I think the odds of 2 members sharing the same IP address even for one post is rather rare unless they are in the same city & both have routers that emulate dynamic IP's.
At any rate, I think this thread is proof that there are crooked dealings that slip through the cracks even on a moderated board. Enforcing why all entries should be made in the thread & none allowed Via PM (This helps other designers & viewers notice if an infringement has taken place). Not saying that's an issue here, but it is an issue in a lot of other contest related forums.
Sadly there is really no way to verify a designer prior to payment & just as sadly payment is a requirement prior to release of work (Just like at the store, they don't let you walk out with a bag full of electronics till you pay first).
The closest you may come to verification is, iTrader / portfolio / references / Past contest participation / Established time on the forums / Etc.. all combined together to make the best judgment call prior to conducting business.
Maybe even make contact & talk to the designer prior to a win simply to size them up & get a feel for professionalism, if you sense trouble, stay away from them & move on to the next.
While there is no easy way to track down infringed work, you can still utilize free services like
www.tineye.com to at least help narrow it down a bit when it comes to more photographic works. Png's for some reason are not read well by the tineye engine, but Gif's & Jpg's seem to be.
At any rate, just thought I would drop a line or two in here.
P.S. Shame on you Ricky
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