Some bogus puzzle finds that may effect rankings

[TucsonThompsen]

Folks,

I just have noticed a rash of what I call bogus puzzle finds on my puzzles here in Tucson by a cadre of Phoenix-based teams. What seems to be happening is folks solving the puzzle and then dumping their own container instead of looking for the real one and then claiming a find. Obviously, my puzzles are hard so it peaks my curiosity when five teams log one in one day. A local Tucson cacher forwarded me photos of the "logs" and in five instances below all I can say is they are massively bogus.

In one instance, the logsheet these teams show is way too big to fit into the container of interest (their logsheet is a small notebook three times as large as the container -- (Stating the Obvious GC1RP8B).

In another instance -- A Little Bit Fuzzy (GC15G67) -- a cacher shows the logbook the three of them signed. A previous finder of the cache shows a photo of the actual logbook with my own handwriting on its cover from earlier this month. It is clear that the number of perforations and shape of the logbook the three teams logged are not the same. See the photo link of the two for comparison purposes at http://i.imgur.com/eEG3KuK.png

In yet another instance, on Riddle Me This, Riddle Me That (GC1TK1X), they plainly dropped their own container as a red duct tape pouch. As one may clearly see in the photolink below, the left image is from azkatey and sunspider and that the actual logbook is a...well logbook and not a sheet of paper in a duct tape pouch. http://i.imgur.com/VPn1ibl.png All finds after 1/26/2013 are bogus with this one including grandmabetsy's, but she kindly rescinded her log when I emailed her about it today.

In still another instance (Once beloved yet almost forgotten - GC2A9H7) The teams state in their log that they couldn't find the container at ground zero and just decided to drop their own. When I went out today, I found my container right where it has always been and their names not on the logbook proper.

And one more that is worth mentioning, the three teams are claiming finds on a cache that has -- since my suspension -- been paved over by the AZ Dept. of Transportation as they widened the Prince Rd interchange. (McGuire would like a word with you -- GC1HCXX). I have unfortunately not been able to archive this cache as otherwise I would've done so. But nonetheless, these three (and some other teams in late january) logged it in lieu of DNFs.

Obviously with my GC.com account in suspension I cannot delete these bogus finds. I would exhort the LCP community to put pressure on the offenders to remove said logs if nothing more than to keep the sanctity and integrity of finds as important to the game. The integrity of valid finds is always paramount with GC.com, and whereas the point system and rankings on LCP would be perversely effected by allowing bogus logs to stand, this is why bring this up to your attention.

While my account is in suspension, please note the following about TucsonThompsen caches;

1) I know it's popular, but these are not "Geocache Recovery Project" types of caches where you can drop your own container and claim a smiley.

2) If the cache is missing, please post a DNF and/or a maintenance note and I will repair it promptly. Geocachers are NOT to drop their own container or logbook. Odds are you'll place it in a manner inconsistent with my original placement.

3) These caches are being maintained (all of them) with the exception of McGuire Would Like a Word With You. That site was paved over by ADOT in early January and I've been unable to get GC.com to archive the cache. All claimed finds after 01/10/2013 on that cache are bogus. So don't bother looking for it.

4) If it's missing.. Own up. Don't screw the stats over just to get a smiley. Sorry for the long distances you may have traveled to get there, but DNFs are a part of the game.

5) As always, I will be happy to confirm coords and solution method or give other help/guidance if you just drop an email to: jeffrey_thompsen@hotmail.com

Keep on caching on!
--TT--

[Corfman Clan]

Hi Jeff,

Bogus find logs are a sad issue that seems to occur more than we all would like. For example, The-Sledge is the leader of both the Arizona Virtual Cache Leaderboard and the Arizona Virtual Cache Backcountry Leaderboard with all bogus finds. Last year, there was a discussion here about Excluding Armchair Cachers and Pets when a rash of bogus finds were being logged by another cacher.

As I've mentioned before, LonelyCache will not get in the business of validating find logs. That will be up to the Geocacher, the cache owner, and perhaps Groundspeak to manage. I know in your case, you as the cache owner, are not able to take action since your account is currently locked. The five points you bring up are good and hopefully people will take them to heart. Thank you for bringing this to our attention and for supplying a method for us to get in touch with you concerning your caches.