Fake User Accounts

Comments revolve around creating, using, detecting, and debating fake user accounts and data to inflate metrics, pollute data collection, enable testing, or deceive algorithms and services.

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2,889
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#3851
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

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Keywords

AI abovethelaw.com OK SSN CQ FCC PII API FYI BUT fake data profiles users crew accounts disaster plausible fcc persona

Sample Comments

dwiel Aug 21, 2013 View on HN

Better would be a code which reveals a convincing fake account/data.

muttled Jul 22, 2023 View on HN

It's probably making it up. I scrubbed the PII vs a list of fake names and info.

jsemrau Mar 25, 2018 View on HN

It would be fun if there were a service to create false profiles to pollute the data miners of this world.

Overtonwindow Feb 9, 2017 View on HN

Why couldn't they create fake accounts?

hetspookjee Dec 26, 2019 View on HN

Well this fake account will grow with fake data untill it's a pretty real account, right?

andrei-akopian Oct 22, 2024 View on HN

Who is making the fake info generator for all of these?

duxup Oct 1, 2025 View on HN

I don't think that would work, the stories said they generated fake data. There would be users presumably.

meindnoch Apr 15, 2023 View on HN

This is why you should always use fake data when registering somewhere.

emidln Aug 28, 2015 View on HN

It's easier to fake users than to attract real users.

catshirt Feb 2, 2011 View on HN

am i the only one who cringes at the thought of faking users?