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Showing posts with label Pump and Dump. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pump and Dump. Show all posts

Friday 21 February 2014

PRFC (Epcylon Technologies, Inc) pump-and-dump spam

This pump-and-dump spam run happened last night, which would have been Thursday afternoon in the US. Usually spam runs of this type happen over the weekend, but this P&D run is not quite like others.
From:     Zelma Williams
Date:     20 February 2014 19:04
Subject:     Very important information. Please read

Hi [redacted]

I know you were expecting to hear back from me much earlier but I didn't want to get back to you empty-handed. I finally found the perfect stock for you and I am confident that it will make you some serious profit. Remember the one I told you about in November of last year right? You did very well on it and I think this PRFC stock will do the same for your portfolio again.
I have to let you know though that I'm not the only one who found out about PRFC today. A few of my colleagues are aware as well and they are telling their friends and family about it so I must advise you to move fast if you want to buy it. I think it's trading at just around 15 cents right now, if you wait too long it might be at 30 or even higher and at that time I won't be able to safely advise you to buy it. You can buy as many shares as you can first thing at market open on Friday or worst case scenario buy it on Monday but move fast.
I know you don't care about what the company does because you know I've done all the due diligence for you already but PRFC is actually amazing and I think it will do much better than even the one I told you about a few months ago.
One of the company's divisions offers mobile software solutions for the gaming industry. The mobile apps allow customers to play lottery and other games of chance and skill on their smartphones. The software is extremely advanced and could be the backbone of all mobile casinos in the future. It is expected that the US will legalize online gaming in the near future and this could catapult PRFC to new highs however even without that the company's software is extremely valuable in the rest of the world and could become extremely profitable.  Something big is definitely brewing at the company. I heard something about buy out rumors but I don't have all the details yet I will keep you posted over the coming days or weeks.
Anyway I won't bore you with much more blabber, but if you have a second do check out PRFC. By the way I will be expecting a nice gift from you once you make fat bank on this one and a nice dinner with the wives is in order. It's been too long since we last spent a good evening over a bottle of wine. I was going to call you to tell you about PRFC but I figured youre probably asleep now with those crazy shifts you've been working. Take care and call me if there's anything.

Talk soon
Your favorite friend and only broker :)
Appended to the spam is some random text to try to fool spam filters.

According to stock charts, this spam has been successful and has pushed up the Epcylon Technologies, Inc / PRFC price by about 40% in afternoon trading.


The chart shows that 72885 shares were traded in this period, moving stock up from $0.14 to $0.20, the highest value for this stock since August. Trading is normally pretty thin for this stock at between 0 to 10,000 shares per day, but it does sometimes peak higher.

Usually with pump-and-dump scams somebody buys a large quantity of a few days before the spam run. This doesn't appear to be the case here, which leads to the possibility that the spam run is being pushed by an existing stockholder (it is unlikely to be anything to do with Epcylon though). Another thing that differentiates this pump-and-dump run from others is that there does seem to be some mildly positive news about this company.

However, I would urge you not to buy these stocks. The usual pattern is that the stock price collapses shortly after the initial spam run when the party responsible for the spam cashes out.

The spam itself was sent to scraped email addresses and addresses taken from various data breaches, although there does appear to have been some basic listwashing done to evade detection.

Update: a second version is doing the rounds..

From:     Rowena Rasmussen caroline@ordernowapp.com
To:     caroline [caroline@victimdomain]
Date:     22 February 2014 14:48
Subject:     This is the best stock tip of the year

Dear Investor,

If you're tired of playing the market for mediocre gains then you should read on. I'm Mike Statler. Some of you may know me from my last good stock tip (WPWR) which more than tripled within a short period of time (feel free to check it out). Now I have a brand new tip and I will think you will be pleased. This one should go up more than 6 times from current levels.
If you are interested in making a quick gain overnight, this is not for you, but if you're serious about buying my new tip PRFC and you are willing to hold a few weeks and see magic happen then you're definitely at the right place.
If you remember correctly I told you a few days ago about PRFC. I advised you to add it to your watch list but at the time I could not recommend that you buy it as I had not completed my due diligence.
I have good news and bad news for you. The bad news is that it is already up about 60% since I told you to add it to your watch list but the good news is that I think it still has a lot of room to go up and I expect to see PRFC trading at over 2 dollars before the end of the month or by the end of the 1st week of march at the absolute latest.
The company makes indispensable software that powers the backend of mobile gambling platforms. You can buy lottery on your smartphone, spin the roulette, enjoy blackjack or even play a game of poker. All this from your iphone or android phone. This is absolutely revolutionary and as we get closer to complete legalization of online gambling in America this little gem that is PRFC could soar dramatically.
PRFC (or Epcylon Technologies if you prefer) is going to work wonders for my subscribers' portfolios. I even bought $15,000 of it myself today. THAT'S how confident I am in it. I'm putting my money where my mouth is and I am telling you to BUY PRFC too if you believe in me, and if you don't it's too bad. You will be sending me an email two weeks from now saying how you regret not buying when I told you to do so.

