Today I want to come clean about something I feel very badly about. I cannot undo some of the things I have done, but hopefully this message will prevent other such occurrences in the future.
I am a paid basher.
Yes, it is true. Today is my last day at this company; I?m moving on to a new job. But before I go, I want to explain a few things because this just isn?t right and I won?t feel good about myself until I expose this sham. It?s hurt too many people and I don?t want it on my conscience anymore. I can no longer live with a lie.
I work for a company called Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein in Stamford, CT. Basically, it?s a Boiler Room much like the one in the movie of the same name. The idea behind my group is to bash the price of a company?s stock down low enough to where the group of investors who retained our company?s services can buy the stock really cheap and perhaps even take it over all together.
There are approximately 70 people at the company divided into several groups. My group, consisting of 5 people, is responsible for BIFS. While I probably shouldn?t give any names of anyone working here now, what the heck, I?m leaving here, so what can they do ? sue me? Ha! I can tell you that GUTTWRENCH was part of my group until he left last week, as was Richardphx. Others who have been part of this include early bashers like Epiphonics and Simontaz. You may be interested to know that some hypsters, such as Amato7 and BIFWATCHER, have also been part of the scam (more on that later).
There are several companies engaged in the bashing business ? ours is not the only one. However, I can tell you that not every basher in here is a paid basher. Having done this for two years, I can usually tell who is a paid basher and who is merely someone having a little fun. While unpaid bashers have a different motive than someone like me, they can be unwilling accomplices to helping me achieve my ultimate goal and they also spread rumor and confusion throughout a room, which also helps me.
What is that goal? Well, I am merely a cog in a much larger machine, so my bosses never really explained the big picture to me, but I?d say essentially, GUTTWRENCH was right. There are several companies who are quite familiar with SWOMI and who are deathly afraid of it.
There are three types of bashers here at Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein: Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner. An Advanced-level basher (also known as a Silver Tongued Devil) would spread false or misleading information about the company. They would deal in facts, countering every longs post with articles, news reports and opinion surveys that gave a negative impression about the company.
An Intermediate-level basher (also known as a Serpent) would try to weasel their way into the confidence of longs and create doubt using rumor or innuendo.
Finally, a Beginner-level basher (also known as a Pitchfork) would attempt to create confusion in the room by distracting other posters with satire, name calling and pointless arguments. The idea was to make sure no serious discussion of the stock could take place. A Pitchfork was usually a basher, but not always. Sometimes, we would throw in a hypster Pitchfork such as Amato7 or BIFSWATCHER to create the illusion of an argument going on. What was really funny (in a perverse way, I guess) was that Amato7 and I sat next to each other, laughing the whole time.
I was a Pitchfork. I was paid a base wage of $12 an hour for my services. I was given a $1 bonus for every post over 100 per day as well as a monthly bonus of $100 for every penny the stock had dropped from the previous month. I was also paid a bonus for bashing on weekends. While this may not sound like much, I made a decent, though dishonorable, paycheck.
Each of us sat in a small half-cubicle in a cluster with our teammates. Each group (usually five people) was made of three beginners (two who would bash and one who would hype), one intermediate and one advanced level basher. Occasionally for some of the hotter stocks, one of the beginners would be replaced by an intermediate depending on how much the stock was rising. BIFS was a low-level stock, meaning it got the 3-1-1 configuration. Somehow, I get the feeling that JPACK2 may have worked for a basher company or knows someone who does because the "Basher Handbook" he occasionally posts is eerily similar to the one we actually use. While not a word-for-word match, I?d say it is about 90 percent the same. We do have certain rules that we follow.
First, we have to develop a character and stay within that character in order to build a "following." My character, "Firebird_1965," was a sarcastic, obnoxious supporter of free speech, but only when it came to bashers.
Next, we had to follow certain guidelines on what we could say. We were urged to have an "answer" to every long?s question, but we were to frame that answer in a way that ridiculed the questioner for asking such a question. However, we were never to use profanity or vulgarity because that would cause people to ignore us. We were to make fun of people, but in a civil way. The idea was to get "play," i.e. ? reaction from other posters. The more play we got, the more the room would be disrupted. Ignored posters get no play. One exception would be the hypster ? since they were "defending" the stock against our onslaught, they got a little more leeway. People would side with the hypster because they thought he was real since he appeared to be on their side, but was really on ours, setting us up to disrupt the room. Padelcars is quite good at this and gets paid very well.
I?ve worked on BIFS, TSRG, MXII for about three months now. In addition to the Firebird_1965 alias, I?ve used a few others on the BIFS and several other boards as well. I stuck with Firebird_1965 because it was the one that got the most play from other posters.
