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Rating abuse



Posts: 621   Visited by: 302 users

Original post

Posted by Groby94, 11.10.2014 - 19:08
I just noticed this happening today. I checked all of the top albums this year and most of their ratings suddenly went down, and that's because of several 1 ratings appeared out of nowhere during the night.

Something should be done about this, not because of stupid reasons as "my favorite band isn't 1st place omg". The rating system should reflect the real overall opinion of the users on the album (duh), and it should help other users decide whether they would want to give the album a shot or not (among other factors, of course).
01.11.2016 - 12:57
Risto
Wandering Midget
Written by Oykan Övgü on 01.11.2016 at 12:36

An asshole is monkeying around with album votes right now. Some albums suddenly began to appear in the top 20 list. He has like 10 or more fake accounts.

Who? No action will be taken without any actual links to user profiles.
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01.11.2016 - 13:16
Oykan Övgü

Written by Risto on 01.11.2016 at 12:57

Written by Oykan Övgü on 01.11.2016 at 12:36

An asshole is monkeying around with album votes right now. Some albums suddenly began to appear in the top 20 list. He has like 10 or more fake accounts.

Who? No action will be taken without any actual links to user profiles.


http://www.metalstorm.net/users/NORTHSIDE/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/REBELS/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/NorthCity/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/NorthRebelion/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/WarriorsOfNorth/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/Legions/profile
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01.11.2016 - 17:36
psykometal
A staff guy...
Written by Oykan Övgü on 01.11.2016 at 13:16

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/NORTHSIDE/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/REBELS/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/NorthCity/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/NorthRebelion/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/WarriorsOfNorth/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/Legions/profile

Good eye. Yes, every one of these was the same person, plus a few more you didn't notice. All ratings deleted and all accounts banned.

*And they had done most of that account creation and ratings abuse in just the last couple of hours. The user was actually logged into their main account when I banned that one, so that should be a nice little [immediate] surprise - going about their business upvoting albums and then suddenly they go to click Submit and nothing is happening, so they refresh the page and *BOOM* logged out and greeted with a nice little message informing them they have been total banned for "multi account ratings abuse".
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~Zep, Database and Forum Moderation~

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04.11.2016 - 12:49
Risto
Wandering Midget
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05.11.2016 - 01:51
Nicko's Nose

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=160563

I even remember that user saying something like "you gave a low rating to one of my favorite albums of the year, so I'm gonna give 1/10 to your favorite albums of the year" a couple of months ago.

Edit: Found it:

Written by Guest on 24.07.2016 at 12:24

Written by Dave FC on 23.07.2016 at 22:39

Written by Guest on 23.07.2016 at 15:00

Written by Guest on 19.06.2016 at 18:45

So.... cash grab?

Just listen the album, it's better than 'Dusk And Her Embrace'; The Original Sin version is heavier and darker!

NO

Theb don't vote, while you didn't listen to it yet. I can vote your whole favorite albums with 1 per 10 for no reason, without listen to them.
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06.11.2016 - 05:03
psykometal
A staff guy...
Written by Risto on 04.11.2016 at 12:49

Http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=159668
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=159370
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=161093
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=161051
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=161047
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=161035
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=161036

Some suspicious stuff going on there, especially the last few that have user ID's close to each other (even one blatant giveaway in an email address). The first couple or so are just mostly albums from this year.

All but the first 2 were defo up to no good and have been dealt with. Those first 2 though, not entirely "beyond a shadow of a doubt". The guy with all 10s is a little suspect, but not full blown retard. Same with the guy who has some small variation in his ratings. And none of the accounts are connected via same IP at all, so can't use that as a deciding factor. Sorry.

