Wikipedia:Sock puppetry/Notes for the accuser

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NOTES FOR THE ACCUSER:

How to report a suspected sock puppet:

Before creating a report at Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets (WP:SSP), please be sure that: There is a current problem; cases of sockpuppetry older than one week are useless. If the problem is not current, just watch the user and report when you see a new instance of abuse. You have strong evidence. If your evidence is weak, then it will be nearly impossible to reach a determination of sockpuppetry. All your statements should be supported by diffs. The sockpuppet account you suspect is not already blocked. Suspicions that, for example, involve Willy on Wheels, will most likely be blocked immediately. The sockpuppet account you suspect is not already reported. Entering {{ssp|1=Username}} (replacing "Username" with the username you suspect) on any edit screen and clicking "Preview" will show you whether any recent reports were titled with that username. Or look through open SSP cases for usernames frequently associated with your suspect. Both older and newer cases, many of whose accounts are now blocked, show up in the categories for sockpuppeteers, sockpuppets, and suspected sockpuppets.

1. Assume good faith, if possible. An alternate account that is not used for abuse does not warrant a complaint. Keep in mind that users may sometimes make mistakes, so in cases where an alternate account is largely used for legitimate activities, it may be appropriate to ask the user before making accusations. The problem might merely have been caused by a mistaken login or other absent-mindedness.
2. Check for previous cases. {{ssp|1=Username}} searches for recent WP:SSP reports titled with that username. {{rfcu|1=Username}} does the same for checkuser reports. Or your suspect may be listed among the WP:SSP open cases as a sockpuppet in a report about another user. Or browse the WP:SSP subpages.

   To find case reports about a suspected puppetmaster (sockpuppeteer): Cases are stored on subpages of Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets. Enter the suspected puppetmaster's username into the box below. Leave out the "User:" prefix. Replace only the word PUPPETMASTER, leaving the rest as is. Then click "Find a case". Example: to find cases about User:Mykungfu, enter: Special:Prefixindex/Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets/Mykungfu Or just erase PUPPETMASTER and click to see all subpages.

3. Collect your evidence. Are the usernames "tag-teaming" to make or revert changes while evading the three-revert-per-day rule? Are their patterns of editing or writing or online appearances or abusive behavior improbably similar? Collect the diff-links that show such suspicious patterns.
4. Start a case. Use the input box below: replace the word PUPPETMASTER with the username you suspect of running sockpuppets, and click the "Start a case!" button. If there were already previous reports on this username, for instance if you click that button and find yourself looking at an existing report, start a new case adding after the username whatever number is one higher than the highest existing report, for instance Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets/PUPPETMASTER (2nd) ... or "(3rd)", or "(4th)", etc.
5. Fill in the names. Clicking "Start a case!" with a new case name-or-number opens a fresh page, with a form ready to be filled in. The puppetmaster's name will be automatically filled in as the filename; if this is not correct, due to added numbers like "(2nd)", replace the {{SUBPAGENAME}} tags with the puppetmaster's username. Also replace the placeholder names SOCKPUPPET1 and SOCKPUPPET2 with the account names of the suspected puppets; add or delete these lines as needed. Always leave out the "User:" prefix.
6. Make your case. Now write up your evidence in the "Evidence" section. This should describe why you believe there's puppetry occurring, however obvious it might be. If this is not the first time the user is suspected, links to other cases you know about should be provided as well. The evidence should point to one or more instances of illegitimate use of the puppet account. Include the diffs to support your statements. Sign and timestamp your case with ~~~~ on the line below "Report submission by"; preview your report for any problems; and, when you're satisfied, save it.
   

   To start a case report about suspected sockpuppetry: Cases are created on subpages of Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets. To do so, add the username of the puppetmaster (the main account, not the sockpuppet!) -- and the number of the case, "(2nd)", "(3rd)", etc., if there were previous cases on that username -- into the box below. Leave out the "User:" prefix. Replace only the word PUPPETMASTER, leaving the rest as is. Example: if there were already two cases about User:John Doe, the new case would be titled: Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets/John Doe (3rd) Then click "Start a case". You will be taken to a page where you can fill out the report. After you've saved the report, come back to see the remaining instructions below this box.

7. List your case for review in the WP:SSP open cases section here. Add the line {{Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets/PUPPETMASTER}} (or PUPPETMASTER (2nd) or PUPPETMASTER (3rd), etc.) at the top of the list, just below the section header. (Again, remember to replace PUPPETMASTER with the actual account name, without the "User:" prefix.) Save your edit. Check to see that your report shows up at the top of the list, just below the "Open cases" header. If there's only a red link, check that the spelling of the username and the number match the filename you created.
8. Tag the suspected sockpuppet(s). Edit the user page (not the user talk page) of the suspected puppet account(s) to add the text {{subst:socksuspect|1=PUPPETMASTER}}, replacing the term PUPPETMASTER with the account name of the user you suspect of being in control. (Leave out the "User:" prefix.) This template will alert readers of the suspected puppet's user page that someone thinks the account is a bad-faith secondary account, and will be told which account is thought to be in charge. Don't forget to save the user page you just edited. Check the link in "Please refer to ... for evidence." It should be a blue link, not red, and it should match the filename you created. If not, then edit again to correct it.
9. Notify the suspected puppetmaster. Edit the user talk page (not the user page) of the suspected sockpuppeteer to add the text {{subst:socksuspectnotice|1=PUPPETMASTER}} ~~~~ at the bottom of the talk page. If this is not the first time the user is suspected, the most recent evidence page should be specified by adding "(2nd)" or "(3rd)", etc., after the user's name: {{subst:socksuspectnotice|1=PUPPETMASTER (2nd)}} ~~~~ or similar.
10. Consequences. If the evidence shows a case of clear abuse, with no serious doubt, an administrator may block any sockpuppets, and take further action against the puppetmaster. In less severe cases, administrators may quietly monitor the account's activities.
11. Checking further. In some cases, where there is significant abuse and yet puppetry is not certain, it might be appropriate to use technical means to detect puppetry. See Requests for checkuser (WP:RFCU) for details.

"How to report a suspected sock puppet"
is the text of the "Reporting suspected sock puppets" section at
Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets (WP:SSP).

Questions and comments should be directed to:
Wikipedia talk:Suspected sock puppets (WT:SSP).