Happy Trading,
I'm Mike Statler.

Update 24/2/14: new versions replace the text with an image in an attempt to bypass spam filters.



Update 25/2/14: a slightly different image this time, presumably in an attempt to evade scanners


Friday 29 November 2013

Registered Express Corporation (RGTX) pump and dump spam

It's taken me a few days to get around to this due to moving house, but here's a new pump-and-dump spam run promoting a stock Registered Express Corporation (OTC:RGTX).

As ever, there are a massive number of different subjects and random body-texts, for example:

Subject: This Bottom Bouncer has taken off!
Subject: Our analysis right on the MONEY!
Subject: Seven Reasons To Love This Company
Subject: Breakout coming!
Subject: Get Ready for Another Money Making New Trade Idea Tomorrow
Subject: What a HUGE day we had!

Over The Counter Morning Highlight! Land Your Orders In Early
To Gain Big!!!

Registered Express Corporation (RG TX)
Per share price: 0.0148

Safe, Reliable, Secure. Confirmable Shipment of Electronic
Docs.


---
Это сообщение свободно от вирусов и вредоносного ПО благодаря защите от вирусов avast!
http://www.avast.com

=========

Pink Sheet AM Alarm! Obtain Your Orders In Early To Score
Large!!!

Registered Express, Corp. (R_G-T X)
Buy at: $0.0148

Secure, Safe, Reliable. Verifiable Transfer of E-Documents.

=========

Pink Sheet Daily Signal! Pull Your Buy Order In Soon To Rack Up
Huge.

REGISTERED EXPRESS, CORP. (R-G T X)
Latest Pricing: .0148

Safe, Reliable, Secure!!! Verifiable Delivery of Electronic
Documents.

=========

Exchange Morning Signal! Pull Your Buy Order In Beforehand To Rack Up
Massive.

Registered Express Corporation (R_G T X)
Priced at: .0148

Secure, Safe, Reliable! Correct Delivery of E-Documents.

=========

Happy Turkey Day

Exchange Morning Alert! Score Your Buy Order In Quick To Gain
Massive!!!

Registered Express Corp (RG_TX)
Last Trade: $0.0148

Safe, Secure, Reliable!!! Confirmable Transmission of E-Docs.

=========

Pink Sheet AM Alarm!!! Grab Your Buy Order In Quick To Gain Big!!!

Registered Express Corporation (R-G-T X)
Now: .0148

Secure, Safe, Reliable. Confirmable Consignment of E-Docs.
The spam volumes are not as high as some previous pump-and-dump runs, and the first incident that I can see is on Saturday 23rd November, a typical approach to try to pump the market when it opens on Monday morning.

RGTX has been through a few incarnations, most recently as a firm specialising the the secure transmission of electronics documents. According to its own reports [1] [2] this firm has never had an income, holds no notable cash reserves and basically borrows cash against its own intellectual property and business value. Registered Express says that it is a business in development, it is not clear if and when it will ever start to make an income.

A look at the stock charts show that shares are traded in moderate volumes. On the 21st and 22nd November (before the spam run) a total of 849,477 shares were traded, about ten times the volume of the previous two days.


We know from past experience that either the spammers or another involved part will move in and buy stock before the spam run. I estimate that about 750,000 shares were bought in this way at between $0.012 and $0.020.  Since then about three million shares have been traded, presumably people being motivated by the spam run or who are simply following the increase in volume with a speculative buy.

The folks at RGTX are probably not involved in the spam run. My previous analysis on these stocks indicates that these stocks are usually in terminal decline. Buying stocks on the basis of a spammed email would be exceptionally foolish and should be avoided.

Saturday 21 September 2013

Siga Resources Inc (SGAE) pump-and-dump spam

This pump-and-dump (P&D) spam for Siga Resources Inc (SGAE) follows a familiar pattern: it starts almost immediately after the close of trading on the Friday and the characteristics match several other recent spam runs which have been sent out by the Kelihos botnet. The spams look like this:

Are We having Fun Yet? THIS COMPANY IS UP TODAY ON LARGE VOLUME.

Trading Date: Monday, September 23th
Closed at: 0.015
Company: Siga Resources Inc.
Symbol traded: SG_AE
Target Price: 0.25

Our Watchlist Alert!!! This Stock is back up on strong VOLUME!

