the conversation.

He opened threads that were several years old to advertise his translation. One of those was 2007. No, he wasn't trying to engage in a conversation. He was trying to hide his spam. I might consider something like this borderline if it was a recent thread. Not reopening a dormant thread.

>102 gilroy: Even the link I posted (which I just happened to notice by accident, long story) was a post stuck onto a thread from 2013. MarthaJeanne is correct; he wasn't trying to engage in any conversation, just merely hiding his links. The two links originally posted were both old threads as well (but the 2007 one was the one that really got me).

I'd bet there are others out there. It's weird, because all of the places he posted on were at least vaguely related to his subject matter, even if the threads themselves were old. I'm vaguely tempted to go tell him that there already exists an excellent and worthy translation of The Divine Comedy, where the rhyming scheme is honored for each volume, translated by John Ciardi (and Terza Rima in English is *hard*, unlike Italian).

Feh. I nearly went down the rabbit hole.

Here's two others, tacked on to older threads, but I wouldn't flag them. I just put them here for the sake of completion (those posts are both in the writer-readers group, and seem appropriate for that group).

https://www.librarything.com/topic/11452#5885234
https://www.librarything.com/topic/25437#5885237

I suspect Mr Harris was a drive-by author, but at least he stopped the moment MarthaJeanne posted the comment on his profile.

Actually, with the inclusion of the writer-reader group, where his advertising is much more blatant, yeah, I withdraw my objections. His profile might have gotten a flag from me if he'd continued...

http://www.librarything.com/groups/acercomputertollfree
http://www.librarything.com/profile/coopermax

>104 Lyndatrue: >105 gilroy: Still at it. Also reposted which is specifically against the Terms.

Here they are. I'm flagging the profile as well.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/41581#5894969
https://www.librarything.com/topic/10591#5895044
https://www.librarything.com/topic/206119#5895286
https://www.librarything.com/topic/25254#5895263
https://www.librarything.com/topic/231433#5895244 (join to post/flag)
https://www.librarything.com/topic/231432#5895250

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

(ETA: The account is now suspended.)

Author self-promotion:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/247128

I've left a comment for the member. Please don't flag the profile, etc., you know the drill :)

>109 konallis: For the sake of the future, please remember to provide the profile when you post this. Most authors catch on and either wander away to their next target, or become productive members of the LT community. For those rare cases (of which we just had one, so it's fresh in my mind) where someone is determined to continue to break the rules, a profile left here gives the next person who sees the rule-breaking an understanding that they've already been warned.

I'm a fan of giving the first time folks as much help in wanting to stick around (and follow the rules) as possible. It's just better for us all to know when something actually *is* the first time.

>109 konallis: Profile for the sake of tracking only.
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Rachel18

courtesy of Google translate

https://www.librarything.com/profile/AlexeyPirs
"http://x5web.ru/ - Correct setting of contextual advertising in Yandex Direct, Google Adwords. Manufacturing sites. Please call 8 (964) 409-79-12 (whatsapp, viber, telegram)"

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Kondrashev
"I find on the website http://poisk-gsm-ultoa.3dn.ru find the location of the subscriber on the number of his mobile phone for free."

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Arbitr03
Lawyers arbitration practice for SP and LLC

https://www.librarything.com/profile/shopbag
selling purses

https://www.librarything.com/profile/group2groupinco
foundry equipment

https://www.librarything.com/profile/hdent787
dentistry

https://www.librarything.com/profile/igrovyeavtomaty
online casino

live stream

https://www.librarything.com/topic/247317#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Othat1939

Author/publisher spam:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/247363

Profile (do not flag): https://www.librarything.com/profile/Timbim. I've left a comment.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/247448

I did not flag https://www.librarything.com/profile/nabendu, as it is not clear that they wanted to spam, but probably just don't understand LT.

>118 Collectorator: The second thread, which has already disappeared, was definitely self-promotion, but I'm not sure that the group itself is.

I clicked on a wheel in Spam by accident. Please flag the following:

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

(seems already taken care of)

Here's hoping the topics vanish as well.

Enthusiastic person? Dunno. Please don't flag the profile.

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

http://www.librarything.com/topic/247605#

I'm thinking that it's more than enthusiasm, but that's just me. Cynical.

I think this person might count as a spammer. All their posts link to the same website:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/Paran.Malhotra

There was a mild version in one of my groups:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/239342#5911368

But over in the science fiction group, he/she posted to tons of threads and is getting flagged into oblivion.

>123 southernbooklady: Probably author spam, so I haven't flagged the profile.

