Extensive set of fakes in the area around Roseville, Rocklin, Granite Bay California
Hosette-ING
Posts: 3,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
I've been seeing a lot of fishy submissions from the area east of Sacramento recently. A few days ago I documented what was clearly a photoshop fake in nearby Granite Bay: https://community.wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/discussion/26819/this-is-an-impressive-photoshop-fake
However, I've seen some other sketchy stuff too, things that were clearly not in the locations that they were placed in although at first glance they seemed plausible... probably good enough that some got approved. Tonight I spotted a submission of a chess table in Granite Bay, very close to the fake utility box I documented above, and I recognized the images in it. I was able to use the mission authoring tool to search for the word "chess" and find several instances of fakes that used the exact same photos as the submission.
I recently reviewed a little free library that I identified as a fake submission, and then found the one that's real. Tonight I was able to find more fakes of the same library. All in all I found five live fakes of the Little Free Library along with one that I spotted when reviewing and one legitimate one. I found six fake chess board tables along with one legitimate one and one fake submission, although I believe I saw another fake submission recently and didn't document it. I also found a little free puzzle library that I'm 99.9% certain is fake.
I've documented my findings in a Google doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o7ZDbj4ZdzwhHx-LJIa1V8TFbhtpFPYC5qo-78cR9iQ/edit?usp=sharing
@NianticGiffard @Danbocat-PGO Can you have someone look into this please? If I've been able to find this many fakes using public data and minimal effort I'm quite certain there are a lot more.
(Also, it would be nice if there was a meta AT that would summon the next Niantic person to get to it rather than having to remember who is active and tag a bunch of people.)
Comments
For anyone who wants a quick synopsis without scrolling a document, here's a little free library and several fakes of the same library. I've also reviewed (and reported as abuse) another submission of the same library.
Real One
Rukhala Park Free Lending Library: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.802654,-121.279945&z=17&pll=38.802654,-121.279945
Fakes
Free library exchange: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.751963,-121.354427&z=17&pll=38.751963,-121.354427
Norm Fratis Library Exchange: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.788905,-121.367937&z=17&pll=38.788905,-121.367937
Woodbridge free library exchange: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.757552,-121.279738&z=17&pll=38.757552,-121.279738
Festersen Free library exchange: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.777057,-121.363106&z=17&pll=38.777057,-121.363106
Santucci Park Free Library Exchange: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.757813,-121.353254&z=17&pll=38.757813,-121.353254
The very first thing I reviewed today:
It's not there. There are two existing ones, at least one of which is fake.
FAKE: Heel flex workout station https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.758069,-121.280513&z=17&pll=38.758069,-121.280513
POSSIBLY FAKE: Heel Flex Station https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.802749,-121.332988&z=17&pll=38.802749,-121.332988
Six wayspots with identical photos. One of these is probably real.
Multiple bars exercise equipment: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.760757,-121.346519&z=17&pll=38.760757,-121.346519
All in one exercise equipment: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.788089,-121.358267&z=17&pll=38.788089,-121.358267
Combination exercise bars: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.788669,-121.368615&z=17&pll=38.788669,-121.368615
All in one exercise bars: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.759167,-121.33155&z=17&pll=38.759167,-121.33155
Multifunctional exercise equipment: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.778208,-121.374945&z=17&pll=38.778208,-121.374945
Multi use exercise bars: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.818225,-121.270065&z=17&pll=38.818225,-121.270065
Oh look! I just got another fake in Granite Bay, the exact same chess table photos at a different position.
@NianticGiffard Has anyone looked into this yet?
I just found another brazen fake with the same patterns. The "We are Roseville" art competition doesn't seem to exist.
Existing duplicate: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.783688,-121.359667&z=17&pll=38.783688,-121.359667
Exact same wings photoshopped onto a brick wall: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.649149,-121.11935&z=17&pll=38.649149,-121.11935
Exact same composite of wings photoshopped elsewhere in the same shopping center as the brick wall: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.650848,-121.120256&z=17&pll=38.650848,-121.120256
Hey there! It's still under investigation, I will write back once we have information.
@NianticGiffard Thank you for the update! I'm finding more, probably from the same person, every day and updating the document when I do.
I will wait for confirmation but I noticed today that a bunch of the fakes have disappeared. Excellent work Niantic!
New ones today:
Free library exchange at Wesley Park: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.818699,-121.269454&z=17&pll=38.818699,-121.269454
Xylophone artwork: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.817901,-121.269004&z=17&pll=38.817901,-121.269004
Xylophone For All is legitimate: https://intel.ingress.com/intel?ll=38.799002,-121.328024&z=17&pll=38.799002,-121.328024
Sorry for the delay there, @Hosette-ING! We have reviewed the report and have taken action on 67 Wayspots and 11 Wayfinders in accordance with our policies. While we are unable to discuss our actions in detail to protect the submitter’s privacy, they may include, but are not limited to, sending a warning message, placing restrictions on their Wayfarer, Pokémon GO, or Ingress account, putting their account on probation, or placing a temporary or permanent suspension on their Wayfarer, Pokémon GO or Ingress account.
Thanks for helping us maintain the quality of the Wayspots.
Hallelujah!
I found another Roseville fake. The picture obviously wasn't in the park that it claimed to be in. It's copied from this website, and it's at Stringham Park in Lagrangeville NY, on the other side of the country. https://www.lagrangesoccer.org/page/show/4732190-field-info