But still, good hunting, and thanks for the report!
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~Zep, Database and Forum Moderation~

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06.11.2016 - 05:51
psykometal
A staff guy...
Written by Nicko's Nose on 05.11.2016 at 01:51

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=160563

All ratings nuked. Thanks for the report!
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~Zep, Database and Forum Moderation~

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22.12.2016 - 17:34
tominator
At best deranged
Just found these ones:

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/saponat/profile
He rates: Powerslave, The Number Of The Beast, Rust In Peace, Led Zeppelin IV with a 1/10 score

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=113410
Again Powerslave, The Number Of The Beast, Rust In Peace are rated with a 1/10 as well as Blackwater Park. What a coincidence that those albums are in the top 20 albums of all time...

On top of that some of the ratings for Metallica albums seem a bit high...

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=110347
This one is completely obvious. He has 5 votes of a 1/10 and they all happen to be in the top 20 of the best albums of all time list... The 3 Iron Maiden albums in the top 20, Painkiller and Rust In Peace. Every Opeth album on the other hand gets a 10/10.

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/Destripador/profile
7 votes in total => 6 10s and 1 - 1/10 which is Rust In Peace...

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=153897
Sure as hell not a Bullet For My Valentine fan... and the number 1 album of 2015 (Under The Red Cloud) is apparently also a 1

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=17914
15 votes: 14 - 10/10 and 1 - 1/10...

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=153281
Not a fan of Slayer it would seem... South Of Heaven, Seasons In The Abyss and Reign In Blood are a 1/10... Nor a Priest fan... Defender Of The Faith: 1/10, Painkiller 2/10 and a couple of 1/10 scores for AC/DC as well (including Back In Black and Highway To Hell).
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22.12.2016 - 17:49
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Rating well received / famous albums a 1 isn't vote abuse in and of itself... only 2 of those links count imo.
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22.12.2016 - 19:58
Karlabos
Meat and Potatos
Yeah, those vote patterns still aren't obvious enough, I'd say
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"Aah! The cat turned into a cat!"
- Reimu Hakurei
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24.12.2016 - 12:04
tominator
At best deranged
Written by Guest on 22.12.2016 at 17:49

Rating well received / famous albums a 1 isn't vote abuse in and of itself... only 2 of those links count imo.


I don't know, I personally find it very suspicious when multiple albums that are in general regarded as some of the best ever made suddenly get a 1/10 vote. And in most cases it's not even the albums from 1 band but multiple different bands. The chance you give an Opeth album 1/10, a Megadeth album 1/10 and an Iron Maiden album 1/10 are quite low unless you want to drag their score down... I'm sorry but that looks really suspicious to me...
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06.01.2017 - 04:16
D.T. Metal

Written by psykometal on 06.11.2016 at 05:51

attention graber

hey, did you see the post from tominator where he lists a whole slew of potential rating abusers?
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16.01.2017 - 22:57
psykometal
A staff guy...
Written by D.T. Metal on 06.01.2017 at 04:16

hey, did you see the post from tominator where he lists a whole slew of potential rating abusers?

I did, and I started looking into them, but internet went down for me during my investigation, and it just started working again today; I don't actually pay for internet, my father has an Xfinity account and one of my neighbors has Xfinity (all Xfinity routers also broadcast hot spots) so I use my dad's login info to get "free" internet, and so because of that whenever there's an issue with the neighbor's router or service, I'm SOL for internet until they call into Comcast to get a tech to come fix it. :shrug:
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~Zep, Database and Forum Moderation~

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29.01.2017 - 14:27
un/heart/ed
The Sufferer
These profiles belong to the same guy, obviously. I have spotted four profiles, probably there's more. Pain of Salvation's new album is the one that you should look into. There is so much abnormality going on there.

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/POSfan1989/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/PerfectElement89/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/remedylane/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/FallingHome/profile
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My only thrill alone in my own hell
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09.02.2017 - 02:49
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Someone might want to have a look at the ratings on The SLoT's profile...
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10.02.2017 - 02:48
Karlabos
Meat and Potatos
There's a piece of related discussion on the band thread as well
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"Aah! The cat turned into a cat!"
- Reimu Hakurei
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11.02.2017 - 18:21
psykometal
A staff guy...
Sorry, been busy irl. Will deal with these posts when I get home from work later.
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~Zep, Database and Forum Moderation~

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13.02.2017 - 13:43
Nihil Aeternum

Written by Guest on 09.02.2017 at 02:49

Someone might want to have a look at the ratings on The SLoT's profile...


