Wikipedia:List of paid editing companies: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 21:58, 26 December 2023
![]() | This is not a Wikipedia article: This is a workpage, a collection of material and work in progress that may or may not be incorporated into WP:PAID. It should not necessarily be considered factual or authoritative. |
This is a list of companies involved in paid editing, both disclosed and undisclosed, and some of their blocked accounts.
It also describes some of the ways in which these companies work. It is to help with the detection and follow up of future issues, and to help educate those who may have been approached by such organizations to write an article for them.
For background, see also the Wikimedia Foundation statement on paid editing and outing (2017).
Undisclosed paid editing
3Q Digital
- Claimed over 10 years' experience doing Wikipedia editing as of 2016 [1]
- Uses article creation case study in marketing material [2] (archive)
- Barbequeue (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
- EastWestern (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
- See Wikipedia:Conflict of interest/Noticeboard/Archive 126#3QDigital aka 3Q Digital.
- It could be related to WP:Sockpuppet investigations/Yoodaba.
855 spammer
Abtach
ABTACH Ltd is a marketing company based in Karachi, Pakistan. They were community banned in July 2020 (see RfC closure). They offer logo design, trademark listing, book ghost writing, animation, and Wikipedia page creation services. They operate many websites disguising as different companies. In our community they are more commonly known as WikiProfessionals Inc, which was the name under which they were community banned (diff). They currently use Wiki Specialist LLC and other names listed below. Americanwikispecialist.com is suspected to use a ransomware technique where they delete pages if payments are refused.
They run email spam campaigns under various names, including Wiki Professionals. Page creation and monitoring to "make sure that nobody wrongly edits any of the information about your brand on your Wikipedia page". Pretends to be from Wikipedia. They are buying ads via Facebook and have used one likely undisclosed sponsored article (archived here January 14, 2020) on a website.
As of 2023, they buy Google Ads through a front named Max Mind Tech LLC (for domains sturdylogo.com, route66designinc.com, swyftzone.com, ghostwritingedge.com, swyftzone.ae, thelogosquad.com, logo-sharks.com). When operating under the name of "thewikipedians.com", they tried to scam users and impersonate admins: Scam reported to Reddit and ANI; Special:Diff/1164507156.
They also operate a VPN service, FastestVPN, which they occasionally use for their own undisclosed paid editing.
- Accounts and investigations
- Main sockpuppet investigation: Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/BrookeCook
- item concerning firm on fr.wiki administrators' noticeboard
- W-Eth-Viet (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) wiki ethicists subcontractor, blocked
- diff user
Wikiproficiency
at Simple English Wikipedia - ticket:2018052210011323
- Ticket:2018092510007996
- See also WikiProject Spam discussion
- ticket:2023062610000281
- Websites
- abtach.com
- abtachdmcc.ae
- abtachdmcc.com
- abtachdmcc.co.uk
- americanwikieditors.com
- americanwikimoderator.com
- americanwikispecialist.com
- americanwikiwriters.com
- beonwiki.org
- createapersonal.wiki
- createawiki.page
- createawikipage.org
- createwikipage.com
- createyourwiki.com
- getonwiki.com
- getwikipage.com
- getyourwikipage.com
- howtocreateawiki.page
- makeawikipage.com
- professionalswikiinc.com
- professionalwikiinc.com
- thewikieditors.com
- thewikiinc.com
- thewikiinc.org
- thewikipedians.com
- wikiadvisorsllc.com
- wikiconsultancy.com
- wikiconsultant.net
- wikicontributors.net
- wikicorps.com
- wikicouncil.com
- wikicouncill.com
- wikicounsellor.com
- wikicreation.services
- wikicreatorsinc.com
- wikicuration.com
- wikieditors.net
- wikifederation.com
- wikifiersllc.com
- wikigeeks.co
- wikigloballlc.com
- wikiglobalservices.com
- wikiimastersinc.com
- wikiinc.org
- wikiinsights.org
- wikiinstigator.com
- wikiiprofessionalsinc.com
- wikilitterateur.com
- wikimanagementinc.com
- wikimastersinc.com
- wikimaven.com
- wikipagecreation.agency
- wikipagecreation.com
- wikipagecreation.services
- wikipagecreator.net
- wikipagecreator.org
- wikipagemaker.com
- wikipagemaker.org
- wikipagewriting.com
- wikipagewriting.services
- wikiparagon.com
- wikiparagon.org
- wikipedialegendsllc.com
- wikipediapagecreation.agency
- wikipediapagecreator.com
- wikipediapagewriting.com
- wikipediapagewriting.services
- wikipediazone.com
- wikipediya.agency
- wikipediya.services
- wikiprofessionalinc.com
- wikiprofessionalinc.net
- wikiprofessionalsinc.co
- wikiprofessionalsinc.com, ticket:2022020210004812
- wikiprofessionalsincorporation.com
- wikiprofessionalslnc.com
- wikiprofessionalzinc.com
- wikiproficiency.com
- wikiproficiency.net
- wikiproficiency.org
- wikiprofileinc.com
- wikiprofllc.com
- wikiproservices.com
- wikipublishersllc.com
- wikirytessinc.com
- wikisolutionsllc.com
- wikispecialinc.com
- wikispecialistllc.com
- wikiwritersonline.com
Further information of historical interest
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adtelligent.net
Blocked users from here.
Advanced Writing Services
- http://advancedwritingservices.com/wikipedia/
- "[A] change on your Wikipedia article can degrade the accuracy of the content. Advanced Writing Services offers a range of service plans to monitor your Wikipedia article."
- puzzle globe infringement
agenda21 Digital Limited
- https://agenda21digital.com/services/
- Paid by Domestic & General to create Draft:Domestic & General
ALS Marketing
AMCPR
Anvil Media
Reputation management, "Review forum optimization"
Avelon PR
- https://www.avelonpr.com
- Client list
- There are many articles of their claimed clients and some blocked accounts associated with them e.g. Sevalbury (talk · contribs), Treianlatri (talk · contribs), Lapablo (talk · contribs) but there is no way of confirming whether these accounts are really related to this company. These precede the date of this website being registered according to whois and the oldest date back to 2017 - see Cyber Infrastructure.
- They also operate The Wiki Publishing, see https://www.thewikipub.com/ (same phone and other public records).
- The company is registered as Avelon Digital LLC and AVELONPR OÜ (Estonia).
