Account takeover attack

An account takeover attack is unauthorised access to someone else's online account, such as a brokerage account, so that the intruder can act as the account holder. In the SEC's filings the term covers using hacked accounts to place trades the holder never chose.

manipulation techniques · updated 2026-09-20

Where does account takeover attack come up?

This term is used in the following manipulation techniques, each explained in full on its own page.

• Hijacked-account ramping — Hijacked-account ramping is using other people's brokerage accounts, accessed without their consent, to place buy orders that raise the price of a stock the perpetrator already holds, then selling into that price.

Enforcement actions involving these techniques

See also

• Ramping — Ramping is buying a security in order to raise its price, so that a holder can sell at the higher level. It is manipulative when t…
• Artificial price — An artificial price is one that does not reflect the genuine forces of supply and demand. Proving artificiality is a required elem…

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