Template:Sockpuppet

An editor has expressed a concern that this account may be a sock puppet of [[User:{{{1}}}|{{{1}}}]] ([[User talk:{{{1}}}|talk]] · [[Special:Contribs/{{{1}}}|contribs]] · [[Special:Log/{{{1}}}|logs]]).
Please refer to editing habits, contributions or the sockpuppet investigation of the sockpuppeteer for evidence. This policy subsection may also be helpful.

Account information: block log – current autoblocks – contribs – logs – abuse log – CentralAuth

Template documentation[view] [edit] [history] [purge]

Brief guide to using this template

{{Sockpuppet & sockmaster & blank/blocked/proven/confirmed }}

You think the account is a sock, but aren't sure and you haven't blocked it: {{Sockpuppet|Master account}}
Sock has been blocked based on edits: {{Sockpuppet|Master account|blocked}}
Sock has been blocked based on CheckUser evidence: {{Sockpuppet|Master account|confirmed}}.

To append links, evidence, or a brief note, use |3=. Useful for adding a diff to a checkuser's talk page, if the check was not conducted at SPI. If explaining behavioural evidence, be mindful of WP:BEANS.

For sockmasters, use {{Sockpuppeteer}}.

This template is used on approximately 249,000 pages.
To avoid major disruption and server load, any changes should be tested in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. The tested changes can be added to this page in a single edit. Consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.

Usage

Code Use Displays

{{sockpuppet|Example}}

{{sockpuppet|Example|suspected}} {{sockpuppet|Example|spi}}

Account is not yet blocked but is under investigation.

An editor has expressed a concern that this account may be a sock puppet of Example (talk · contribs · logs).
Please refer to editing habits, contributions or the sockpuppet investigation of the sockpuppeteer for evidence. This policy subsection may also be helpful.

Account information: block log – current autoblocks – contribs – logs – abuse log – CentralAuth

{{sockpuppet|Example|blocked}}

The account has been blocked based on behavioural evidence.

This account is a suspected sock puppet of Example and has been blocked indefinitely.
Please refer to editing habits, contributions or the sockpuppet investigation of the sockpuppeteer for evidence. This policy subsection may also be helpful.

Account information: block log – current autoblocks – contribs – logs – abuse log – CentralAuth

{{sockpuppet|Example|proven}}

Behaviour proved beyond a reasonable doubt (WP:DUCK) or similar but there is no CU

Confirmed result (CU may have given another result).

This account is a sock puppet of Example and has been blocked indefinitely.
Please refer to editing habits, contributions or the sockpuppet investigation of the sockpuppeteer for evidence. This policy subsection may also be helpful.

Account information: block log – current autoblocks – contribs – logs – abuse log – CentralAuth

{{sockpuppet|Example|confirmed}}

{{sockpuppet|Example|cuconfirmed}}
{{sockpuppet|Example|nbconfirmed}}

A CU has

Confirmed that the accounts are related.

This account is a sock puppet of Example and has been blocked indefinitely.
Please refer to editing habits, contributions or the sockpuppet investigation of the sockpuppeteer for evidence. This policy subsection may also be helpful.

Account information: block log – current autoblocks – contribs – logs – abuse log – CentralAuth

{{sockpuppet|Example|confirmed|locked=yes}}

Account has been confirmed by a CU, locally blocked indef and globally locked.

This account is a sock puppet of Example and has been locked globally.
Please refer to editing habits, contributions or the sockpuppet investigation of the sockpuppeteer for evidence. This policy subsection may also be helpful.

Account information: block log – current autoblocks – contribs – logs – abuse log – CentralAuth

{{sockpuppet|Example|cuconfirmed|notblocked=yes}}

A CheckUser has confirmed that the account is a sock (as above) but has not been blocked. This works with all parameters.

An editor has expressed a concern that this account may be a sock puppet of Example (talk · contribs · logs).
Please refer to editing habits, contributions or the sockpuppet investigation of the sockpuppeteer for evidence. This policy subsection may also be helpful.

Account information: block log – current autoblocks – contribs – logs – abuse log – CentralAuth

{{checked sockpuppet|Example}}

A CheckUser has confirmed that the account is a sockpuppet, and indefinite blocks can be added.

This account is a sock puppet of Example and has been blocked indefinitely.
Please refer to the referenced master account's edits for evidence.

Account information: block log – current autoblocks – contribs – logs – abuse log – CentralAuth

For use when there is a master which is not confirmed

(can be used in addition to the parameters below)

Code

Use

Displays

{{Sockpuppet|Example|confirmed |altmaster=Example2|altmaster-status=proven}}

User:Example has been confirmed to another sock account but there is a very strong connection to another master (Example2) which is not CU confirmed.

This account is a sock puppet of Example and has been blocked indefinitely.
Please refer to editing habits, contributions or the sockpuppet investigation of the sockpuppeteer for evidence. This policy subsection may also be helpful.

Account information: block log – current autoblocks – contribs – logs – abuse log – CentralAuth

{{Sockpuppet|Example|confirmed |altmaster=Example2|altmaster-status=suspected}}

User:Example has been confirmed to another sock account but User:Example2 is the suspected master.