Avoof
- avoof
.com, number of employees 3 - Based in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
- Partnered with Jay Soshnick per [3]
- Wikipedia page creation service offered on [4]
- Runs blacklisted MediaWiki-based spam site https://wikitia.org/
- Charges for Wikitia page creation
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Kavdiamanju/Archive
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Kavdiaravish/Archive
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Shashanksinghvi334/Archive
- 1.39.224.120 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log)
- Actively advertising on Upwork as of 2020-2021
- >$200,000 in revenue noted by Upwork
Bettiblue
- http://www.bettiblue.com
- "[W]e specialize in marketing on WIKIPEDIA, plus we offer a truly unique marketing content solutions [sic]." / "Wikipedia is a treasure trove for companies that really care about branding" / "Wikipedia is a golden marketing tool [...] . We at Bettiblue make sure that you tap the goldmine the right way. By providing expert services for a Wikipedia page creation, Bettiblue ensures that your Wikipedia page is created as per the rules, done by experienced editors and it stays there so that you can tap this goldmine of opportunities for your business."
- Puzzle globe infringement (reported). Image is somewhat modified and obstructed. Could be fair use.
- Domain registered to Irina Kalonatchi, Sydney
BICAds
- Website, number of employees 2-10
- Bicads (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
The Big Green Tree
- https://www.tbgt.in/
- Previously operating the Wikipedia Creators website:
- http://www.wikipediacreators.com (dead link)
- Puzzle globe logo infringement
- "[I]f a page is created from one account and is being deleted because the language was not right or so, we use a different account to create it again and start the process fresh."
Biography Writing Services
Offers to make third-party sources for the articles they create.
Boskit190/Hilumeoka2000/Lary Networks
- Boskit190 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
- Hilumeoka2000 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki) former name; dozens of socks
- Self-outed freelancer. Works as hilumeoka2000 at freelancer.com, odesk, elance per Special:diff/662074627.
Brass Check
- TheRegicider (Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser/Case/TheRegicider) per own published claim to have edited here and diff
- http://www.brasscheck.net - "Brass Check is a creative advisory firm that specializes in working with authors, media companies and startups."
One of the principals of Brass Check is Ryan Holiday who has written about how to infiltrate Wikipedia for Fortune in 2012 and his involvement with Brass Check in New York Observer in 2017. Claimed Brass Check client articles - see COIN permlink.
Buzzinga Digital
- buzzingadigital.com
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/BuzzingaWiki
- This is a marketing firm founded by Yashraj Vakil.
Cameron Free Marketing
- Cameronfree (talk · contribs)
- Alexanderrun (talk · contribs)
- Rolledup145 (talk · contribs)
Cameron Free Marketing is a small marketing company based in Boca Raton, Florida. The company does not directly offer Wikipedia editing services, but significant overlaps exist between the off-wiki company's clients and topics edited by the User:Cameronfree sockfarm (case at Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Cameronfree) strongly implies a paid editing campaign was being undertaken from late 2018 to early 2019. Cameron Free Marketing's areas of interest (both in terms of off and on Wiki marketing) seems to be focused around topics related to Florida—the state where the company is based—with special emphasis being centered around Boca Raton. Other editing focuses include smaller companies related to the arts or clothing. Suspected clients include;
- Ikonick-a canvas and art supplies company.
- Jersey Champs-a sports clothing company; this company has been the subject of edits by multiple undisclosed paid editors in the past, most of which are not affiliated with Cameron Free Marketing.
- Marcel Katz (now at Draft:Marcel Katz (2))- A Miami-based artist.
Coast Digital
- coastdigital.co.uk
- see for example this How to appear in the Knowledge Graph: For the kinds of brands we work with, the most common way to appear in the knowledge graph is through a Wikipedia article. Having a Wikipedia article about your brand is a win-win – it means you’re appearing on one of the biggest independent information resources in existence and it means you’re featured on one of those public sources Google uses to generate the Knowledge Graph. Now, Wikipedia isn’t quite the content free-for-all it used to be, so getting a page added might be more difficult than you’re expecting – but it’s an ordeal worth going through to claim that much organic real estate.
- very likely Coast123 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Cogent Law Group
- Wikipedia:Conflict of interest/Noticeboard#Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan
- There is evidence of contracting Wikipedia editing. No evidence of the actual project already being executed yet.
Connect Worldwide
The Digital Marketing Consultants
Digital NOD
- https://digitalnod.co/
- Appears to hire accounts through Upwork
The Digital SEO
- http://www.thedigitalseo.com/p/wiki-page-expert.html claims to be named Bhupesh Patel
- Patel.bhupesh
- Category:Wikipedia sockpuppets of Nicgf
Digital Sukoon
- Website, Estimated number of employees (9)
- Link to the discussion at COIN
- Sudhanshu6454 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- SudhanshuKumar1 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Digi Osmosis
- Website
- Mrugeshsingh (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Digitonics
Digitonics is a marketing company based in Karachi, Pakistan. Its modus operandi is similar to #Abtach.
- Accounts
- Precariousman123 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) Digitonics/websitesdesignerinc.com
- Hillster (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki) (initially Digitonics, then Sybex Lab)
- BettytheBeth (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki) (initially Digitonics, then Sybex Lab)
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/CharmenderDeol
Sybex Lab
Sybex Lab is a new company connected to #Digitonics. Most recent SPI case is Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Girmv.
- sybexlab.com
- elitewikiwriters.com
- hirewikiwriter.com
- wikiadroit.com
- wikiexpertise.com
- wikiscribes.com
- wikimastery.com
- wikimediafoundetion.com
- wikimoderator.com
- wikivalidate.com
- wikiversed.com
Direct Online Marketing
- https://www.directom.com/
- JonathanBentz (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
Dot Com Infoway
- https://www.dotcominfoway.com/product/wikipedia-page-creation/
- User:Stephenlewis sockmaster, banned since 2008
For $1,200 "Our Wikipedia writers help you create a Wikipedia page for your brand and make it stick and survive the review process."
- C. R. Venkatesh, C. R Venkatesh (recreated w misspelling) founder bio
- Wikipedia:Administrators'_noticeboard/Archive133#Seeking_Community_ban_of_Dot_Com_Infoway_company_Adsense_marketing_and_Spamming
downtowndok.com
- https://www.downtowndok.com/wikipedia
- Google targeted search ad, poor English
- US toll-free number
Dream Xpress
DreamWebsters
Ethon Technologies
- Standard SEO/Marketing company
- Based in Pune, India
- Offers Wikipedia page creation services.
everymedia
Exposure Digital
Was found paying User:MrMarkBGregory to add "spam links" to Wikipedia. These payments were disclosed but this is not allowed.