In closing, I feel absolutely terrible about this. It?s just awful how I?ve been part of a scam designed to cheat honest, hard-working people out of their investments all for the benefit of a few wealthy people who already have enough money to last a lifetime. These greedy people MUST be stopped. That?s why I?m posting this before I leave. I want to make up for some of the damage I?ve done. I can?t live with this lie anymore. You can?t imagine how hard it is to look at myself in the mirror each morning knowing my job is to cheat and lie.
I have to go now, I?m too broken up to continue. I hope this confession can make up for my sordid deeds; I would urge everyone who reads this to copy and repost it as many times as you can. Only by shining the light of truth can we drive these rats back into the darkness from whence they came. Believe me, they don?t want publicity.
posted
Can this be true?? I guess I know it can, I've seen The Boiler Room.....Scary!
Posts: 171 | From: Juneau, AK, USA | Registered: Dec 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I don't know if is true or not....I have posted in other boards and they say that it is a joke and that is been around for long......... I'm a new investor so there is no way I can know, but if is a joke is a very bad one.
posted
i have no doubt that this could be true. even if this particular post isn't accurate, we see very blatent pumping and bashing on occasion right here. anywhere there is money to me manipulated there will be scams to make the people who least can afford it the victims.
it is interesting that i was pondering this very subject today and wondering where the line between pumping and enthusiastic opinion occurs. the same with bashing and negative opinion. i came to the conclusion that the difference is in the amount and quality of reliable dd that accompanies and substantiates the opinion.
as a group we would be wise to discuss these topics to establish guidelines for both reading and submitting posts that endorse or discredit a stock.
some of the current threads prove that there value to a team effort. it would be a shame to use it dishonestly.
if there has been one post that supports my high diversity and low to no risk free share philosophy this is it.
uncle milty
[This message has been edited by old mullet (edited January 06, 2004).]
Posts: 1081 | From: santa fe, new mexico/puerto vallarta, mexico | Registered: Sep 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I believe this to be true. There is no punch line here... just a confession. Of course in the world of making $$$ off of valuations there are hired guns to manipulate people.
$$$ is the lifeblood of civilization as we know it. Corporate spies, espionage, hostile takeovers, and boiler rooms all exist to make a buck and/or to be no. 1
posted
Didn't we see this posted several months ago when everyone was up in arms about 3-13-11-13?
Paul
quote:Originally posted by old mullet: i have no doubt that this could be true. even if this particular post isn't accurate, we see very blatent pumping and bashing on occasion right here. anywhere there is money to me manipulated there will be scams to make the people who least can afford it the victims.
it is interesting that i was pondering this very subject today and wondering where the line between pumping and enthusiastic opinion occurs. the same with bashing and negative opinion. i came to the conclusion that the difference is in the amount and quality of reliable dd that accompanies and substantiates the opinion.
as a group we would be wise to discuss these topics to establish guidelines for both reading and submitting posts that endorse or discredit a stock.
some of the current threads prove that there value to a team effort. it would be a shame to use it dishonestly.
if there has been one post that supports my high diversity and low to no risk free share philosophy this is it.
uncle milty
[This message has been edited by old mullet (edited January 06, 2004).]
------------------ Let not the rich man glory in his riches.
posted
I couldnt find any info on this company, or proof that it exists.
They werent Bashing in boiler room, they were unloading their own shares to the public.
Think about it, paying a basher $12 an hour to post on a messageboard, where he gets little exposure, plus bonuses- and multiply this by the 70 people. Just the hourly comes out a little over 30,000 a week- then add on admin costs, lease, equip- it doesnt add up. Why would a firm do this? Why not just short the hell out of the stock- and pick it up low if thats their goal, so much more cost effective- think people think
quote:Originally posted by rpw: F.ranklin, A.ndrews, K.ramer, E.delstein....
here is a news this morning from my realtime on ADOT, reguarding the possible lawsuits against these groups.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan 6, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Advanced Optics Electronics, Inc. (OTC BB:ADOT) today confirmed that NASD processing of Biomoda, Inc.'s initial public sales (Biomoda, Inc. is 30% held directly and indirectly by ADOT) is nearing completion in conjunction with the Company's securities counsel in New York City.
The Company further confirmed that it is near contract with several independent marketing groups for sales and licensing of its proprietary displays and display technology. Significant progress has been achieved in outdoor display marketing with interest developing in purchasing capital equipment by end users.
