QuickDraw, I was fascinated by your response containing the inference that a company which is being pumped and dumped can actually be unaware that they're being pumped and dumped. I can picture that the company might not be an actual party to the pumping (though often I believe it's the case that pumping is "fed" by company press releases being generated at a more rapid rate than historically has been the case). But I just can't see that a company wouldn't be aware of what's going on, as I think just about all of us get the e-mails and even the boiler-room calls, not to mention that we see advertising material placed on various websites.
I've seen situations in which it would make no sense for a company to be a party to the P&D, such as when it's basically a family-controlled company and there's no logic as to why the company/family would like to engage in bad behavior when no one in the family will be selling any shares. But what I haven't yet understood is why, in those situations where there is an "external pump and dump" going on, doesn't the company itself complain to the SEC and send out press releases condemning the illegal activity.
I'd really be interested in being enlightened here -thanks, QuickDraw and to anyone else who can give me a clue here!