Exposure Ninja
- How to build backlinks from Wikipedia, examples inserted by User:46.233.116.253
Facilius Inc
See Jun 28, 17 emails. [5]
Actively emailing people as of Dec 2017. Stating that they have created 400+ articles and have admins working for them. Says articles on a topic need to be two months apart. They follow the deletion boards to find potential customers. It appears they include creating sources as part of the fee.
Still trying to recruit editors as of April 2019 ([6])
Famous Influencer
- Website, number of employees 11-50 per LinkedIn
Fast Fingers Hype Team (FFHypeTEAM)
- https://www.kwaolezzes.com/blog/ and Facebook
- Ghana based, under name of Kwao Lezzes-Tyt (bio repeatedly recreated)
- Daniel Kobe Ricks Jr (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
- at least 140 confirmed sockpuppets
Filmmakerseo
Fiveblocks
- https://www.fiveblocks.com/editing-your-brands-wikipedia-entry/ (older archived version)
- WMF trademark infringement (removed)
- Factsonlyplease39 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
- Changingguardsatbuckinghampalace (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
- OnceaMetro (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki) (maybe connected, but different country)
FP1 Strategies
- Lesbianadvocate (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
See COIN archive
Frost Media Solutions
- http://frostmediasolutions.com/tag/wikipedia/ including how to get on Wikipedia's front page
Reputation management
Garden of Ads
- gardenofads.com
- Charges up to $150,000 per article
GKP Maker
- website
- Marketing and SEO agency
- Advertises Wikipedia page creation
- Claims to comply with Wikipedia polices, but no known disclosures and examples cited by the agency of successful creations likewise show no evidence of disclosure
Gerris Marketing
- https://chrisabraham.com/services/wikipedia-curation: "[we] can help you curate and manage your personal, professional, or corporate reputation on Wikipedia...have collected a stable of some of the best Wikipedia Curators possible..."
- Also offers Wikipedia Crisis Management (!)
- Ambiguous statement here discourages corps from "directly promoting your company or adding your company entry" to Wikipedia
Go Fish Digital
- https://gofishdigital.com/online-reputation-management/
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/BurritoSlayer
"Wikipedia Management service: Wikipedia consistently ranks highly in the search engines' results. It is often viewed as a third-party objective authority, and as such, the content it contains about a person or brand has a direct impact on their reputation. Managing and improving your personal or brand Wikipedia page ensures that you are putting your best foot forward."
Important to note that this company was a WMF vendor and has some private data, details at phab:T192893 and phab:T193052.
The Gold Rush
- Advertises on seoclerk.com - selling article citation links for a few dollars to $99
- puzzle globe infringement
- Uses name "Rahul Tulsyani / username Tuslyanir
gotwikipedia.com
- Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Archive273#gotwikipedia.com
- EBY3221 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
- Chelsea232024 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
Global Media Insight
- https://www.globalmediainsight.com/wikipedia-page-creation-service
- UAE/Middle East specialists; "We have a battalion of Wikipedia editors in English as well as Arabic."
- puzzle globe infringement
Hats Off Digital
- [7]
- puzzle globe infringement. Logo is on Coffee mug image, could be fair use.
"Hats-Off Helps You Manage Your Image on Wikipedia" "Wikipedia has become an alternative marketing tool for businesses as well as people. It helps in increasing your visibility on search engines, markets your products and services as well as help with eCommerce promotion."
Hawk Nepal
- Website, Estimated number of employees (unknown)
- Link to the Facebook post
- Link to the Sockpuppet investigation
- Sushilxxx (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Sushil.lax (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Highbrows Engineering and Technologies
- Highstakes00 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki) (about 200 sockpuppets)
- SPI case page
- COIN discussion archives: 117, 127, 132
- Location: Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- Also known as HE&T
- Hassan Haider Naqvi mentioned as CEO on the company's about us page. On other sites he uses various combinations of the names Syed Hassan Haider Naqvi per archived COIN discussion.
- Website highbrows.pk (archived)
- User:Gfeiwer (see third-party attribution here)
- >$500,000 in revenue noted by Upwork
- Charged fixed price of $1,120 on Upwork in early 2021. Regularly increases fixed price on Upwork every several months.
- High hourly rate and consultation fees
- Known to aggressively report competitors
A CU confirmed sock displayed a link to edenwritings
HighlyRelevant
Hire Wikipedia Editor
- https://hirewikipediaeditor.com/ archive
- https://umairahmad.me/
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/UA85 (self-outed)
- Offers media placements if under-referenced
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/MNB9911 suspected
- puzzle globe infringement in Twitter adverts
Hire Wikipedia Writers
- hirewikipediawriters.com
- Uses Wikipedia trademark
Hot4SEO
Munich based.
Offers "Off-Page SEO" and lists Wikipedia as an example of a wiki in their off-page SEO navigation menu, alongside other social media.
Publicly belongs to Hanna Buryak (Munich) who also offers services through UpWork[8]
Huff Industrial Marketing
- Per "How to develop a Wikipedia page", author Dianna Huff founder and president
- Huff also listed at freelancing4moms.com and dhcommunications.com
- Lists Cabot Corporation as client; see connected/paid contributors at talk:Cabot Corporation
Hugo Hawk
- hugohawk.com
- Probably related to badenbower.com, twofoldx.com, memorialize.co, reviewrumble.com.
ID Africa
- Ugbedeg (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
Idimpact
Working on Spasmodic dysphonia
Index of Sciences LTD
Index of Sciences LTD is a predatory publisher who also publishes paid Wikipedia biographies for academics. They run massive spam campaigns offering their services.
Approved disclosure of information obtained through VRT:
- We are aware of 65+ emails from a paid editing company since December 2018 to present.
- The company has occasionally self-identified as Index of Sciences LTD.
- They target academics, writing to their work email addresses, offering to create biographies on Wikipedia for pay.
- They claim to have multiple accounts.
- They claim to have new page reviewer rights.
- They claim 9+ years of experience as of 2021.
- There is evidence of this company connection to at least one blocked account on the English Wikipedia.
- Email origins
- indexsciences.com
- scienceindexes.com
- indexinscience.net
- scienceaccord.com
- and many others
InfluenceTree
See Entrepreneur July 2017
- Wikipeople6789 (talk · contribs · count) probable
- 365dayswiki (talk · contribs · count) probable
Innovatech LTD
Spam company based in Karachi, Pakistan. It operates under various names.
- https://innovatechltd.com
- https://wikipediapublisher.com
- https://wikipediaspecialist.com
- https://wikicreatives.com
- Wikipedia:Teahouse/Questions/Archive 1115 § I was told that the company WikipediaPublishers.com is the only company affiliated to Wikipedia. Is this true?
