We can find out easily, so don't even bother trying.
Problem with that, is that the method becomes less effective when the details are known.
If it was a smart person, you wouldn't know, because they would have used a vpn, multiple accounts, and voted on unrelated posts/comments.
But you were dealing with a slow-thinker. They were not smart enough to understand how easy that is to spot.
Now you've gone and spelled it out for them. Next time they will use a different tactic. It may be as dumb, or it might be better.
I'm not suggesting that you need to be secretive, but it might be better to not volunteer anything. You might not think you're giving anything away because it's obvious anyway, but you're giving these dummies too much credit.
Problem with that, is that the method becomes less effective when the details are known.
If it was a smart person, you wouldn't know, because they would have used a vpn, multiple accounts, and voted on unrelated posts/comments.
But you were dealing with a slow-thinker. They were not smart enough to understand how easy that is to spot.
Now you've gone and spelled it out for them. Next time they will use a different tactic. It may be as dumb, or it might be better.
I'm not suggesting that you need to be secretive, but it might be better to not volunteer anything. You might not think you're giving anything away because it's obvious anyway, but you're giving these dummies too much credit.
@PYMA I agree with this person, who I've never met before.
It's harder to connect this account right? And would be much more confusing if I took some time.
Combating manipulation will always be an arms-race. Your methods will only ever work temporarily. Abusers and spammers adapt.
The longer it takes them to figure out what you are doing, the better.
@PYMA I agree with this person, who I've never met before.
It's harder to connect this account right? And would be much more confusing if I took some time.
Combating manipulation will always be an arms-race. Your methods will only ever work *temporarily*. Abusers and spammers adapt.
The longer it takes them to figure out what you are doing, the better.
@PMYA Hmm, it seems that mystery guy above pinged your name wrong.
@PMYA Hmm, it seems that mystery guy above pinged your name wrong.
That's better. Stay vague.
That said, no you can't always track accounts. There will be different levels of manipulation. Think of the guy from your example as Level 1, and my demonstration as Level 2.
But I know 5 levels, and others know more. You can't stop everything with accuracy.
Always keep that in mind, because people are at their easiest to exploit when they feel safe or confident.
That's better. Stay vague.
That said, no you can't always track accounts. There will be different levels of manipulation. Think of the guy from your example as Level 1, and my demonstration as Level 2.
But I know 5 levels, and others know more. You can't stop everything with accuracy.
Always keep that in mind, because people are at their easiest to exploit when they feel safe or confident.
We show our cards anyway. Accounts that are caught using alts to upvote their own posts/downvote other people are given an "Enthusiasm" badge on their profile.
Example. In this case, 67 votes from an alt account mysteriously upvoted the account from the same IP within 7 hours of account creation.