In an effort to assist shareholders who have been harmed with recent extremely libelous and foul language postings on various internet sites, legal counsel for the Company in conjunction with several law firms has initiated a very aggressive and comprehensive program of tracking down this criminal activity and initiated several complaints (lawsuits) to date. Operators of various Internet venues, including Lycos, operator of "Raging Bull" have provided prompt compliance and complete cooperation with Court orders and subpoenas aimed at stamping out this illegal practice.
Biomoda, Inc. plans to release several significant development announcements in the next few weeks regarding joint ventures and collaborative research efforts with far ranging effects.
Advanced Optics Electronics, Inc. (ADOT - OTC: BB) is a technology company based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company maintains an R&D facility and manufacturing plant, and is engaged in building large-scale flat panel displays utilizing its patented and patent pending technology.
In addition to the core business of ADOT, the company has made a strategic technology oriented investment in BIOMODA, Inc. BIOMODA, Inc. is a company that holds patents and patents pending domestically and internationally for the early detection of Lung Cancer. ADOT currently holds directly and indirectly 30% of BIOMODA, Inc.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," and words of similar import. The Company's actual results could differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect management's opinions only as of the date of this report, as a result of risks and uncertainties that exist in our operation, development efforts and business environment. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements. You should carefully review the risk factors in other documents that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
SOURCE: Advanced Optics Electronics, Inc.
CONTACT: Advanced Optics Electronics, Inc. 505-797-7878 www.adotsite.com
Customize your Business Wire news & multimedia to match your needs. Get breaking news from companies and organizations worldwide. Logon for FREE today at www.BusinessWire.com.
Copyright (C) 2004 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
-0-
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY E-COMMERCE INTERNET COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS
[This message has been edited by Degs (edited January 06, 2004).]
posted
Do your own DD-- don't beleive anything anybody says--even if you have decided you like and trust them-- I am always leary of pinks--OTC is a little better(LITTLE)-bashing and pumping that are paid for show financial interest by someone --sort out the goals and use the information appropriately.
posted
I must have been drunk to even reply to this stupid thread. This stupid thing's been around so long it's practically urban legend by now. It makes the rounds every few months, like on RB, Yahoo, etc..... But, glassman did make some good points.
[This message has been edited by Malichi (edited February 19, 2004).]
posted
This crap is right off the Raging Bull**** site, this is a really old post i've seen this months ago but whether or not this is tru im not sure of. but theres a guy on raging bull just puttin this all over the place.
Posts: 71 | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think this post is a bit of reverse psychology. It's someone that wants people to believe that there are such things as paid bashers, so they pose as one. I think it is most likely a pump-and-dumper trying to undermine the efforts of those who don't cheerlead for stocks by claiming that there are actually such things as "paid bashers." This is all, or course, just my humble opinion.
Kevin
quote:Originally posted by babybloo: This crap is right off the Raging Bull**** site, this is a really old post i've seen this months ago but whether or not this is tru im not sure of. but theres a guy on raging bull just puttin this all over the place.
------------------ "Entrepreneurship is the last refuge of the trouble making individual."
posted
You are right babybloo I got it from the Bull board, but I repeat I'm a new investor so there is no way I could know if is been around for long or not. I just thought it was interesting and that it could b helpfull to someone. Like cabbage22 said I couldn't find any information about this company either. What I found out is that the name spells F.A.K.E
F ranklin A ndrews K ramer & E delstein
I didn't want to make a big deal out f it, so lets get back to bussiness. The King.
quote:Originally posted by babybloo: This crap is right off the Raging Bull**** site, this is a really old post i've seen this months ago but whether or not this is tru im not sure of. but theres a guy on raging bull just puttin this all over the place.
quote:Originally posted by mamboking: Too All Read THIS !
everyone read
COPIED FROM ANOTHER BOARD.
Today I want to come clean about something I feel very badly about. I cannot undo some of the things I have done, but hopefully this message will prevent other such occurrences in the future.
I am a paid basher.
Yes, it is true. Today is my last day at this company; I?m moving on to a new job. But before I go, I want to explain a few things because this just isn?t right and I won?t feel good about myself until I expose this sham. It?s hurt too many people and I don?t want it on my conscience anymore. I can no longer live with a lie.
I work for a company called Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein in Stamford, CT. Basically, it?s a Boiler Room much like the one in the movie of the same name. The idea behind my group is to bash the price of a company?s stock down low enough to where the group of investors who retained our company?s services can buy the stock really cheap and perhaps even take it over all together.