Interprose
- Mdrozdowski (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Blocked for native advertisement despite disclosures.
Kalyan Chandra
- Wikipedia page creator service in India
- HQ: Hyderabad, India
- As of date, running Google ads
Keywordsfly
- Claims 80,000 edits and 1,000 new articles
- [9]
KCOMM
- [10] - website
- [11] - brochure offering Wikipedia editing services
- Juliusvergara (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) blocked
KCOMM is a California-based digital marketing company that offers Wikipedia page creation for clients, most of which are related to the real estate industry. Several editors likely affiliated with the company were blocked in early 2019 per Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Juliusvergara. As of February 2019, editors affiliated with the firm (via substantial off-wiki evidence) have declined to disclose any paid status, and the same editors have also resorted to sockpuppetry to create articles. Past creations likely done by KCOMM included;
- Sinan Kanatsiz - CEO of KCOMM; also created at Sinan Kanatsiz (businessman). Both articles now protected from re-creation.
- Ware Malcomb - Client of KCOMM (per testimonials) and a target of multiple suspected COI accounts.
- Lawrence R. Armstrong - CEO of Ware Malcomb and a past creation of KCOMM-linked accounts.
koozai.com
Talk page July 18, 2017
Korebase
Kreative Mines
- Kreative Mines website
- Digital marketing company providing SEO services.
- Published an essay advertising paid editing services on Wikipedia.
- Offers page creation, edits, and maintenance template removal.
Legalmorning.com
- https://www.legalmorning.com/
- Communnity banned [12]
- Run by Mike Wood[13]
- Morning277 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
- http://www.ibtimes.com/wikipedia-sends-paid-editors-cease-desist-sockpuppet-account-morning277-not-wiki-pr-1482738
- from their website:
- posts articles straight to mainspace
- uses multiple references so not csd class
- boasts variously of 40,000 or 80,000 Wikipedia edits and creating 1000 articles
- charges yearly for maintaining articles including removing or rewriting negative content and defending the article at AfD if it is nominated
- charges for single edits if that is all that is required
- does not give a deletion service (ie nominating AfDs)
- calls Wikipedia editors "futile", and says they are "dying out"
Lexicon Branding
London Biography
- http://londonbiography.com (dead link)
- https://web.archive.org/web/20161029092239/http://londonbiography.com:80/
"We produce biographical books, websites and Wikipedia entries for individuals and organisations."
Promises not to divulge clients.
Lookup Cyber Solutions
- lookupinc.xyz (blacklisted), registered to anon in Gujarat
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet_investigations/Swarup_Kumar_Solanki ~two dozen socks, Gujarat IPs
Macrolancer/Muhammad Zahid Iqbal
- https://www.facebook.com/macrolancer/
- www.larzze.com (Larzze Expert Technologies) SEO and social media marketing
- IMZahidIqbal sockfarm incl Macrolancer and LARZZE
The Mather Group
- Official website
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Frogg92477, sockmaster Jgreene1333
- Published Wikipedia for Business 2023, by Josh Greene ISBN 979-8373396981
- Rewrote the Wikipedia page of a journalist...
“ | The Mather Group carefully rewrote [[[Maggie Hallahan]]'s] page and coded it in the special wiki language. We republished it, and when we did so added citations to it and linked from other articles that mentioned the author back to the main page. This made the Wiki page stronger as it wasn’t an “orphan” any longer. Most importantly we continued to defend it from being deleted as we monitored it. | ” |
Media Partners
- Media Partners, Inc. (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Media Tribe (MediaTribe)
- Digital marketing and PR agency based in Mumbai
- Presumably connected to Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/MediaTribe/Archive
- Advertises on Twitter
Mindstorm
They use the following fake claims;
- "Wikipedia has 4 types of players - System Admins, Administrators, Reviewers & Editors. There are 18 System Admins in the whole world. Mindstorm is connected to One."
- "There are 1073 administrators in the whole world. If they stop a page, you will never be able to go live! Mindstorm is connected to 6."
- mindstorm.in
- prakatana.online
Mywikipro.com
- https://www.mywikipro.com/
- See Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest/Noticeboard/Archive_57#Mywikipro.com from 2012
- Bernie44 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Blocked in June 2018
NCT Consultants
- Formally "Kaleem U."
- Formally "NCT Consultants"
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet_investigations/Sankhan02/Archive
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet_investigations/Zavia345/Archive
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Anne Barrington/Archive
- NCT Consultants
NetReputation
- NetReputation
- "HOW TO CREATE A WIKIPEDIA PAGE FOR BUSINESS IN 2019" (make 10 edits then spam away)
Net'Wash
aka net-wash.com
Reported in fr.wiki investigation. Unknown if active on en.wiki.
Notion Technologies
- https://www.notiontechnologies.com
- Shaikh Salamuddin / Salamuddin.Shaikh89 (possibly real name Salamuddin S.Shaikh of Mumbai) and Rudra.shukla sockfarm
- Caroline Murphy may be a fabricated persona: [14], Special:diff/654469060
- Real name connection to WHOIS wikipediaexperts.com
- May be subcontractors for WikiExperts
- Also has claimed relation to D-Design Studio http://www.d-designstudio.com
OgreLogic
- https://ogrelogic.com/marketing/
- Virtual office in Austin, TX. "Offshore Delivery Center" in Noida, India.
- Digital marketing company
- Offers Wikipedia page creation (see tweet)
Olaf Kosinski/PIWAC
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Olaf Kosinsky
- de:Wikipedia:Checkuser/Anfragen/Olaf Kosinsky; Subteno
- Listed as director of PIWAC "political Wikipedia mentoring" https://www.piwac.de/
- Another advert (archived) https://kosinsky.eu/ – claims commissions for financial firms, energy, retail, entertainment, public administration, tourism, etc.
- Advertised PR work and political communications elsewhere off-wiki
Olive Writing Hub
- https://www.olivewritinghub.com
- Olivewritinghub
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Arham Tanveer
- Runs many fronts (see reverse DNS archive: [15]) from the same server with different phone numbers and company addresses, including:
- https://www.prowordsmiths.com (thread about scamming).
- https://www.thewikiadmins.com/ (trademark infringement, advertising themselves as Wikipedia Admins).
Oniv Digital
- onivdigital.com / onivdigital.ae
- offers page creation, monitoring
Online Reputation Guru
- https://postage-solutions.co.uk/
- Amanreputation (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
Ontarget Media and Marketing Services
- http://protosoftech.com
- Blocked accounts as of Nov 30, 2017
Orangemoody
- Background: Operation Orangemoody, Wikipedia:Long-term_abuse/Orangemoody
- Current sockpuppet investigation: Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Bennet43
Oranks
- Website (estimated number of employees 3)
- Khalidgaur (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
outerboxdesign.com
- [16] Blocked users from here.
