If anyone really wanted to "nail" the mythical "Shorty", he'd have the good sense to choose a low-float stock with which to do it. And yes, one with honest management.
Actually the best plan is to take a scam, keep the paid touts, and then install new, competent, honest management. The shorts continue to be distracted by the touts while the management actually starts quietly making profits. I've seen it happen only once. I was short, and it wasn't pretty.
To add insult to injury, the new management owned 70% of the company, filed a registration to sell ALL their shares (thereby sucking in more shorts), and then didn't sell a share for a year. All in all, quite a piece of work.