----------

This Stock IS RED HOT!!! Massive Breakout!

Date: Sep 23th
Target: .55
Company Name: SIGA RESOURCES INC
Stock: S G_A-E
Buy it at: $0.02

Strong news and a scintillating chart could spell breakout. Driving
towards a new breakout level!

----------

My New Monster Pick Is ... Most Active!!!

Date: Monday, September 23, 2013
Current Price: 0.015
Tick: S-GA-E
Name: SIGA RESOURCES CORP
Short Term Target Price: 0.20

This company had another strong day! We could see further gains
ahead tomorrow. One NOT to Miss.

----------

Take a look at your favorite stock charts. It is featured company ready to
pop!!!

Sym: S-G_A E
Current Price: .02
Date: Monday, Sep 23th, 2013
Company: SIGA RESOURCES, CORP
4-Day Target: $.50

It Broadens Target Markets! Its Time to Buy Again...
Sample subject lines:
Subject:     Potential Breakout Stock
Subject:     Are you missing this?
Subject:     This Company looks ready to explode!
Subject:     Do Not Miss This One, You Will Be Bummed If You Do!

As I posted last week, observation of similar P&D spams is that the share price often collapses completely when the spamming stops.

Siga Resources in involved in small-scale minerals exploration. I'm not a financial analyst, but this firm looks almost dormant with zero income and effectively no cash in the bank. There has been no significant news for over a year. Siga's own 10-K filing for 2013 is extremely bleak and uses phrases such as "we have not generated any revenues since our formation on January 18, 2007" and "We require additional cash to continue operations. Such operations could take many years of exploration and would require expenditure of very substantial amounts of money, money we do not presently have and may never be able to raise. If we cannot raise it we will have to abandon our planned exploration activities and go out of business" and "We have one joint venture project on the Lucky Thirteen Claim. The joint venture has to date defaulted on payments to keep the ownership in the Lucky Thirteen Claim intact. Consequently, we are at risk of losing our interests in the Lucky Thirteen Claim entirely."

In short, there is no news at all that would make you want to buy this stock. And it is very important to realise that any information contained in the spam messages is merely a lie to boost the price, sent out by unknown parties.

The stock has not done well since it started, trading at around $0.55 to $0.60 until mid-2011 when it peaked at $2.40. It has since fallen to levels between $0.01 and $0.02.

On a typical day, share trades in SGAE are close to zero and rarely exceed 100,000 shares. But on Friday alone, over a million shares were traded in SGAE with 1.7 million shares traded in total across the week a prices ranges from $0.0288 to $0.015. I believe that the majority of those share trades were done by the spammers themselves taking up a position, with speculators adding a small volume on top.

Do not be tempted to buy SGAE shares on the back of these spammed-out solicitations. They are simply the actions of someone trying to offload almost worthless stock at an inflated price, and past history with these spamvertised stocks shows that there is a high risk that the price will collapse completely afterwards.

Thursday 19 September 2013

Apple (AAPL) pump-and-dump spam

A pump and dump spam trying to move Apple (AAPL) stock? Really? I don't think a spam run is going to have much effect on a $473 share in a company worth $420bn.

From: lpskann@scminvest.com
Subject: This Company continues to surge, could new highs be ahead?

Apple has presented its new models - iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C,
which actually have not moved the providers of financing. But, we
got to hear about the confidential novelty, which is created in
Cupertino (the Main Office of the Apple Company). This specialty
will be of interest for everyone. Through just a year, everybody
will utilize it. Namely now the time is ripe to acquire the
Apple's securities. Their value will be quick increased!!!

#goodluckwiththat- here's another one:

From: h.strutzmann@raymondjames.com
Subject: This Company is Hot and Premarket analysis is ready

The new-developed models, i.e. iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, have
been recommended by the Apple Company. Nevertheless the
products have not impressed the business sponsors.
Nevertheless, we have learned about the secret new product,
which is being worked out in Cupertino, the Main Office of
the Apple Company, which will be required by a wide
audience. (It is going to be put in use by everybody duting
the course of only one year). Now it's about time to take
possession of the shareholding of Apple, because quite soon
they will go up in value!
A third sample adds the stock ticker symbol:

Subject:      Advanced Trading Alert Notice

Apple Company (Nasdaq:AA PL) has shown its new-developed models - iPhone
5S and iPhone 5C, which indeed have been not very impressive for the
providers of capital. Still, we got the wind of the confidential new
product, which is created in Cupertino (the Principal Business Place of
the Apple). This new product will be needed by all the people. During
just one year, all the people will put in use the product. Presently it's
high time to obtain the Apple's securities. Their price will grow quite
soon.