Outspoken Media
Claim to disclose all edits "stating who we are, who has hired us, and what types of changes we are proposing for the article"
Palm&Marsh
Percepto
- Percepto Digital. Formerly known as Veribo, but changed its name after being involved in a scandal in which it attempted to suppress negative coverage in google searches. Further information also available at Signpost special report (September 27, 2020).
- Offers SEO, reputation management services
- Based (or incorporated) In Tel Aviv, but primarily deals with Canadian clients
- Has maintained a guide to Wikipedia editing called "Wikipedia - The Rules of the Game", and offers Wikipedia editing advice
- Engages in undisclosed paid editing and sockpuppetry
- See Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/HenryFriedberg for a list of involved accounts and Wikipedia:Conflict of interest/Noticeboard/Archive 157#Potentially an undisclosed paid editor account for the investigation that uncovered the company's activities
- percepto.digital
- percepto-digital.com
- veribo.eu
- veribo.us
Postage Solutions
- postage-solutions.co.uk*
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/RohithKumarPatali/Archive
- offer "permanent" wikipedia biography or other article for $120 [17]
Premium Content Writing.com
- premiumcontentwriting.com
- Active as of October 2019 [18]
- Content writing/advertising company that explicitly offers [19] Wikipedia writing services.
- Offers guaranteed article approval, creation, article monitoring, and maintenance.
- User(s)
- JamesRodir (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Pressmate PR
- Upwork "Safaque A.": Wikipedia article creation, US based, high hourly rate - 87 jobs
pressmate.com Active as of February 2019domain abandoned as of March 2020, pressmate.co.in dead
- Safaque (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) (suspected) - see deleted contributions
- Dezorama (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) (suspected) - see [20] & Special:Diff/400063190
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Johnsaavn (suspected) - see evidence at Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Safaque
- User:Sora Sailor
Prosparky
- http://www.prosparky.com/
- prosparky (talk · contribs · count) (blocked)
Pulpe de Com
Reported in fr.wiki investigation. Unknown if active on en.wiki.
- puzzle globe infringement
- advertises Wikipedia "redaction", page creation/editing on English Wikipedia [21]
Pure SEO, New Zealand
RankHawn
- Website
- Offers page creation, maintenance
- Based in Bangalore, India
- Likely uses undisclosed sponsored web articles ([22]) to promote.
RawMarketer
- Website
- Based in Noakhali, Bangladesh
- Offers Google Knowledge Panel services, but also active on enwiki so likely content creation
- Self outed on commons:File:Google Knowledge Panel Services.png (archive)
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Baghdas2, also d:Wikidata:Requests for checkuser/Case/Hardik1430
- Various support links/contact info, including to an email ending with seosight.com
Red Ventures
Digital media/PR (Red Ventures)
Removify
- removify.com.au
- Based in Melbourne suburbs, offices in Middle East and Southeast Asia listed
"Removify now offers a professional Wikipedia Page Creation service. With our help, you can drastically improve public perception of your brand."
Reputation.ca
- "We have built up many senior administrator accounts within the Wikipedia hierarchy. Over the years, we have successfully created LIVE Wikipedia pages for numerous clients. Our ability to do this has come from our detailed knowledge of how Wikipedia works and what content is accepted and what is not."
- "Cost: $2,000 + HST."
- First step: "Review your notability level and make an assessment of your suitability for inclusion in Wikipedia. If we determine you are not suitable we will refund $1,500 of your fees."
Reputation Rhino
- https://www.reputationrhino.com/our-solutions/wikipedia-reputation-management/ (archive)
- https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/best-online-reputation-management/ (archive)
Reputation Squad
Reported in fr.wiki investigation. Active en.wiki.
- See COIN thread
Reptick
- reptick.com
ReputationBoss
- Website
- Claims to be based in Sarasota, Florida
- rpboss.net
- reputationboss.net
- repbossz.com
- repbossy.com
- repboss.io
- repbossx.com
- reputationboss.org
ReputationUP
- https://reputationup.com/
- Reputation management
- Miami based (maybe)
- Published a guide titled "How to edit a Wikipedia page and delete an account" in July 2021
- Guide has screenshots of editing from the account ReputationUP
- Guide states
If you want to delete a user immediately and definitely, Wikipedia does not allow it. Therefore, the best option is to contact ReputationUP.
- Guide states they can get WP content removed
Reputation X
- https://www.reputationx.com/solutions/wikipedia (archive)
- https://blog.reputationx.com/wikidata (archive)
"[T]he only natural way to counter negative articles is by editing them and offering a counter narrative"
- [23]
- Mill Valley CA
- puzzle globe infringement [24]. Logo is on a browser screenshot, could be fair use.
- also advertising "WikiData [sic] enhancement"
Reputio
- https://www.reputio.com/wikipedia-page-creation/
- "The privacy of our Wikipedia clients is our utmost priority. We never disclose their names in order to protect their anonymity."
- "We help you meet Wikipedia's [notability] requirements by getting you featured in a suite of high profile publications, including Forbes..."
- "crisis editing" service – "ensuring your page remains positive if your company is in a crisis"
Right Angles
- A global reputation management company: https://www.right-angles.global/wikipedia-creation-rebuild/
Put simply, we place information online and use this content to create and manage pages on your behalf. But it’s not a simple task – a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to ensure the right content is available on the right platforms, creating content that will not only enhance your brand, but will lead to changes to your Wikipedia page that stick. Thanks to our network of contacts and team of specialists from the fields of journalism, web design, data management, IT, SEO experts and more, we put together a plan of action to create and promote positive content while reducing the significance of everything else. As the biggest aggregator of this data, the result is a Wikipedia page that is more reflective of your personal brand. This is at the heart of what we do. This can be part of a fixed term project, or we can manage your page on an ongoing basis, keeping a careful eye out for inaccuracies.
Revunami
Specialize in digital marketing for nonprofits.
- Per their blog: "Wikipedia Analysis, Strategy, Content Creation, and Monitoring – Wikipedia is consistently in the top results for the vast majority of Google searches. Revunami leverages this visibility to your organization’s advantage, ensuring your messaging reaches key audiences and advances your organization, its brand, and its people. We help you influence opinion and establish your organization as a trustworthy and authoritative source on the topics that are important to you and your mission."
- Gnusworthy (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Rmlewinson (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Rlewinson (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Sesame Stick (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) - edited as "GF Revunami" until username change.
