Deluge of Duplicate Wayspots from Bad Actors

General Discussion
1

In the past few weeks, I’ve noticed a deluge of duplicate wayspots in incorrect locations around my community. Here’s a list of those wayspots (as of today)

Wayspot Name Location Correct Wayspot Location
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH14.481223,120.909514.486095,120.894862
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH14.48044,120.89543714.486095,120.894862
Jesus the Great I Am14.481758,120.90764114.489854,120.902627
Jesus the Great I Am14.475874,120.89558614.489854,120.902627
Clock Tower Cavite City14.480735,120.89738814.482804,120.90881
FILIPINO AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP TREE14.481188,120.89496314.481688,120.908243
HALL OF JUSTICE Cavite City14.478794,120.8919314.482932,120.909354
HALL OF JUSTICE CAVITE CITY14.480205,120.89616614.482932,120.909354
UNITED CHURCH OF CAVITE UCCP SEABREEZE14.482044,120.89262814.469647,120.889587
DR. JOSE RIZAL STATUE14.483012,120.89539114.481802,120.909195
PORTAVAGA CHURCH14.476463,120.89586714.482918,120.909997
PORTA VAGA CHURCH14.483513,120.89134914.482918,120.909997
BFC BIBLE FAITH CENTER14.48311,120.89377114.480789,120.903905
BIBLE FAITH CENTER14.487196,120.90117514.480789,120.903905
TOTTIE'S DINOSAUR STATUE14.475933,120.89499514.481242,120.907919
MITCHEY'S DINOSAUR STATUE14.478308,120.89333214.481201,120.908087
INGLESIA NI CRISTO14.481695,120.90955414.489092,120.896154
INGLESIA NI CRISTO14.489292,120.89606414.489092,120.896154
INGLESIA NI CRISTO14.480852,120.89333514.489092,120.896154
CAVITE CITY TOURIST INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE CENTER14.48229,120.89613414.481652,120.908432

There is also a bunch of wayspots I cannot determine which one's the original but all are the same photos and have incorrect names or titles.

Wayspot Name Location Correct Wayspot Location
SAINT AZI ACOSTA OF ALL BLESSINGS14.478162,120.891185
MARIA MAGDALENA PRAYING GROTTO14.481405,120.892657
SAINT JOYCE JIMENEZ OF YOUTHFUL14.475257,120.896139
SAINT FATIMA OF MIRACLES PRAYING GROTTO14.47974,120.902406
SAINT MARIA MAGDALENE Praying Grotto14.479722,120.899809
SAINT MARY OF FERTILITY PRAYING GROTTO14.483096,120.908409

I have reported a few of the wayspots and moved them to the correct location but in the past few days, new duplicate wayspots appeared in the previous location. It seems that this will not stop unless the bad actors are addressed.

I’ve already reported these as duplicates but as some are removed, new duplicates appear in the games.

I am assuming that this is a work of a certain group due to the naming convention (using all uppercase in the titles) and similar wayspots being used including the area where they appear. It looks like they want to force some pokestops to become gyms.

If this is the wrong thread or venue, please let me know.

2

Hello @Rebi

Thanks for posting this.
It certainly looks suspicious. By posting here a member of the wayfarer team can see it and decide if there is something to investigate further.

3 Likes
3

@Rebi I’ve handed your report to the team for review. I’ll update you here with the outcome as soon as possible.

8 Likes
4

Pointing out that “Azi Acosta” and “Joyce Jimenez” are actresses. Blatantly putting misleading names on shrines feels like another type of misleading on top of another.

3 Likes
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Thank you for reviewing! Will wait for updates. I’ll add to the report just in case more shows up.

Correct. They are “adult” movie actresses. Additionally, if you look at some of the Dinosaur wayspots, “Totti” and “Mitchey” are people’s names.

1 Like
6

Today, a new batch of wayspots has become live in the wayfarer map. It suffers from the same problem as above.

Wayspot Name Location Correct Wayspot Location
LIGA NG BARANGAY CIUDAD DE CAVITE14.482944, 120.8960209999999914.480523, 120.901209
HIPPOPOTAMUS STATUE14.483526999999999, 120.89757914.481285999999999, 120.907985
FILIPINO AMERICAN FRIENDSHIL TREE14.482128, 120.8984614.481688,120.908243
UNIDA CHRISTIAN CHURCH14.479616, 120.89176314.480312999999999, 120.896671
GORILLA STATUE14.479642, 120.89528114.48114, 120.90834
Jesus the Great I Am Church14.479244, 120.89538814.489854,120.902627
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH14.479178, 120.8949919999999914.486095,120.894862
CHURCH OF PORTAVAGA14.480853, 120.89832614.482918,120.909997

Also, another “adult” actress has been canonized into these grotto.

Wayspot Name Location Correct Wayspot Location
SAINT SASHA GREY OF ALL HOLY14.482187, 120.89751514.472843, 120.891353
SAINT LEXIE LORE OF ALL DREAMS14.483986, 120.896754
MARIA DE SALAVASION PRAYING GROTTO14.487003,120.900881
NUESTRA SEÑORA DELA SOLEDAD DE PORTA VAGA PRAYING GROTTO14.482246,120.909612

Please include this in the initial report. Thank you @NianticLC.

1 Like
7

I’ve been repeatedly having to reject duplicate Pokéstops that are exactly identical to existing ones except for their location. It seems this isn’t limited to your area.

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Some of the wayspots have now been deleted through a duplicates report.

Four more wayspots of the same nature has appeared. With two adult actresses seemingly being canonized.

Wayspot Name Location Correct Wayspot Location
SAINT EIMI FUKADA OF PEACE14.481987, 120.89261814.472843, 120.891353
SAINT MARIA OZAWA OF SERENITY14.480715, 120.8973949999999914.472843, 120.891353
THE CLOCK TOWER OF CAVITE CITY14.481444, 120.89269314.482804,120.90881
INGLESIA NI CRISTO14.480851999999999, 120.8933359999999914.489092,120.896154

I tried to join the local Pokemon Go group chat and found the bad actor there. I can share the IGN with you @NianticLC. Based on his chats, he found a way to game the submission so it always gets accepted by Emily.

2 Likes
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Hey @Rebi! We have reviewed the report and have taken action on 34 Wayspots and the Wayfinder in accordance with our policies. Thanks for helping us maintain the quality of the Wayspots.

3 Likes