defnotmee's blog

Catching the Mole II(Hard Version) (Psychotic_D cheating case aftermath)
By defnotmee, 5 months ago, In English

This is a part 2 of my other blog on the Psychotic_D situation. I highly recommend you see it before this one for context.

If you don't care that much, here is a quick recap of what was covered in the other blog before we get started: Psychotic_D had a ridiculously good performance on his friend's (wuhudsm) round. This let many people become suspicious of whether he achieved this legitimately. Then multiple accusations were thrown around and I did my blog doing my own investigation and compiling the most compelling evidence I found. The takeaway was that Psychotic_D was probably cheating along EndlessDreams, who would give him code for Psychotic_D to copy. Psychotic_D would alter them heavily to avoid plagiarism, but it was clear beyond a reasonable doubt that he was cheating.

Well, I finished writing that blog, responded to some comments and was ready to sleep when something clicked in my brain...

Part 1: Wait, who the fuck is EndlessDreams?

I mean, he is the first thing that appears when you open the TheForces group, he must be pretty important, right?

In addition, his solution to E on Codeforces Round 960 (Div. 2) (over the hololgram-sakura alt) was considerably different from the editorial solution. It was also not the kind of problem a random master could do in 30 minutes. Matter of fact, doing ABCD could already give you a red performance on that contest. Also, there is a team on codeforces with the founders of TheForces:

And EndlessDreams isn't part of it! I would assume that someone who made editorials for all the contests from them is a founder!

Well, maybe they are a founder, because on herav_singhhh's blog, there is another founder that is in the submission pairs.

amenotiomoi checks all the boxes! Think about it, if EndlessDreams is an alt and not the real leaker, the main should be higher rated. On top of that, he is supposedly chinese, like both EndlessDreams and hololgram-sakura. All that was needed was some proof that they are connected. The codes presented in the blog aren't that convincing, so I went for the place I forgot to investigate last time.

Part 2: Who the fuck is amenotiomoi?

In the investigation for the previous blog, I went to the TheForces website. However, I only entered the cf group for they had on it. This time, I entered their discord server. Normally, discord servers have features so that you can link your cf account to your discord account. So I just needed to search for "EndlessDreams" and then...

Jackpot! This guy is admitting to being EndlessDreams. Moreover, looking at his roles in the server, he was a moderator (indicating he had a high ammount of power) and had an international grandmaster role (which is the same rank as amenotiomoi):

However, it seemed like he never actually set his handle to amenotiomoi on the server. I could see him setting it to EndlessDreams but it looked like his account had no codeforces handle set to it at the moment. I was going to make an edit to the previous blog raising my suspicions when an interesting message came to my dms.

I changed my discord name to "ribbit" and joined.

Entering there, as said by our anonymous fellow, the discord account belonging to EndlessDreams was there. And he was confessing everything.

Part 3: Confession

At first I was scared to be banned and even recorded a video with all the evidence I found before noticing that it was not a server controlled by cheaters, but just a normal server where a bunch of cpers trained together. Some time after the previous blog went live, he posted this:

Well, I guess we found the guy. To everyone that doesn't know how this works, you cannot link your cf account to discord if you dont have access to it. He is certainly the one that had access to the account who leaked E to Psychotic_D

He also confirms that he is in fact EndlessDreams

He later went into more detail of over what happened

He also explained why Psychotic_D had access to his account

I ended up bantering with him a little, but for the story to fit i had to make one more question

...

I guess that's it!

Part 4: The confrontation

After this incident I may have shared the link to the server on another discord server. A bunch of people entered and we had a lengthy conversation with amenotiomoi/EndlessDreams/hololgram-sakura. Some things in it were pretty noteworthy though!

This is what he had to say when pressed on why he did it.

He was also pressed for details on other cheaters!

It was brought up that on a random cf round, another master previously accused of cheating 1_2_3_4_5_9 had a matching code with amenotiomoi: 210895554 210911093

This is what he had to say about it

This "code that chromate00 copied" is a case from 2023 where he supposedly copied a code from the internet for a problem. It ended up being that amenotiomoi was the source of that code. chromate00 has later apologized and reformed since that incident.

[REDACTED] also had a conversation in chinese with amenotiomoi.

Crazy if true.

Conclusion

Well, this has been a rollercoaster. It is kind of crazy to think that if one strong competitor wants to leak solutions to all problems they can just destroy the competitive integrity of competitive programming. I really hope that amenotiomoi and Psychotic_D reform to some extent, but their account should definitely be banned. Thanks to everyone who helped me with the investigation and everyone who read this blog until here! I'm probably going to sleep.