- See COIN thread
Rooster Marketing
RvPackaging, United Kingdom
searchwrite.com
- Searchwriter (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) blocked NOTHERE
- Seattle24x7 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
See evidence
SEO Clerks
- seoclerk.com
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/RohithKumarPatali/Archive
- offer "permanent" wikipedia biography or other article for $120 on corp site
SEO Pressor
Unlicensed use of Commons images. Offers tutorial on replacing dead links with SEO links. Unclear if they will do this for clients.
Scienceadvise
- scienceadvise.com
sciencecom-agency
- "We will insert your findings in a relevant Wikipedia article. This MIT study has proven that scientific articles on Wikipedia eventually receive more academic citations."
Registrant Country: CZ, details masked
SK Visions
- users
- Shrinivaskulkarni1388 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Tejashree1994 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Ksg18 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Social Beat
Social Czars
Sonali Kavdia freelancer
- Sonali.kavdia (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Zavia345 sockfarm with dozens of blocked accounts.
- Claims over 10,000 pages created on their LinkedIn page
- See upcoming Signpost "In the media" for press coverage
The Social Media Verification Team
"Our team is composed of experienced professionals who are all committed to promoting and safeguarding our clients' brands... This is a potent backlinking opportunity that a lot of your competitors aren't taking advantage of."
- [25]
- $1,097 article creation
Spiderlance
"Wiki articles can be edited by virtually anyone, it’s safe to assume that no one is invulnerable. That could easily change, as you can use our Wikipedia Article Monitoring Services"
Offers several Upwork profiles in corp "client reviews" page.
Status Labs / Wiki-PR
- http://wiki-pr.com/services/
- http://www.statuslabs.com/
- http://www.getyourwiki.com/ (front since 2015)
- Further details at Wiki-PR editing of Wikipedia.
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/20/status-labs-austin_n_6910642.html
- One of the ways they work is by emailing organizations that have Wikipedia pages that have clean up tags and offering to get those tags removed.
- Community banned October 25, 2013.
- WMF cease-and-desist letter [26].
- It is verified to operate through front websites since 2015 (more info here and here). Active as of 2021.
Sterling PR
Wikipedia Tip Sheet & Editing Your Wikipedia Edits (puzzle globe infringement)
Studio Maras
- guru.com
Claims to be former Wikipedia administrator
- Strizivojna (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Greecy200 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- WilderWords (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Submit Express
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Expertwikiguy
- SoCal area code 818
- 71.95.181.29 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log) self-identified as CEO Pierre Zarokian now uses Bitbit101
- 71.84.38.6 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RDNS · RBLs · http · block user · block log)
- Advertising on upwork.com as of mid 2020
- WiktorLinus (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) per this
- Press release
- Websites
- submitexpress.com
- reputationstars.com
Systoo Technologies
Takwene
- JoyGenea (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) (disclosure)
Thames Infotech
- Thamesinfotech (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Shawntheshipper (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) (suggested)
- WP:Sockpuppet investigations/Thamesinfotech half dozen socks
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Sardar Nadir Ali probably connected
- thamesinfotech
.com (web content/SEO firm self-outed here)
thewikiexpert.com
- Google ad circa January 2020 "Get a Wikipedia Page in 7 Days"
- UK telephone number
thewikiformula.com
- thewikiformula.com
- Emails those who have had pages deleted.
Tony Ahn and Company
Claims to have put multiple clients' articles on WP main page through DYK.
Said in interview "I have placed articles in the press on behalf of clients. If you don’t have press, I can get you press – because I work in PR. I can set up an interview with a newspaper, and then write the Wikipedia article. If I have to get you two insertions, then the Wiki article it’s 75,000 Philippine pesos for the whole lot."
De facto community banned (indeffed via consensus @ COIN).
TopBros SEO
- Cuck (film)
- Mako976 (talk+ · tag · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log · CA · CheckUser(log) · investigate · cuwiki)
- https://www.topbros.com/branding-los-angeles/
De facto community banned; see Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Mako976.
To the point collaborative
Providing "ethical" COI editing advert on LinkedIn "Your Five-Point Wikipedia Influencer Strategy", dated January 2018, visible as of December 2022.
TransMedia Group
- transmediagroup
.com - TransMedia Group/TMG PR Sockring
Trendera
- trendera
.com - D at Trendera (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
- Likely contracted #Fiveblocks
Tyler Barnett PR
The Virtual Marketer for Schools
Alta Justus (digitalalta)
Waft Studios
- WaftCinematic (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki) and associated sockfarm
- Justrightstudioz (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
Advertises itself as "India's leading Mumbai-based Wikipedia provider agency." Claims it caters to Bollywood celebrities and entrepreneurs. COIN report and SPI report.
May be a connection to "Just Right Studioz" (Mumbai).
We Are Pead
- wearepead.co.nz
- Formerly Pead PR (peadpr.co.nz)
- Weis3565 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
We Are PR / Artspromo
- www.werpr.co (estimated number of employees (4))
- www.artspromo.org
- $400 fee
- 375mon (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Weltraumagentur
- [28]
- [29]
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Luuuuuka
- Based in Germany, likely Munich or Baden
- Imports articles from the German Wiki (de.wiki) - Company's original editors were banned by the de.wiki community for fabricating sources
- Promises article creation within 14 days of payment. Promises proper disclosure (sometimes this occurs, sometimes not) and discretion. Describes their authors as "officially authorized by Wikipedia", and promises SEO
- Paid to create Khubaib Ali Mohammed and GUB Investment Trust
What About Wiki
- Website
- Stephen Harrison (2018-10-29). "Wikipedia's Top-Secret 'Hired Guns' Will Make You Matter (For a Price)".
- Reported to have been active since 2015 and have "more than 50 sock-puppet user accounts" claiming a revenue of $500k/yr.
- PanzaMain (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
Whizamet
Wikiacademics
- wikiacademics.com
Not standard UK or US English, no contact info, obscured domain registration
"We have been successfully contributing to Wikipedia since 2013, publishing over 1000 articles and making thousands of edits."
- but the domain registration does say they launched in april 2017. So hm. Jytdog (talk) 20:51, 25 January 2018 (UTC)
- Claims to be in Netherlands: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wikipedia-editing-services-b86771143/ Ben · Salvidrim! ✉ 21:00, 25 January 2018 (UTC)
Wikibusiness
- Working in Ukrainian
- Possibly related to WikiLab
- Linked to Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Bodiadub / Wikipedia:Administrators'_noticeboard/IncidentArchive1020#Paid_editing / meta:wikiproject:Antispam/Archives/2021/Wikibusiness
- Many accounts are globally locked. Some are banned by the Wikimedia Foundation since 20 July 2020.
