And one more item to understand. The idea that message boards don't effect stock price is nonsense. The entirety of IHUB has been built around that concept.
Many believe they are doing good or claim to be doing good because so many OTC stocks are actual garbage. So they think shorting and bashing these companies is morally ok.
In a stock that has low volume, where they can make wide bid ask spreads, it doesn't take much. They can't do it all on their own. They need actual shareholders to sell something.
What they can't have is the stock get attention.
That's said all massive runs are the product of manipulation, and short covering outside of a true monster catalyst.
You forgot the mantra that most brokerages cannot buy otc stocks. More like Munchausen by Proxy. Make the kids sick and claim you are the savior. Trailers for sale or rent. Rooms to Let 50c. Who is he?