By the way, amenotiomoi did send an ominous message in the middle of all the other ones

I guess I won't be awake to see it, haha.

  • Vote: I like it
  • +586
  • Vote: I do not like it

»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

Auto comment: topic has been updated by defnotmee (previous revision, new revision, compare).

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +55 Vote: I do not like it

That is a damn good investigation bro.

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +132 Vote: I do not like it

Codeforces lore going wild. Can't wait for season 2.

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +16 Vote: I do not like it

this is what chaotic evil doing.

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -66 Vote: I do not like it

All Indian and Chinese GM's are frauds!? Couldn't be! /s

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    5 months ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it -8 Vote: I do not like it

    Why did you say all Indians, you idiot?

    → Reply
  • »
    »
    5 months ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +104 Vote: I do not like it

    thinking that cheaters are the reason you aren't high rated is a cope to avoid confronting the fact that you need to improve at cp

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      5 months ago, # ^ |
      ← Rev. 3   Vote: I like it -30 Vote: I do not like it

      Imagine thinking

      Real reason people are not high rated is because they don't cheat enough, change my mind

      Funny how before it was "cheating won't affect you, people who cheat are specialist-expert rank at most", also cheaters: cheat their way to CM, Master and IM, meanwhile GM's+ are leaking solutions to their friends

      It's all fake internet points anyway, just depends of what kind of value the person in question attaches to their rating

      Now I will propose to you this thought experiment: imagine that one day you are going to wake up and notice that codeforces/any similar CP platforms are gone, all records wiped clean, no rating graph to flex, no contest records, no contribution to farm. What are you left with?

      → Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +83 Vote: I do not like it

This is how you properly investigate. Not the random personal garbage in the previous threads.

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

Who needs More Drama in their lives when you can just have a codeforces account

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Sherlock left the chat when Leo jumps in.

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +65 Vote: I do not like it

MikeMirzayanov

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -6 Vote: I do not like it

It has potential to be a Netflix's Spy-fi

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

.

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

Leo woke up and choose violence

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +17 Vote: I do not like it

We got a movie on codeforces before GTA 6!

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

L Lawliet who??

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +54 Vote: I do not like it

You have a nice storytelling style. Can’t wait for part 3!

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    5 months ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

    Next time, I need to have popcorn with me while reading the blog.

    → Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +71 Vote: I do not like it

This is the real "Catching the mole"!

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +66 Vote: I do not like it

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

Lol, that cheater Psychotic_D deactivated his socials.

Great investigation btw

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

FBI open up

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +15 Vote: I do not like it

An anime could be made out of this.

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -120 Vote: I do not like it

If top ten coder of India is a cheater, can you really trust them to be genuine?

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    5 months ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +254 Vote: I do not like it

    That's racist. If someone from a country is a cheater it doesn't give you any information about other citizens of that country.

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      5 months ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it -25 Vote: I do not like it

      Okay Sorry if that came across as racist. I am not saying that Indian coders are all cheaters but incidents of cheating from India are far more common then from anywhere else.

      → Reply
  • »
    »
    5 months ago, # ^ |
    ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +13 Vote: I do not like it

    [deleted]

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      5 months ago, # ^ |
      ← Rev. 4   Vote: I like it -38 Vote: I do not like it

      I was rude at start, but Bro you should not bring religion here.

      → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      5 months ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

      you're racist on your own in this comment bro. i request you to take care of your words please!

      → Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +18 Vote: I do not like it

I don't know if I'm right here, but I feel that EndlessDreams was guilted into helping his friend. Eventhough he helped cheat, on a human level I still feel bad for him. Maybe he started cheating due to such requests from friends.

But I guess we'll never know. (If you have such friends, please get new ones)

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

What an absolute roller coster, someone can easily make this into a 2hr investigation movie.

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

It's a good investigation @defnotmee. Better than Netflix series :> Excited for the next part.

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +23 Vote: I do not like it

Got tagged several times, on my server when all of this was going down, but read the chats just now, I just hope that all of this finally ends and we could have a new beginning for all the people involved and for those who aren't: I hope you too learn a few things from this!

At first I was scared to be banned and even recorded a video with all the evidence I found before noticing that it was not a server controlled by cheaters, but just a normal server where a bunch of cpers trained together

Glad you didn't get a wrong impression, it's just a server for helping each other with no intent of supporting cheaters, we ban immediately whenever we find someone indulging in such practices using the server.

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

Finally, real evidence. Orz investigation fr

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +71 Vote: I do not like it

To make a few things clear:

As the founder of TheForces I swear that we've not shared any solutions during any official contests from any platform, to make sure that we're not a big cheating group, you can ask the trusted testers of codeforces who have been TheForces members for a long time.

