helen41
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I have screenshots, but I'm just trying to figure it out before I post it to Vivint
$$$ for WPI vote daily now in Vivint Round 2!
- Thread starter Sasha
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SpecialK82
Ohio, USA
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Great find Helen, wow, I wonder how Vivint will address this, would they have any idea from the site how many votes they receive this way?
frenchtulip
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Helen, fantastic find! I was trying to post a little earlier and got sidetracked with a phone call. Here is what I discovered:
I have just been timing Conejo's votes minute by minute. They are generally gaining at the rate of 1 to 2 votes per minute from 9:54 AM to 10:20 AM (with 3 exceptions in which they gained 3 or 4 votes from minute to minute). I tried to do the reading just as my computer clock turned over to the next minute, but my computer started balking a bit and several seconds elapsed before I got the new number a few times. There does seem to be a pretty consistent pattern of 1 to 2 votes per minute, which does seem to me to be a little suspicious. There may be a voting device of some type being used. I figure in the case of the 3 to 4 votes per minute the extra votes may have been "real" votes.
I am sorry to be so distrustful, but I encountered very obvious cheating in a small online contest. My sister and I were timing in different states and found that when the person in No. 1 position saw that No. 2 and/or No. 3 positions had gained a few votes, he apparently turned on a device that fed in a vote for himself every 30 seconds. He would let the device run for a period of time--sometimes hours--and then his votes stopped. The sponsors surely knew it was going on, but didn't take any action against him and he won the biggest prize. And the essay he had entered was a poorly written paragraph with all sorts of mistakes. It was pretty apparent no one else was voting for his entry when there were really good entries.
The above experience has made me wary of rapid increases in votes, esp. when the votes come in at regular intervals. There must be all kinds of voting devices for those who want to cheat. Some devices may hide the individual computer number, or auditors may not check votes thoroughly to find irregularities.
Because of the regularity of votes for Conejo--1 to 2 per minute--during a surge time, I can't rule out some voting device.
But Helen has found something concrete that is not permitted. I suppose it is possible that Conejo doesn't know that getting votes in that manner is not allowed. But thank goodness Helen found the site right now, and Vivint can give Conejo a warning. The WPI still has a huge lead.
I have just been timing Conejo's votes minute by minute. They are generally gaining at the rate of 1 to 2 votes per minute from 9:54 AM to 10:20 AM (with 3 exceptions in which they gained 3 or 4 votes from minute to minute). I tried to do the reading just as my computer clock turned over to the next minute, but my computer started balking a bit and several seconds elapsed before I got the new number a few times. There does seem to be a pretty consistent pattern of 1 to 2 votes per minute, which does seem to me to be a little suspicious. There may be a voting device of some type being used. I figure in the case of the 3 to 4 votes per minute the extra votes may have been "real" votes.
I am sorry to be so distrustful, but I encountered very obvious cheating in a small online contest. My sister and I were timing in different states and found that when the person in No. 1 position saw that No. 2 and/or No. 3 positions had gained a few votes, he apparently turned on a device that fed in a vote for himself every 30 seconds. He would let the device run for a period of time--sometimes hours--and then his votes stopped. The sponsors surely knew it was going on, but didn't take any action against him and he won the biggest prize. And the essay he had entered was a poorly written paragraph with all sorts of mistakes. It was pretty apparent no one else was voting for his entry when there were really good entries.
The above experience has made me wary of rapid increases in votes, esp. when the votes come in at regular intervals. There must be all kinds of voting devices for those who want to cheat. Some devices may hide the individual computer number, or auditors may not check votes thoroughly to find irregularities.
Because of the regularity of votes for Conejo--1 to 2 per minute--during a surge time, I can't rule out some voting device.
But Helen has found something concrete that is not permitted. I suppose it is possible that Conejo doesn't know that getting votes in that manner is not allowed. But thank goodness Helen found the site right now, and Vivint can give Conejo a warning. The WPI still has a huge lead.
helen41
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I posted on their wall with the link, then emailed this to the contact "I have been closely watching one charity in the Pacific region, because they seem to have sudden spikes in their votes, and quite frankly, I have been suspicious that someone was probably purchasing them at a site like microworkers, but had no way of proving it Conejo Valley has averaged 128 votes a day during the month of July. They got almost double that in the last 3 hours, and yesterday their vote count jumped about 1000. I started looking, and found this link http://sbofferzone.blogspot.com/2011/07/vote-for-friendship-circle-of-conejo.html in which people vote, earn points, then exchange those points for merchandise.I don't think this is the main one, but it is all I could find.