- Wikibusiness is community-banned on English Wikipedia since 20 December 2021: Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Archive339#Offer_to_"rent"_admin_account.
Z-Technetics / Wiki Creators LLC
- Different from wikicreators.com and wikicreatorsinc.com.
Z-Technetics is a marketing company based in Karachi, Pakistan. Goes by various names such as Wiki Creators LLC, Estech Digital, and Techture. Impersonates Wikipedia administrators in off-wiki communications. Deceives customers in relation to paid contributions policies.
- Websites
- thewikiconsultants.com
- thewikisociety.com
- wikicreatorllc.com
- wikicreatorsllc.com
- wikicreatorsllc.net
- wikicurators.com
- wikiexecutives.com
- wikipediaprime.com
- wikiprofessionalsllc.com
- ztechnetics.com
- Accounts
- ElizabethWiki2001 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- CherylWiki007 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- JessicaBruton (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- YiYiYangYang (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- BettytheBeth (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/CharmenderDeol
wikicreators.com
- As of Oct.2018 Jay Soshnick of WikiCreators (and formerly senior manager of WikiExperts) is reaching out to Wikipedia editors on LinkedIn to offer WikiCreators paid work
Wiki Curator
- Creation, editing, and monitoring of Wikipedia articles advertised at http://wikicurator.com.
- "Clients include American and international companies, executives, authors, motivational speakers, artists, and musicians." Fees ~$250 for article. (2018)
- wikicurators.com 2021 Google search ad
- Listed address is a PostalAnnex strip mall mailbox company
wikieditors.net
"We are quality content ventriloquists"
WikiExperts
Website (employees 3)
- On October 17, 2013, the firm, its employees, and any related firms were banned from editing Wikipedia.[1]
- At ticket:2017082310013745 a client writes to Wikipedia volunteers at WP:OTRS for service follow up. It seems apparent that the customer does not distinguish Wikipedia the website, Wikipedia's volunteers, and this company. When this person has follow up concerns about the paid editing they purchased, they seek to continue the business relationship with Wikipedia volunteers as if there were no difference. It is a burden for Wikipedia volunteers to be pressured to fulfill service requests encouraged by paid editing companies. Also, no attempt to disclose paid editing when posting to articles.
- User:Jeremy112233
- User:Salamuddin Z. Shaikh / WP:Sockpuppet investigations/Rudra.shukla/Archive
- User:Kate A. Steel / Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Caroline A. Murphy
- User:Masterknighted/User:Brainplanner (probably)
Other domains:
- wikiguard.us
WikiExpertsInc / Salsoft
Based in Karachi. Advertises using multiple domains, see Google Ads Transparency Center. Business model very similar to Abtach. Scam reported at help desk. Probably the same as Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/MilesJ22. As of November 2023, they advertise on Google under the name of iTechDevice.
- Websites
- 360wikiwriters.com
- americanwikiwriters.com
- editorialboardwikipedia.com
- elitewikipedia.com
- elitewikiwriting.com
- elitewikiwriting.co.uk
- getmeonwiki.com
- premiumwikiconsultants.com
- professionalwikiwriters.com
- speedy-wiki-listing.com
- wikiconsultants.com
- wikiexpertsinc.com
- wikinativeinc.com
- wikiperfectionists.com
- wikipublishersonline.com
- wikipublishingagency.com
- wikpedias.com
wikifederation.com
- "Get Your Wikipedia Looked After By The Maestros Expert Wikipedia Services Are Just A Click Away!"
- sample pitch at ticket:2023032810005037
- [31]
Wikify
- wikify.ru
- Users
- Gruznov (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
Wiki Genie
- Wiki Genie
- Charges $100 per hour
- ticket:2022020210007346
Wikigenies
Google targeted ad "Boost Your Online Reputation. Improve Your Online Presence. Enhance Online Visibility. Improve Your Wikipedia Presence: We'll Create, Optimize & Protect Your Pages"
TheWikiGurus
- Probably based in India and run by Rahul Sharma based on Google Ads data.
- article creation, "tag removal from Wikipedia page, getting a backlink from Wikipedia, ranking your Wikipedia page to the top of Google, monitoring Wikipedia page and as well as many other services"
- thewikigurus.com
WikiLab
- website
- Offers Wikipedia article creation, updating, and article monitoring services.
- Claims to cooperate with Wikipedians but no obvious disclosures can be attributed to the company.
- Noticeably bad English on company website
- DNS registrar: Hosting Ukraine LLC
- Possibly related to WikiBusiness of the Ukraine (WikiLab's twitter has uploaded WikiBusiness documents)
- Not to be confused with Wikilabs (a Wikimedia Foundation property), WikiLab project on Github, or WikiLabs (Malaysian software company)
Wikimakers
- wikimakers.net
- wikimaker.net (redirects to previous)
- Special:Contributions/Muhammad Ali Khalid (UPE blocked)
- domain registered to Muhammad Ali Khalid in Lahore; blocked user also says they are in Lahore at Special:Diff/663563165
- Google ads circa July 2021
Wiki Masters
Wikimou
- wikimou.com
- Advertises on Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/183154431126?ul_noapp=true
WikiNative
Based in Shrewsbury, England, WikiNative was founded by James Lawrie (possibly edited Wikipedia using User:James Lawrie). At least one account (User:Turtle neck ninja) is subject to an ArbCom block.
WikiNatives
- Different from wikinative.com.
WikiNatives. Running Ads on Google managed by Marketing Notch.
wikiofficer.com / Kallada Software Services
- wikiofficer.com/[32]
- FB page
- Company is actively emailing companies to drum up business as of 2017.
- User:OfficialPankajPatidar More than 500 sock accounts
- on Upwork; charges $400 flat fee for article creation; claims creation of over 100 articles
Wiki Pages Creator
- wikipagescreator.com
- Pages listed on their about page don't exist and never have
Wikipediaexperts
- [33] - Site not accessible on Jan 11, 2021
- Uses same videos
- Puzzle globe logo infringement
- Claim 350 articles created
WikipediaLLC
- https://wikipediallc.com/
- "We just don’t create your page – we create your existence!"
- offers page creation/monitoring to "manag[e] its client's public image... enhancing their brand visibility and building a positive brand image"
- puzzle globe logo infringement
- Rochester NY phone number
wikipediaservices.com
- Claim nearly 3700 articles created
Wikipediawriters.com
Website[dead link] Estimated number of employees (3)[35]
Belongs to this sock family[36] -> blocked in 2012 Also appear to work as wikipediasolutions Now using the website HireWikiWriters
2018 WIPO action by WMF listed (Redacted) as owner of domain Wikipediawriters.com [37], same name (Canadian) is associated with WikipediaWriters by Financial Times [38]. As of January 2020, WMF owns the domain.