I'm also shocked now because I didn't know this amount of cheating between some of our moderators, I'll make everything clear asap.

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
← Rev. 5   Vote: I like it -41 Vote: I do not like it

I will never defend someone who has nothing to do with me.

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    5 months ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +109 Vote: I do not like it

    brother you set a round with a cheater who thought $$$2^{100}$$$ fits in long long and you're saying he is "so talented" and "I know their skills so well".

    when is this charade going to end

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      5 months ago, # ^ |
      ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it -88 Vote: I do not like it

      I will never defend someone who has nothing to do with me.

      → Reply
      • »
        »
        »
        »
        5 months ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +57 Vote: I do not like it

        But did he actually?

        1937F - Bitwise Paradox

        1004F - Sonya and Bitwise OR

        Solution which almost matches the editorial Click

        Not to forget MagicalFlower who may have came up with final solution of these version as mentioned in Editorial

        → Reply
      • »
        »
        »
        »
        5 months ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it -6 Vote: I do not like it

        I’m not supporting him, nor I intend to support him. Based on few rounds cheating we can’t question the skill, unless he cheated every contest which is another discussion (maybe part 3).

        who thought $$$2^{100}$$$ fits in long long

        This can happen when you modify the code but you don’t understand what code does but try to achieve the same result.

        → Reply
        • »
          »
          »
          »
          »
          5 months ago, # ^ |
            Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

          What is crazy about that situation to me is that he clearly didnt just copy the code and paste it, he would read things and see which variables he could change or how he could alter the structure of the code. Either he wasn't confortable with bitwise stuff at the time (which is also crazy since he was supposedly already master) or he just didnt understand that part of the code and skipped it.

          Either way I do wonder what was his actual skill level. I guess he would be between cm and low master without cheating but I could be wrong.

          → Reply
          • »
            »
            »
            »
            »
            »
            5 months ago, # ^ |
              Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

            You changed my perspective. For a master recognising the bitwise part of the code should be easier.

            → Reply
      • »
        »
        »
        »
        5 months ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +28 Vote: I do not like it

        Honestly I don't think that 3000+ problem he did was particularly good. It wasn't bad either. Also that round only had 2 hours and the implementation was annoying, so I think that contributed to the rating being so high.

        In contrast I think wuhudsm is an actually talented problemsetter. I have very much enjoyed doing his problems. It is sad to see him get caught up in this.

        → Reply
  • »
    »
    5 months ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +61 Vote: I do not like it

    I've got absolutely no reason to trust any of your words. I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow someone carefully looks through your submissions and finds out that you are a cheater too. If I set problems with someone, I can clearly determine if this person corresponds to their rating or not. Those people are cheaters and definitely not talented in any way. You should've noticed that for sure.

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      5 months ago, # ^ |
      ← Rev. 3   Vote: I like it -62 Vote: I do not like it

      I will never defend someone who has nothing to do with me.

      → Reply
      • »
        »
        »
        »
        5 months ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +35 Vote: I do not like it

        Hilarious! Shows how disingenuous you are. Its plainly obvious from the evidence and you wouldnt wait for Mike.

        → Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Nice job man , someone gotta make a youtube video of this .

→ Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +13 Vote: I do not like it

It is interesting that Psychotic_D stayed silent all this time...

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    5 months ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +9 Vote: I do not like it

    He is supposedly coming out with an apology

    I think it's reasonable for him to take a while to process everything but it would be cool if he just went like "yeah I did it, I'm sorry" in the meantime

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      5 months ago, # ^ |
      ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +4 Vote: I do not like it

      what is group link? defnotmee. If you are ok then can you share here?

      → Reply
      • »
        »
        »
        »
        5 months ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +2 Vote: I do not like it

        I think it was already kind of bad for me to leak it in discord, let alone on a public site like cf. I don't want a bunch of people to enter there and start spamming, lol. If the admins feel comfortable they can share the link, i_pranavmehta made a comment on the blog so if he wants he can send it to you.

        → Reply
        • »
          »
          »
          »
          »
          5 months ago, # ^ |
          ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +2 Vote: I do not like it

          It's an open community, Everyone is welcome! here is the link for the same if someone is interested.

          Though lately I've been observing people diving in more offtopic discussions due to the above scenario, It's good that it brought some clarity but I hope we soon go back to the normal where the server/group is used mostly for helping others!

          → Reply
»
5 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +2 Vote: I do not like it

So, it turns out Psychotic_D is really psychotic after all?

→ Reply