I believe it is probably a couple of people who are trying to help as opposed to the actual charity doing it, but hopefully you can put a stop to it
Thankyou"
I tried to make it from an individual as opposed to our group, and also wanted to plant the seed that this is probably not where they are getting most of the votes. I wish I could have got a screenshot from a site where the money exchange was more direct, but even if they aren't disqualified, I suspect they will go back to their daily average of 128 votes LOL
This might have been a great thing, maybe we are more secure in Pacific than we thought
I believe it is probably a couple of people who are trying to help as opposed to the actual charity doing it, but hopefully you can put a stop to it
Thankyou"
I tried to make it from an individual as opposed to our group, and also wanted to plant the seed that this is probably not where they are getting most of the votes. I wish I could have got a screenshot from a site where the money exchange was more direct, but even if they aren't disqualified, I suspect they will go back to their daily average of 128 votes LOL
This might have been a great thing, maybe we are more secure in Pacific than we thought
Way to go Helen!!
I really do think that Vivint should state all the rules clearly on the site. Anything I have read just makes vague references to illegal activities but doesn't really spell anything out. I hope they get their act together for next year.
I really do think that Vivint should state all the rules clearly on the site. Anything I have read just makes vague references to illegal activities but doesn't really spell anything out. I hope they get their act together for next year.
helen41
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I just got this back
"Hello Helen-
Thank you for this information. I will get in contact with Friendship Circle today to let them know that this is going on. Their supporters are quite zealous in their efforts, so I think you are probably correct in thinking it is a supporter as opposed to the charity.
Please let me know if you have any additional concerns.
Thanks so much!
Holly"
"Hello Helen-
Thank you for this information. I will get in contact with Friendship Circle today to let them know that this is going on. Their supporters are quite zealous in their efforts, so I think you are probably correct in thinking it is a supporter as opposed to the charity.
Please let me know if you have any additional concerns.
Thanks so much!
Holly"
eric_s
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Where did you post it, Helen? I can't find your post on their wall. I'm trying to get them to answer a question too, but i can't reach them. Thanks.
helen41
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when you first go to their site it comes up with top posts. click most recent, and it shows up. the email address is in the comments http://www.facebook.com/VivintHome?sk=wall&filter=1
eric_s
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Oh, ok, i was looking at the Vivint Gives Back Project's page...
SpecialK82
Ohio, USA
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Don't have time to figure out all the daily counts right now, but thought it important to post that Conejo received about 2000 votes today! Here's the file:
frenchtulip
Senior Member
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WOW! Well, Vivint is surely watching closely after what was spotted today. Hopefully, they will issue a warning soon, if not a dq.
Francelle
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Good spotting Helen and quite a good response back from Vivint. Let's hope we see a resumption of Conejo's usual (July) voting numbers!!
I'm afraid it has made me abandon Canada for the moment as this is/was scary. At that rate WPI would not have a chance.
I'm afraid it has made me abandon Canada for the moment as this is/was scary. At that rate WPI would not have a chance.
Francelle
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caledonia
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It could either mean disqualification or Dairy Queen - lol.
Francelle
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I'll go for the Dairy Queen! 
eric_s
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Hey Special K
Do you have a spreadsheet for the vote count? Somebody made one 2 weeks or so ago, but i forgot who. I think that would make the daily counts much easier, you would just have to copy and paste the new numbers in there and the spreadsheet would calculate the new votes for the last 24h. You could even program it to send a complaint to Vivint every time Conejo goes over 300...
Do you have a spreadsheet for the vote count? Somebody made one 2 weeks or so ago, but i forgot who. I think that would make the daily counts much easier, you would just have to copy and paste the new numbers in there and the spreadsheet would calculate the new votes for the last 24h. You could even program it to send a complaint to Vivint every time Conejo goes over 300...
eric_s
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No problem, i will do it. I think there's already one around so i will wait a bit for that person (Special K?) to provide it, but if it doesn't turn up, i will make a new one.