Here's a point of interest, which I am adding here to follow up on the profile (now suspended) from >122 Lyndatrue:. I'd also seen that there was what I'd call a parent account, and that some of the "friends" of this parent account bear watching.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/readergirl92

One of the very first things I noticed was the following:

******
LibraryThing member tjnpdx has accepted your friends invitation.

tjnpdx's profile:
http://www.librarything.com/profile/tjnpdx
******

She may have fired off random invitations for friends, and it's an interesting mixed bag. Her link to Goodreads is educational. The account was created just before the one here, on LT. Yep, that's what I said. It has 196 books in it, and all added from Jan 28 2017 and Jan 29 2017. The ratings on books on both places is what really stopped me, though.

GB Shaw's "Mrs. Warren's Profession" (no touchstones) gets four stars here, and ONE on GR. All the ratings seem random, in both places.

I don't believe in that many anomalies. I'd guess that most of the people who accepted friend invitations are kind hearted people (LT has an abundance of kindness; I'm sure GR does too).

I don't expect anyone to take any action here. I'm posting all this as much not to lose it as anything. I could be entirely wrong about this. I've been wrong before.

For ease of comparison:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/64379184-tina-rich?shelf=read

Clearly I need more coffee (double post).

http://www.librarything.com/topic/247738#
http://www.librarything.com/profile/jackthor870

http://www.librarything.de/profile/watchesde
and all "books" (adverts for (fake?) watches) added by him.
Reported via flag and blocked.

>129 GirlFromIpanema: to make it easier for .com members:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/watchesde (suspended)

http://www.librarything.com/spam_works.php

I've made a request for help, and am only leaving this in case someone sees it here first. I just have no trust in Google Translate conveying the information on where he might find the forum he seems to be seeking.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/247790#

Someone who speaks Portuguese want to provide some help?

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

I just got a phishing spam profile comment from http://www.librarything.com/profile/Hester121

http://www.librarything.com/profile/Melody_Greene
http://www.librarything.com/topic/226304#5919228
"Do you have a paypal account ? in the event if you do you can make an additional 300 a week in your revenue working from home for 3 hours every day... go to \link\"

... and gone.

Author advertising: https://www.librarything.com/topic/247871#

Profile for info only, do not flag: https://www.librarything.com/profile/PJEdgar (MarthaJeanne has already left a comment.)

Author spam https://www.librarything.com/topic/247871

(please do not flag https://www.librarything.com/profile/PJEdgar)

Gone.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/247883

livestreaming Superbowl

>136 Marissa_Doyle: also profile
http://www.librarything.com/profile/paubjmq7890le

Lice, do indeed, happen

https://www.librarything.com/profile/licehappensnnj1

https://www.librarything.com/topic/247960

Author spam. I've left a message on his profile.

>139 amanda4242: For the record, profile is https://www.librarything.com/profile/Jeremy.Strong.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/247975#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/SilencedPress

Publisher spam. I've left a message.

>139 amanda4242: &>140 rybie2: I just got a nice message from the author apologizing and thanking me for pointing them to the rules.

...and a rude response from the person from >141 amanda4242:.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/247980
https://www.librarything.com/topic/247979
https://www.librarything.com/topic/247978
https://www.librarything.com/topic/247977
https://www.librarything.com/profile/shishirgupta

more self-promotion

>144 amanda4242: I didn't see that you (or anyone) had left a comment on the profile for shishirgupta, so I just did.

I'm trying very hard to understand why I shouldn't flag the profile of SilencedPress (mentioned in >141 amanda4242: and >143 amanda4242:), though. It's not like this is a new arrival, and rudeness suggests that they already *knew* what they were doing was wrong.

>145 Lyndatrue: Apparently everyone felt the need to flag >141 amanda4242: since they're suspended now...

Not Spam, but automatically put in the Spam folder. I see no life preserver today to throw out.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/247976

oops. Never mind. I see this addressed in >144 amanda4242:.

However,

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

That topic is in one of those join to post groups. It still needs two more flags.

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

https://www.librarything.com/topic/247976

It was posted before I'd left the note on his profile. I hope it gets the flags before it gets a comment (so that it'll just go away).

I have vague pity for some of these folks (not enough to keep me from flagging, though). Seriously, self-publishing is one of the worst things to ever come out. For every remarkable author that shows up on the scene, we get a thousand that should have spent their time in some more productive manner. Ah, well. So it goes.

tl;dr

Please join the group, flag the topic, and leave the group. XXOO

>147 2wonderY: I don't think I've ever seen this*(1) before. It's interesting. I have no intention of doing a "rescue" in this case, though. Some of the places where the advert was posted are egregious, and the last one is especially so. I was trying to see what *other* member had the books by

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

It took me a bit to realize that there were just two copies in the library. There's actually multiple copies, with slightly varying titles. This guy's been around since 2011. I wonder if it's just been under the radar until now...

*(1) Where someone's enough of an idiot on the self-promotion that they end up in the spam folder. All of the "books" in that library were entered at once. Wonder what the account was used for before...