WikiPens
- Website, number of employees 2 per LinkedIn
WikiPresence
- Website, number of employees (unknown)
- Reddragon7 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
WikiPublishers
- wikipublishersonline.com - Google Ad as of June 2020
- procreativewriters.com/wikipedia
- wikipediainc.com
- wikipublishers.co.uk
wikipublishersonline.com appears in Google targeted search ads for Wiki page creation. Asserts page creation "by a Wikipedia professional". Shares a US toll-free phone number with "Pro Creative Writers" of San Francisco but writing style does not appear to be idiomatic American English.
Pro Creative Writers displays has displayed infringing puzzle globe. $1,200 to $3,500 article creation offers.
- https://www.procreativewriters.com / https://www.wikipediainc.com (abandoned 2020-03)
- Claim to have written +1100 articles and have 13 years experience (i.e. probably already banned).
- Has attempted to edit as part of WP:WIR.
- Discloses after block (via sock), but often fails to initially disclose.
- Employs sock-puppets - see ElricFullMetal (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) and MNB9911 sockfarm
- Users listed at COIN.
- DoshNomad (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) per this comment
- EdJaUno (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) per this disclosure
- ElricFullMetal (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) per this disclosure
- Update April 2021: Now almost certainly under www.wikipublishers.co.uk (Website, archive), UK toll free number. Compare site with archive of wikipublishersonline. Google ad for "hire wikipedia creator". Claims to use IAR in the FAQs. Pahunkat (talk) 16:03, 2 April 2021 (UTC)
- creativewritinghub.com (down as of July 25th, 2023) Q: do you reveal that you edit for pay on Wikipedia?Ben White: Ofcourse not, Lol
More sites:
- elitewikiwriting.co.uk
- wikipublications.com
WikiPublishers LLC
- Different from WikiPublishers Online
The domain was created in November 2021 and uses Google Ads to attract its clients. It spends between $1k and $1.5k on Google PPC. Jehanzeab Mahmood, who is based in Karachi, Pakistan, is likely the owner. He is listed on Google Ads Transparency Center as the advertiser and has mentioned this service on his LinkedIn profile.
- prowikiexpert.com
- wikiexcel.co.uk
- wikipioneers.com
- wikipublishersllc.com
Wiki-service.org
- wiki-service.org/
- ticket:2017090110013936
- 2 payments of $700, get a Wikipedia article
- article deleted, buyer asked if they were scammed
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Stoubora (see scammed person's comments & email thread)
Wiki Submissions
See Ticket:2022112210006104 and Ticket:2023060710000987.
- wikisubmissions.com
wikisysops
Wikipedia Thrive
- wikipediathrive.com
- Uses Wikipedia trademark. Advertising on Google Ads using Branding Studio Incorporated LLC.
WikiWiz
Wiki Wookiee
- wikiwookiee.com
- Offer to spam links to articles for SEO purposes.
WizardsofWiki
Wizards of Wiki was founded in 2011 by Mark Bray. It is based in London, England. Uses Google Ads for advertisement.
- wizardsofwiki.com
- wikistrategist.com
- q-knowledge.com
- findtheservice.com
- bpedia.net
- bio-templates.com
- Jacobs, Emma (February 26, 2015). "Editors-for-hire on Wikipedia". Financial Times. (paywall)
Write-N-Research
- guru.com
Pittsburgh
- KingMak1 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) - Action1212 sockfarm
The Writers for Hire
- Website
- https://www.thewritersforhire.com/wikipedia/
- Operated by Ms. Wintress Odom, seems to be a fairly large and established company[39], boasting "a client list that includes Forbes, Mitsubishi and International Trade Center.
Services include "Posting your finalized draft live on Wikipedia; Monitoring your article and updating as needed"
Puzzle globe infringement (removed). Texas based.
Talks about getting press for non-notables.
writinglord.com
- [40]
- Probably UNIMER Centroamérica
Google targeted search ad: "Hire Professional Wikipedia Writer to create Best Wikipedia Page.100% Money back Guarantee"
Yourprmanager
Ticket#10759339
Disclosed paid editing but blocked
These companies used to do disclosed paid editing but have been blocked.
Catelyn Benson & C o
- Stone cold Staffordshire (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · page moves · block user · logs · block log · arb · rfc · lta · SPI · cuwiki)
- Company services as advertised on Freelancer.com: [41]
Manchester (UK) based company offering writing services, including Wikipedia article creation. The one editor affiliated with the company, User:Stone cold Staffordshire, fully complied with WP:PAID and properly disclosed, but was blocked in May 2019 for advertising and promotion on Wikipedia.
Publicis
- Mslgroupofficial (talk · contribs) (username block)
- 67.246.61.* and 167.246.61.0/24 blocked for 3 years (corporate IP)
- Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Susana Hodge - possibly subcontractor
- At least four disclosed editors from subsidiaries MSL and Team One
Details - Publicis PR company and US subsidiaries at COIN.
Disclosed paid editing
Most paid editors who disclose their conflicts of interest do not get blocked.
CREWE
In 2012, Wikipedians formed a group called the Corporate Representatives for Ethical Wikipedia Engagement (CREWE), and the UK's Chartered Institute of Public Relations published a guideline for best practices in engaging with Wikipedia.
In 2014, members of CREWE published an open letter on-wiki committing to upholding those guidelines. Non-profit PR industry groups and academics associated with this effort, and potential contacts:
- MDC Partners (Michael Bassik, User:Mbassik)
- Chartered Institute of Public Relations, (Paul Wilkinson, User:Paul W, and Rob Brown, User:Rubblebrain)
- Institute for Public Relations, (Tina McCorkindale)
- PR Council (Renee Wilson)
- Sam Ford, MIT / Western Kentucky University, (User:Leumas712)
- Andrew Lih, American University (User:Fuzheado)
- Marcia DiStaso, Penn State University (User:MarciaDiStaso)
Signatories to the open letter (and later representatives of those groups):
CREWE editors
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Other agencies that are confirmed participants (listed on the letter, as of 6/2019; some accts never edited):
Inactive members
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Beutler Ink
Beutler Ink editors
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EthicalWiki
EthicalWiki editors
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Lumino
Lumino editors
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HoT Tomato
HoT Tomato editors
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WhiteHatWiki
WhiteHatWiki editors
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