Spammers manipulate stock market

[Ronin Storm]

A story of the same name as this thread can be found at BBC News.

Spam messages that tout stocks and shares can have real effects on the markets, a study suggests.

E-mails typically promote penny shares in the hope of convincing people to buy into a company to raise its price.

People who respond to the "pump and dump" scam can lose 8% of their investment in two days.

Conversely, the spammers who buy low-priced stock before sending the e-mails, typically see a return of between 4.9% and 6% when they sell.

Who is it who actually responds to these? How can they believe that they're actually likely to make any money on something someone sends them, unsolicited, through their email? Are these the same people who believe everything that they see on TV?

And, more importantly, is there some way we can prevent the spammers making money on this scam?

 

[DeZmond]

Oh, the crazyness. Here's a spam email I received earlier:

From:Leila Dyer [LeilaDyer@10000recettes.com]


You have been approved for a $200,000 Home Loan for only $917/month This offer is being presented to you right now!. Your credit history is in no way a factor. Bad Credit OK!

To take advantage of this Limited Time Opportunity,
please take a minute and confirm your curiosity or intention to accept this loan, at the following
web-site:

http://X4CZ.888uuu.com

==============================================
there had never been anything good at all, only ugly, vicious faces. Zone. The first and last time. Is it really the last? It's your last, bud.

I've got stock market related ones, but they are images and I can't be bothered mirroring them. Suffice to say you can spot the dodginess a mile off.

I hate spam :/. Even spamassassin can't save me from this rubbish...

 

[BiG D]

Funny you should mention this, I've been keeping track of some of these messages lately. And yes, the companies almost always see a huge jump in value, it's actually rather funny.