There are approximately 70 people at the company divided into several groups. My group, consisting of 5 people, is responsible for BIFS. While I probably shouldn?t give any names of anyone working here now, what the heck, I?m leaving here, so what can they do ? sue me? Ha! I can tell you that GUTTWRENCH was part of my group until he left last week, as was Richardphx. Others who have been part of this include early bashers like Epiphonics and Simontaz. You may be interested to know that some hypsters, such as Amato7 and BIFWATCHER, have also been part of the scam (more on that later).
There are several companies engaged in the bashing business ? ours is not the only one. However, I can tell you that not every basher in here is a paid basher. Having done this for two years, I can usually tell who is a paid basher and who is merely someone having a little fun. While unpaid bashers have a different motive than someone like me, they can be unwilling accomplices to helping me achieve my ultimate goal and they also spread rumor and confusion throughout a room, which also helps me.
What is that goal? Well, I am merely a cog in a much larger machine, so my bosses never really explained the big picture to me, but I?d say essentially, GUTTWRENCH was right. There are several companies who are quite familiar with SWOMI and who are deathly afraid of it.
There are three types of bashers here at Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein: Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner. An Advanced-level basher (also known as a Silver Tongued Devil) would spread false or misleading information about the company. They would deal in facts, countering every longs post with articles, news reports and opinion surveys that gave a negative impression about the company.
An Intermediate-level basher (also known as a Serpent) would try to weasel their way into the confidence of longs and create doubt using rumor or innuendo.
Finally, a Beginner-level basher (also known as a Pitchfork) would attempt to create confusion in the room by distracting other posters with satire, name calling and pointless arguments. The idea was to make sure no serious discussion of the stock could take place. A Pitchfork was usually a basher, but not always. Sometimes, we would throw in a hypster Pitchfork such as Amato7 or BIFSWATCHER to create the illusion of an argument going on. What was really funny (in a perverse way, I guess) was that Amato7 and I sat next to each other, laughing the whole time.
I was a Pitchfork. I was paid a base wage of $12 an hour for my services. I was given a $1 bonus for every post over 100 per day as well as a monthly bonus of $100 for every penny the stock had dropped from the previous month. I was also paid a bonus for bashing on weekends. While this may not sound like much, I made a decent, though dishonorable, paycheck.
Each of us sat in a small half-cubicle in a cluster with our teammates. Each group (usually five people) was made of three beginners (two who would bash and one who would hype), one intermediate and one advanced level basher. Occasionally for some of the hotter stocks, one of the beginners would be replaced by an intermediate depending on how much the stock was rising. BIFS was a low-level stock, meaning it got the 3-1-1 configuration. Somehow, I get the feeling that JPACK2 may have worked for a basher company or knows someone who does because the "Basher Handbook" he occasionally posts is eerily similar to the one we actually use. While not a word-for-word match, I?d say it is about 90 percent the same. We do have certain rules that we follow.
First, we have to develop a character and stay within that character in order to build a "following." My character, "Firebird_1965," was a sarcastic, obnoxious supporter of free speech, but only when it came to bashers.
Next, we had to follow certain guidelines on what we could say. We were urged to have an "answer" to every long?s question, but we were to frame that answer in a way that ridiculed the questioner for asking such a question. However, we were never to use profanity or vulgarity because that would cause people to ignore us. We were to make fun of people, but in a civil way. The idea was to get "play," i.e. ? reaction from other posters. The more play we got, the more the room would be disrupted. Ignored posters get no play. One exception would be the hypster ? since they were "defending" the stock against our onslaught, they got a little more leeway. People would side with the hypster because they thought he was real since he appeared to be on their side, but was really on ours, setting us up to disrupt the room. Padelcars is quite good at this and gets paid very well.
I?ve worked on BIFS, TSRG, MXII for about three months now. In addition to the Firebird_1965 alias, I?ve used a few others on the BIFS and several other boards as well. I stuck with Firebird_1965 because it was the one that got the most play from other posters.
In closing, I feel absolutely terrible about this. It?s just awful how I?ve been part of a scam designed to cheat honest, hard-working people out of their investments all for the benefit of a few wealthy people who already have enough money to last a lifetime. These greedy people MUST be stopped. That?s why I?m posting this before I leave. I want to make up for some of the damage I?ve done. I can?t live with this lie anymore. You can?t imagine how hard it is to look at myself in the mirror each morning knowing my job is to cheat and lie.
I have to go now, I?m too broken up to continue. I hope this confession can make up for my sordid deeds; I would urge everyone who reads this to copy and repost it as many times as you can. Only by shining the light of truth can we drive these rats back into the darkness from whence they came. Believe me, they don?t want publicity.