And some more rather ungrammatical auto-generated examples..

The providers of financing have not been struck by the
new-developed models, i.e. iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, which have
been introduced by the Apple. Still, we have got the wind of
the fact that in Cupertino (the Apple's Headquarter), a
confidential innovation is being created. The item will be
popular for all the people. It will be wide put on within just
a year. Right now is the perfect timing for acquiring the
shares of the Apple. Very soon these shares of stock will
increase high in value.

The financiers have not been struck by the new-developed products, i.e.
iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, which have been shown by the Apple. But, we have
got to hear that in Cupertino (the Apple's Headquarter), a non-public
newcomer is being designed. The item will be required by all the people. It
will be wide put on in just a year. Now is the right time for purchasing
the equity of the Apple. Fast these shareholding will grow high in price.

iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C present the fresh items, which were shown by the
Apple Company (Nasdaq:AA_PL). Nevertheless, these products have little
effect on the providers of financing. All the same, we got to learned that
in Cupertino (where the Apple's Principal Business Office is located), an
undercover recent development gadget is being elaborated. Namely this
novelty will be of interest for everybody (the recent development will be
applied by all the people within the course of one year). The Apple's equity
shall be purchased right at the moment, as fast they will increase in price!


Apple Company (Nasdaq:AAP-L) has offered its latter-day
products - iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, which actually have
little effect on the backers. However, we got the wind of
the undercover innovation, which is produced in Cupertino
(the General Headquarter of the Apple). This recent
development will be needed by everybody. Within only one
year, everyone will utilize it. Namely now it's about time
to get hold of the Apple's shareholding. Their price will
grow quite soon!!!

Apple Company (Nasdaq:A-A_P L) has presented its new models - iPhone 5S
and iPhone 5C, which indeed have not struck the fund clients. All the
same, we got to learned about the undercover novelty, which is designed
in Cupertino (the Principal Place of Business of the Apple Company).
This new product will be required by all the people. During the course
of just a year, everybody will put on it. The present moment the time is
ripe to get hold of the Apple's shares. Their price will soon grow.
The Apple Company (Nasdaq:A-A-PL) has introduced its new products - iPhone 5S
and iPhone 5C, which truly have little impression on the fund clients. But,
we got to learned about the private newcomer, which is created in Cupertino
(the General Headquarter of the Apple Company). This recent development will
be of interest for everyone. During just a year, everyone will use it. Right
now is the time to obtain the Apple's equity. Their price will grow quite
soon. 

Saturday 14 September 2013

Alanco Technologies Inc (ALAN) pump-and-dump spam run

Alanco Technologies Inc is an Arizona-based firm found in 1969 that used to be active in several technology markets, but over recent years it has divested itself of those assets and its primary business activities are now in the business of waste water disposal. The company does not make a profit (and indeed in some recent years made no direct income whatsoever). The bulk of its financial assets are tied up in a company called ORBCOMM. Alanco categorises itself as a high risk venture (see page 4 of this filing). Although the market capitlisation is $3.2m, the value of the enterprise itself is just $1.4m.

There are no apparent newsworthy events going on with this firm, however starting after the close of trading on Friday 13th September, a large scale pump-and-dump spam run started to promote the stock. There have been several other recent pump-and-dump spam runs similar to this, pushed out by the Kelihos botnet on behalf of parties unknown.

The stock price of ALAN has not done well over the past 12 months:


Share trading is sporadic, but a recent sustained burst of share trading of around 96,000 shares pushed the price up from around $0.45 to $0.62, perhaps costing around $50,000 or so. Analysis of previous recent pump-and-dump spam runs indicates that this may well the the spammers themselves taking up a position in the company.


It's a characteristic of this type of pump-and-dump spam that the spam emails start almost immediately after trading closes, probably to try to persuade people to put in automated buys on Monday morning when the scammers will try to offload stock at an inflated price. Here are some of the spams being sent:

Subject: We release the Titan!
Was A Bust Today! This Company is Our Private Pick!!!

To buy: A_L A-N
Last Trade: $.6399
Company: ALANCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Target Price: $3.55
Trading Date: September, 16th

Our Watchlist was a WINNER! It Will Be Featured In The Wall Street
Journal Tomorrow.

Subject: We Were on The Money with This Stock
I would love it to fill in gap... I hope you own it!!!

Stock: A L A-N
At this time: $0.64
Company: ALANCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC
Long Term Target: $1.90
Date: Mon, Sep 16th, 2013

It Speaks For Itself. No Better Way To Kickstart This Week! CORRECTION!