Actually, the "works" probably need spam flagging as well. I just have not the slightest knowledge in how to do it (and it's early, and I'm still drinking coffee).

https://www.librarything.com/author/guptashishir

Most of those are the SAME book, in addition.

There may be a real author here, as well. Please don't flag *this* book.

https://www.librarything.com/work/15966140/book/118097434

>151 Lyndatrue: I've done a bit of combining. There is no sign that these aren't actual books, therefore they should not be flagged as spam.

WorldCat has lots of books by Shishir Gupta. Not surprising, as Gupta is a very common family name in India (It means protector or governor.) Shishir is one of the names of both Vishnu and Shiva. Compare with 'John Lord' - which has 8 distinct authors on the disambiguation page.

>151 Lyndatrue:, >152 MarthaJeanne:

They are actual books, available on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Shishir-Gupta/e/B01M1DYCXK/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

/snark/ Although it could not possibly be the same person, because his Amazon page says that he "never indulges in any media hype or promotion to extend or beam light his works". /snark/

>153 lilithcat: "Kindly check all you can on this author NOW."

Well, I think we have checked as many messages as possible for now.

>152 MarthaJeanne: The combining is excellent, and thank you. Several of those "books" exist only in the directory of shishirgupta, and I have been unable to find evidence of their existence. There are indeed books by the actual author, though. I wonder if that account was originally made by the author, and then compromised by someone else? Ah, well, no matter.

This book is also legitimate:

https://www.librarything.com/work/16526502

The others were all introduced by shishirgupta, and if it was up to me, they'd all just be deleted. Yeah, yeah, I already know what others will say. I'd bet the actual author would like to be disassociated, but he's not around to ask.

The interesting point here is that 100% of the library for our miscreant exists only in that library. I would posit that removing those items would be a service to the actual author. Just my personal feeling here, and I recognize that it's probably a minority opinion.

>153 lilithcat: I'm tempted to point him out to Amazon. Those "Kindle" books could vanish overnight. I note that 100% of the reviews on those books are from unverified customers. I dunno. It's sad to see how easy it is to pollute. :-{

>155 Lyndatrue:

I understand your sentiments, but the fact remains that this guy's books are legit. Just because they are self-"published" as Kindle books, and no one else has them, doesn't mean they aren't.

I'm splitting that author page.

>155 Lyndatrue: What I was trying to say is that with such a common name, it would be surprising if there weren't multiple authors with this name. Even if nobody else had a copy, they would still be legitimate books.

I have at least two books in my library that only exist in a single copy copy, and a handful of others that have only a handful of copies in existence. They still exist. I own them. I would be very upset if anyone were to flag them as spam. Of course, I'm not trying to sell them, which is a difference, I suppose, but just calaloging the books is not spam.

>158 MarthaJeanne: I didn't mean to imply that a single copy would (or should) be flaggable, but I consider the "books" in that catalog to be very marginal. Very. I have multiple books in my own catalog that exist alone, partly due to the fact that they're old (like me), and sometimes due to the fact that no one in their right mind would want them. :-}

I understood what you (and lilithcat) meant, and (even when I may disagree) I prefer to follow the rules, both written and community developed.

>157 lilithcat: I'm very grateful that the author page was split. The actual author deserves to have his own page. Thank you.

https://www.librarything.com/groups/q744043126uquqtheuni
https://www.librarything.com/profile/sertewer05

spammer created a spam group in which to spam

https://www.librarything.com/groups/q744043126uquqtheuni

Profile already gone.

overeager author just joined
https://www.librarything.com/topic/248474#
https://www.librarything.com/topic/248475#

don't flag the profile; I left a message
https://www.librarything.com/profile/dmytroholmes

ETA: He did send me a message apologizing for doing something against the rules.

Bafta awards livestream link
https://www.librarything.com/topic/248482#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/romanalae

https://www.librarything.com/groups/march4trump
https://www.librarything.com/profile/march4trump

Topic

http://www.librarything.com/topic/248499#

Profile
http://www.librarything.com/profile/baleanar

travel agency
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Mytravelcon

cell phone software
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Spysoftware123
https://www.librarything.com/work/18933779/137696973

songs and videos
https://www.librarything.com/profile/HaryanviSongs

home décor
https://www.librarything.com/profile/yesnocp

astrology
https://www.librarything.com/profile/astrologyconsult

coupon website
https://www.librarything.com/profile/cindyclings

investments

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

Author spam http://www.librarything.com/topic/249336

Please do not flag http://www.librarything.com/profile/Leigh_Belrose

>169 MarthaJeanne: Still needs 1 more flag

https://www.librarything.com/profile/sajtuejxg01 has both talk spam and book spam (https://www.librarything.com/spam_works.php)
All Chinese university spam.

ETA he's dead, so just the books need dealing with.

