Hey it’s the scunthorpe problem… okay with that reference out of that way.
Dumping these here, some abuse I was asked to look into.
Zeppelin Bomb Marker
Fake: Ingress
Stolen From: Ingress
Proof: Hartlepool History Then & Now
Forest Drive Parking Sign at Lakeside Lake
Fake: Ingress
Stolen From: Ingress
Blakehopeburnhaugh Car Park (Northern end Kielder Forest Drive) , Blakehopeburnhaugh, Northumberland - See Around Britain
Fake: Ingress
Fake: Ingress
Stolen From: Ingress
The mansion in the super blurry low quality photo is actually Ormesby Hall
Cilica Park & Scout Hut Notice Board
Fake: Ingress
Stolen From: Ingress
The logo in one of the notices is the logo of Charnwood Council, located in Loughbrough.
Cilica Park Roadside Nature Reserve Trail Marker Sign
Fake: Ingress
Stolen From: Ingress
Buzzy Park Nature Preservation Trail Marker 9
Fake: Ingress
Stolen From: Ingress
Fake: Ingress
Stolen From: Ingress
Fake: Ingress
Stolen From: Ingress
Not sure where this is stolen from, but there never was and never has been a post office here, this comes from the official UK post office branch finder
Fake: Ingress
Stolen From: Ingress
The logo in one of the notices is the logo of Charnwood Council, located in Loughbrough again.
Fake: Ingress
Stolen From: Ingress
There’s even more that has appeared in the super secret map that hasn’t synced to Ingress yet so can’t deeplink to them.
If any other UK reviewers get anything from Scunthorpe, I suggest you look closely, chances are they’re all fake.
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I had a few Scunthorpe reviews earlier.
Could you please explain in proper laymans terms what you are identifying for them to be fake?
TIA
I think they are seeing the same photo already present in the database elsewhere being used to create a fake wayspot in a second location.
In those instances you may be presented with the same photo for main and supplementary or the supplementary won’t show the object but the background area looks different - for example different kinds of trees or weather.
Yeah someone is using pre-existing photos from other portals from all around the country to create fakes here, I’ve sent the list so far on the report abuse form.
I’ll keep trying to combat it but a lot I can’t find where they’ve been stolen from cause the photos they’ve stolen are potato and super super blurry, obviously not real photos taken by the submitter but clearly stolen/fake.
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Will be extra vigilant. Thanks..
I have had a couple tonight.
Used the report but would be better if that allowed you to enter some notes to explain why you are reporting it.
Stated it was a church notice board but street view showed no church, no sign, different buildings in the background and different style of metal railings.
Did consider using the “Incorrect Location” option but that sounds like the wrong position by accident.
Hopefully, Niantic can check and if it is the same guy they can bulk remove all his nominations.
Hey @belahzur, we have reviewed the report and have taken action on the Wayspots and the Wayfinder 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.
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I see how this is abuse. But I don’t see how it’s the Scunthorpe problem. I guess they contain dirty words I don’t know. Scunthorpe problem - Wikipedia
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It was a problem prevelent in Scunthorpe, not THE Scunthorpe Problem. 
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This was discussed on another thread. There were dozens of them, and although they keep getting removed they also keep getting re-added. This one was deleted and recreated using a different name..
King Richard lll History Plauqe
53.565146, -0.677242
I reported it already, but there must surely be a large ring of accounts involved because they are getting through voting.
Good work at keeping an eye on them, I haven’t checked again recently.
I’m pretty sure the 5 trail markers near there are fake too, they appeared at the same time as this abuse case, though I can’t find where they’ve come from so I can’t 100% prove it, other than the photos look nothing like the wooded area they’ve been pinned in
Yeah, I can find no evidence of a trail with that name, I looked at MAP.NORTHLINCS.GOV.UK which shows no registered footpaths there..
Looking at some old OS maps (e.g. https://maps.nls.uk/view/101587343), it does look like there were some tracks through that woodland, so it’s possible something is still there.
However, this one definitely looks like it is fake:
There’s clearly a green field in the background, but on the map (Ingress Intel Map or https://maps.app.goo.gl/ciAmmnUwDnX4oGdv7) there’s no such patch of greenery.
Best pic I can get..
Oh persistence worked in the end, stolen from:
Allestree Park ‘Big Wood’ Nature Trail #5
52.962321,-1.490972
I was about to say that the background and hillside are not like the area at all…
Well found
@NianticAaron
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Good work again hopefully Aaron can remove those 5 fake/stolen trail markers too.
Scotter Woods Trail Marker Post #1
53.566683, -0.682499
taken from
Allestree Park ‘Big Wood’ Nature Trail #1
52.95994,-1.493422
Scotter Road Trail Post #2
53.567338, -0.682449
taken from
Allestree Park ‘Big Wood’ Nature Trail #2
52.96046,-1.493302
Scotter Road Trail Post #3
53.567076, -0.6828449999999999
taken from
Allestree Park ‘Big Wood’ Nature Trail #3
52.960806999999996, -1.493153
Scotter Road Trail Post #4
53.566491, -0.683719
taken from
Allestree Park ‘Big Wood’ Nature Trail #4
52.961985999999996, -1.4929569999999999
Scotter Road Trail Post #5
53.56648, -0.684337
taken from
Allestree Park ‘Big Wood’ Nature Trail #5
52.962320999999996, -1.490972
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Would be ideal if Niantic could geofence the area and any nominations there would need an extra confirmation before being accepted either by staff or some carefully selected “Super Reviewers”…
I know the image collection will be huge but would it be possible for Niantic to do a duplicate image check. I know that in future there would be ways round it but it may remove many that are already on the map…
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As much as you’d think that makes sense, then we’d end up with another case of the London abuse vector.
I am not aware of what that is…
Long time ago back in OPR, a certain area of London was just an abuse hellhole, fakes, stuff very very misplaced, stolen photos from other wayspots, etc, Nia fenced them and everything from that area went into a blackhole that would never enter normal review queue, one of the UK group lives in that geofenced abuse vector, and her (legit) stuff would sit in queue for 2yrs and would never ever be seen in normal review.
Casey once spoke about it, before quickly editing his post to remove any reference to this ‘abuse vector’, now its just a myth/legend of the OPR community.
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