There seem to be DOZENS of fake accounts with 10-ratings for their whole discography.
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13.02.2017 - 17:58
psykometal
A staff guy...
Written by un/heart/ed on 29.01.2017 at 14:27

These profiles belong to the same guy, obviously. I have spotted four profiles, probably there's more. Pain of Salvation's new album is the one that you should look into. There is so much abnormality going on there.

http://www.metalstorm.net/users/POSfan1989/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/PerfectElement89/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/remedylane/profile
http://www.metalstorm.net/users/FallingHome/profile

Gotta love IP address tracking; just banned 45 accounts - these 4 + all the other 41 accounts were all the same person. Thanks for the report!
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~Zep, Database and Forum Moderation~

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13.02.2017 - 18:02
psykometal
A staff guy...
Regarding The Slot, I'll dig into that one later. My brain and eyes are a little whooped from the last 45 dispatched accounts. Gonna go back to Seven Deadly Sins for a while.
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~Zep, Database and Forum Moderation~

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14.02.2017 - 07:52
Nicko's Nose

Http://www.metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=112232

Obviously didn't want to see the Pain of Salvation album above the other 2 albums.
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14.02.2017 - 08:25
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
Written by Nicko's Nose on 14.02.2017 at 07:52

Http://www.metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=112232

Obviously didn't want to see the Pain of Salvation album above the other 2 albums.


Keep an eye on his ratings before he start rocketing his favs and dump others. It looks like he's heading towards that tunnel.
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24.02.2017 - 23:30
lond

Hi,

I have noticed that Shaarimoth's album even though it has average rating of 8.40 by more than 20 users is not featured in top20 list while albums with the lower rating are. Can anyone tell me what can be the reason for this?
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25.02.2017 - 01:28
Nihil Aeternum

Can anybody from MS staff please care about those dozens of fake accounts that rate only The SLoT albums.
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25.02.2017 - 10:42
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
Written by lond on 24.02.2017 at 23:30

Hi,

I have noticed that Shaarimoth's album even though it has average rating of 8.40 by more than 20 users is not featured in top20 list while albums with the lower rating are. Can anyone tell me what can be the reason for this?


Shaarimoth's profile is invisible. Only visible profiles shows up in top 20, Charts, Top 200 or Top 2016.
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25.02.2017 - 12:39
Goat Pimp

Written by Nicko's Nose on 14.02.2017 at 07:52

Http://www.metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=112232

Obviously didn't want to see the Pain of Salvation album above the other 2 albums.


I have a binary mind too, either i hate something or not... I do the same thing on imdb, not sure about ms
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28.02.2017 - 22:25
D.T. Metal

Written by Guest on 09.02.2017 at 02:49

Someone might want to have a look at the ratings on The SLoT's profile...

their fans registered because the band was nom'ed in the MSA. I will keep an eye on this and if those who voted the albums up are not participating on MS or haven't signed in after they registered, I will nuke all those votes
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18.03.2017 - 11:47
Grind Magus
Weak Cunt
I may have found several multi accounts.
They're voting 10's on several of the same albums, similar naming system, and all of them uses the same Czech email client.

http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=162295
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=162296
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=162400
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163693
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163759
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163818
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163826
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163829
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163914
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163916
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163918
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163919
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163920
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163922
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163923
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=164013
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=164015
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=164336
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=164351
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=164508

i also checked out the votes in Pain of Salvation latest album and found these accounts to be suspicious, if not, throwaway accounts to boost the rating of that album.

http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=162255
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=162276
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=162278
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=162279
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=162573
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=162574
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=162575
http://metalstorm.net/users/album_votes.php?user_id=163558
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29.03.2017 - 01:38
D.T. Metal

^^^ taken care of
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15.04.2017 - 15:36
Oykan Övgü

All the 10's for this album are from the same guy. http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/album.php?album_id=91486
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