A pump and dump scheme is a type of market manipulation where investors inflate the price of an asset through false or misleading statements (the "pump"), and then sell off their heavily inflated holdings at a peak price before the hype dies down (the "dump"), leading to a sharp price fall. This can leave other investors with significant losses. Recognizing these schemes involves watching for unusually fast price increases followed by rapid declines, often accompanied by high volume and promotional hype. For a more comprehensive understanding of pump and dump schemes and tips on how to avoid them, this resource may be helpful: https://paybis.com/blog/glossary/what-is-a-pump-and-dump-scheme/ It details the mechanics behind these schemes and protective measures investors can take.