As Free Republic noted yesterday, an army of spambots has been polluting Twitter with tweets promoting a hashtag for Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC show. Twitchy covered the story here.
It appears that similar spambots have been promoting other MSNBC shows, not just Maddow’s:
https://twitter.com/Ajahlmc/status/308015344113569793
https://twitter.com/Desirehgrw/status/308132359113408513
https://twitter.com/Marielthft/status/307968937969205248
https://twitter.com/Larhondaqmgd/status/307934775988080640
https://twitter.com/Irinaopas/status/307924849584664576
https://twitter.com/Ashelysiof/status/307920839884562432
https://twitter.com/releqedop/status/307830923540451328
https://twitter.com/Yaelrijh/status/308100186809450496
https://twitter.com/Devinxbrt/status/308054069816197120
https://twitter.com/Izettackjv/status/308048305257066497
https://twitter.com/Shonnasdxo/status/307932269241327616
https://twitter.com/Autumntlmx/status/307931248301572096
https://twitter.com/Tommiefrvl/status/307931100318154752
https://twitter.com/BreettR4763/status/307295487701168128
https://twitter.com/Somermjkf/status/308132179215544320
https://twitter.com/Inezmisw/status/308125713846910976
https://twitter.com/Garnetthwlw/status/307914224343056384
https://twitter.com/Tonyagcgd/status/307857815316357121
Woodward to show on #morningjoe soon as he finishes his conversation with Bill Casey concerning the threat level of the Sperling E-mail.
— doug (@dougdoes) March 1, 2013
Twitchy looked at about a dozen of these accounts and noted some common characteristics. First, most (not all) have small numbers of tweets and small numbers of followers, suggesting that they probably are not bona fide Twitter users.
Second, most (not all) of the profiles link to a service called Followers Delivery. The service claims to sell 100,000 Twitter followers for $320. It also sells Facebook likes and YouTube views.
Consider, for example, the account of “Sally McCalley” aka twitter user @Shonnasdxo. She has two followers and has tweeted just 6 times, with her first tweet appearing just yesterday. Her profile links to Followers Delivery.
Aside from her tweet promoting The Ed Show, at least three of her tweets are identical to tweets published by other Twitter users:
https://twitter.com/Shonnasdxo/status/308107664955699200
If u really care about me u will make time for me it's not hard to pick up da Phn n send txts
— 06/10 (@E_Ames93) March 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/Shonnasdxo/status/308067101011222529
That awkward moment when someone you don't know, want to kill you for an unknown reason! e___e
— YaneeM? (@Yanee_M) March 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/Shonnasdxo/status/307924542905528321
https://twitter.com/Kriskjly/status/307685770670514176
Goblinbooks, a liberal blogger, says “I’m no fan of Drudge or the Freepers, but it may be time for these shows to comment on the matter. Something is happening.”
The Maddow show said yesterday that the show and its producers are not responsible. That doesn’t preclude the possibility that someone else at MSNBC is responsible.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member