This account is a sock puppet of Example and has been blocked indefinitely.
Please refer to editing habits, contributions or the sockpuppet investigation of the sockpuppeteer for evidence. This policy subsection may also be helpful.

Account information: block log – current autoblocks – contribs – logs – abuse log – CentralAuth

{{Sockpuppet|Example|proven |altmaster=Example2|altmaster-status=suspected}}

User:Example is proven to be a sock of another account but both are suspected to be a sock of User:Example2.

This account is a sock puppet of Example and has been blocked indefinitely.
Please refer to editing habits, contributions or the sockpuppet investigation of the sockpuppeteer for evidence. This policy subsection may also be helpful.

Account information: block log – current autoblocks – contribs – logs – abuse log – CentralAuth

The template adds the __NOINDEX__ magic word.

Parameters

The first parameter in this table is required and the template will fail without it. All the other parameters are optional.

Parameter(s)	Values	Notes
First positional parameter (optionally `\|1=`)	Username of the sockmaster or suspected sockmaster	Just include the name, no "User:" or square brackets.
Second positional parameter (optionally `\|2=`)	`spi` `suspected` `blocked` `proven` `confirmed` `cuconfirmed` `nbconfirmed`	`spi`, `suspected` and default (nothing specified) - these are equivalent, and can be used if the user is still under investigation or has not yet been blocked or confirmed by checkuser. `blocked` - this is used for sockpuppets that have been blocked on behavioural evidence (the duck test) or behavioural evidence combined with a non-conclusive CU result (such as Possible). `proven` - Behaviour is beyond reasonable doubt but there is no CU Confirmed result (CU may have given a different result). `confirmed`, `cuconfirmed` and `nbconfirmed` - A CU has Confirmed that the accounts are related.
Third positional parameter (optionally `\|3=`) `\|evidence=`	Evidence of sockpuppetry	This field can be used to link to the evidence of sockpuppetry, or to give a very brief summary (a couple of words). If this parameter is left blank and the sockpuppet investigation case page is a blue link, then a link to the case page is provided automatically.
`\|spipage=`	Subpage name (just the master) of the SPI if not the same as the master	This field can be used to specify a different SPI page if the page is not named for the master in parameter 2.
`\|locked=`	`yes`	Use `\|locked=yes` if the account is globally locked.
`\|notblocked=`	`yes`	This parameter can be used to remove the note about the account being blocked, such as when a version other than the default applies. Such as if an account is confirmed by a CheckUser but is left unblocked. This parameter works with all parameters.
`\|length=`	Length of time the sockpuppet or suspected sockpuppet was blocked	Use this field if the sockpuppet or suspected sockpuppet was blocked for a specific length of time. This parameter defaults to "indefinitely". This parameter is ignored, and does not default to indefinitely, if `nbconfirmed` is used.
`\|cat=` `\|category=`	Custom category name for the sockpuppet or suspected sockpuppet	This parameter defaults to the category "Wikipedia sockpuppets of X" if the second positional parameter is set to "confirmed", and "Suspected Wikipedia sockpuppets of X" if the second positional parameter is set to anything else. Here, "X" is the username specified in the first positional parameter.

TemplateData

This is the TemplateData for this template used by TemplateWizard, VisualEditor and other tools. See a monthly parameter usage report for Template:Sockpuppet in articles based on its TemplateData.

TemplateData for Sockpuppet

This template is placed on the user pages of accounts which are sockpuppets, usually by patrolling administrators at SPI.

Template parameters[Edit template data]
Parameter		Description	Type	Status
Master's username	`1`	Username of the sockpuppeteer	User	required
Status	`2`	The status of the account. Set to "spi" or "suspected" if the user is not yet blocked or confirmed by a checkuser but is under investigation. Set to "blocked" if the user has been blocked on behavioral evidence (checkuser not used). Set to "proven" if the user is a sock beyond reasonable doubt. Set to "confirmed" "cuconfirmed" or "nbconfirmed" if the account has been confirmed by a checkuser. If defined, defaults to the 'not yet blocked or confirmed by a checkuser but is under investigation'.	String	suggested
Evidence	`3` `evidence`	Use this parameter to specify evidence different from the normal link to the case page	Content	optional
Block length (if not indefinite)	`length`	The length of time the user has been blocked for. Defaults to indefinite.	String	optional
Block override	`notblocked`	Set to no if the account has not been blocked and the status template is not the default	Line	optional
Globally locked?	`locked`	Set to "yes" if the account has been globally locked	Line	optional
Subpage name of SPI	`spipage`	Define if the SPI has a different name to the master	String	optional
Custom category	`category` `cat`	Adds the user to a custom category. Defaults to "Suspected Wikipedia sockpuppets of [sockmaster]" or "Wikipedia sockpuppets of [sockmaster]" based on the "Status" parameter.	Unknown	optional
Remove categories	`nocat`	Defining this parameter will remove the categories	Line	optional

Template:Sockpuppet

Contents

Usage

For use when there is a master which is not confirmed

Parameters

Categories

TemplateData

See also