Subject: Most Active
Online Trading Account!!! This Company Looks Ready To Bounce!

Stock Symbol: ALA_N
Currently traded: .6399
Company Name: ALANCO TECHNOLOGIES CORP
Target: $1.90
Trade Date: Mon, September 16th, 2013

It is going to make you happy smile!!! I hope you own it.

Subject: Your stock
This Stock Could Make A Huge Come Back! Small Cap Source.

Sym: AL_AN
Current Price: $.6399
Company: Alanco Technologies, Inc.
Long Term Target Price: $1.20
Trade Date: Sep 16th

Call your Broker Directly to Place an Order. It is Showing
signs of a break out!

Subject: It is Showing signs of a break out
Are you watching this? This stock is very fast becoming one of our
favourites!

Symbol traded: A L_AN
Latest Pricing: .6399
Company Name: ALANCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Short Term Target: 2.65
Trade Date: Mon, September 16th, 2013

This Company Shows Gains!!! It could be the next 10x winner!

Subject: This Company Could be Acquisition Target
IT IS CHEAP, IN BIG DEMAND, AND VERY PROFITABLE. If you like profits,
you need to buy this.

Symbol to buy: A LA N
Closed at: $0.64
Name: Alanco Technologies, Corp.
Target: $2.50
Trading Date: Monday, Sep 16th, 2013

More Momentum Coming!!! What an amazing day!!!

Subject: Just a few minutes left to buy it before the end of the day!
A New Bonus Technical Report Tomorrow @ the Market Open!!! Shocking
Discovery Revealed Tomorrow!

Stock Symbol: A_LA N
Latest Pricing: $0.6399
Company Name: ALANCO TECHNOLOGIES, CORP
Long Term Target: $3.80
Trading Date: September 16

Don`t Miss this Easy One. It is ready to explode in price and volume!!!

Subject: My new #1 pick!
This Stock Runs to Gain this Morning! We Want More! Details Inside!
This Company just released HUGE news!

To buy: A LA N
Today Price: $0.64
Name: Alanco Technologies, Corp
Target: 1.20
Date: Mon, September 16

Expect a new rally! This Company Moves Forward.
So.. just how do these pump-and-dump advertised stocks run? The answer is.. badly. Recently promoted stock MONK fell from around $0.23 to $0.047 (an 80% loss), BLDW has been rather flat overall going from $0.044 to $0.048 (a 9% increase), HAIR dropped from $0.36 to $0.0378 (a 90% loss) and NOST from $0.0074 to $0.0030 (a 59% loss). So if you are tempted to follow the spam and buy ALAN, then these recent figures would indicate that it's highly risky with a limited chance of reward.

Monday 2 September 2013

MONK spam tries to profit from WAR threat

The MONK (Monarchy Resources Inc) pump-and-dump spam continues. This time though, the spammers are trying to capitalise on the threat of war in the Middle East:

From:     belova04@jeel.com
Date:     2 September 2013 17:32
Subject:     This Stock just released Big News!

Are you interested in enriching yourself by means of war? It`s the very
time to do it! As soon as the first bombs get to the earth in Syria,
stone oil prices will move up the same as MONARCHY RESOURCES INC
(M-ON_K) share price. Go make money on Mon, Sep 2, 2013, get M-ON_K
shares!!!
As previously discussed, the stock price for this company has tanked and is unlikely to get any better. If you attempt to do some war profiteering on this stock then you will lose out, and frankly you won't get any sympathy from me.

Here are some other variants of the same scummy email:

You can make money on war!!! It`s right time to make it. The
moment the first rockets descend to Syria, oil prices will
rise the same as MONARCHY RESOURCES INC. (M O N_K) bond
price!!! Begin earning profits on Monday, September 02, 2013,
grab M O N_K shares.

It`s your turn to make money on war! It`s the very time to make it.
As soon as the first bombs touch the ground in Syria, black gold
prices will skyrocket as well as MONARCHY RESOURCES, INC (M-O-N K)
bond price. Start making money on Mon, Sep 02, 2013, get M-O-N K
shares.

There is a real opportunity to make money on war. It`s right time to
do it!!! As soon as the first bombs touch the ground in Syria, petrol
prices will move up just as Monarchy Resources, Inc (M-O_NK) bond
price. Start making money on Sep 2nd, grab M-O_NK shares!

Do you want to earn money on war? It`s the very time to realize
your plans! Just as the first bombs get to the earth in Syria,
oil prices will move up as well as Monarchy Resources, Inc
(MO-NK) share price! Go make profits on Sep 2nd, grab MO-NK
shares!!!