Yacht charters
https://www.librarything.com/profile/blulifesailing

jewelry
https://www.librarything.com/profile/sonalsjewellery

web development
https://www.librarything.com/profile/YusufJaved

joke site
https://www.librarything.com/profile/jokesmasti

smoking cessation by vaping
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Evolve_Vapors

logo design
https://www.librarything.com/profile/LogoDesignsStudio

"Any concrete entity can assert a Trust in India through a registered Trust Deed asleep the Indian Trusts Act which becomes a exact entity." (Hunh?)
https://www.librarything.com/profile/howtoformngo

a Lot of Chinese diploma spam

https://www.librarything.com/profile/sajtuejxg02

Insane amounts of Chinese university spam: https://www.librarything.com/profile/sajtuejxg02

Another one: https://www.librarything.com/profile/Qnapsvk

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

is now starting more Chinese uni spam

posts are gone but profiles remain

https://www.librarything.com/profile/sajtuejxg02
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Qnapsvk

>178 Taphophile13: Those are gone now.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chinese

https://www.librarything.com/topic/249617#
https://www.librarything.com/profile/nihaihaoma03

already gone

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

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

red hat linux training
https://www.librarything.com/profile/sysadminacademy

escorts
https://www.librarything.com/profile/myescortsangels

telecommunications
https://www.librarything.com/profile/VoiparLtd

SEO
https://www.librarything.com/profile/firefistmedia

vaping & e-cigs
https://www.librarything.com/profile/vapesta

beautifully crafted bespoke interiors
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ConcepToneUK

dentist
https://www.librarything.com/profile/CornerhouseDC
https://www.librarything.com/profile/croftsdentalpuk

walking tours
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Abhishek009

holiday tours
https://www.librarything.com/profile/redtoursltduk

sales software
https://www.librarything.com/profile/ProfitiseLtd

liposuction
https://www.librarything.com/profile/HSLipo

car warranty services
https://www.librarything.com/profile/carwarranty92

for all your vehicle needs
https://www.librarything.com/profile/PMCofPinner

cheap watches
https://www.librarything.com/profile/jhonshan

financial resources
https://www.librarything.com/profile/CalebSeeger

these markers have a wide range of uses for children and adults
https://www.librarything.com/profile/fivejenterprises

mortgages
https://www.librarything.com/profile/mortgagesimplicity

boiler experts
https://www.librarything.com/profile/boilerrepairglasgow

I always check book sites for boiler installation/repairs:

https://www.librarything.com/profile/EastKilbride
https://www.librarything.com/profile/biomassboilersco

skin care
https://www.librarything.com/profile/robertarchuleta
https://www.librarything.com/profile/mathewswain
https://www.librarything.com/profile/tylerjamesi
https://www.librarything.com/profile/dennisschaffer
https://www.librarything.com/profile/arthursavage

funeral homes
https://www.librarything.com/profile/sourdough

help you to find new baby names
https://www.librarything.com/profile/deliarobert001

wall coverings
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Muraspec-

thesis provider, essay service
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Customthesis
https://www.librarything.com/profile/AliMan7

I thought there were threads just for the specific profile killing sprees some people were doing...

>190 gilroy: This one? https://www.librarything.com/topic/232034

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Oscar2017Live1

The two groups are gone. And so if he.

Author spam, both posts gone already.

left a comment on the profile
https://www.librarything.com/profile/guitarcare101

security and surveillance solutions
https://www.librarything.com/profile/cpplusworld

publisher spam

http://www.librarything.com/topic/250099
http://www.librarything.com/groups/brickcavebooksgroup

But please don't flag http://www.librarything.com/profile/brickcavebooks

https://www.librarything.com/topic/250139#

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

SEO

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

>198 Collectorator:

I've left the author a note.

http://www.librarything.com/profile/drpkgupta121

http://www.librarything.com/topic/250536#

Already gone.

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

http://www.librarything.com/topic/47#5963864

http://www.librarything.com/topic/102825#5963896

But not http://www.librarything.com/profile/WalterEJTips

>202 MarthaJeanne: also this one:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/49486#5963895

>203 Taphophile13: also http://www.librarything.com/topic/101788#2285405

>202 MarthaJeanne: He was dinged for advertising his stuff once before, back in 2010...

Well, if I see one more now I'm flagging the profile, too.

More author spam
http://www.librarything.com/topic/250656

(Don't flag http://www.librarything.com/profile/SergedeMoliere)

Gone.

Author spam: https://www.librarything.com/topic/250675#5964708

Profile for information only; I've left a message: https://www.librarything.com/profile/ritaer

>202 MarthaJeanne: I got a spam comment from this user last night. There doesn't seem to be a flag function for those.

>209 defaults: You report that directly to Lorannen. You can also flag the profile.

>208 lilithcat: also http://www.librarything.com/topic/134083#5964714

Thread continued here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/250732