Real-time pattern detection across ASX, NYSE, NASDAQ, LSE, crypto and forex. Know when a coordinated narrative campaign targets your holdings — before the price moves.
"Trading against retail investors who follow my commentary was like taking candy from a baby." — Andrew Left, Citron Research. Convicted of securities fraud, 2024.
Four steps. Executed in minutes. Legal grey area — until the DOJ comes knocking.
The attacker quietly takes a short (or long) position, sometimes alerting favoured hedge funds first. No public disclosure.
A damaging report or viral post is published — framed as research, investor protection, or whistleblowing. The public buys in.
The market reacts. Retail investors panic-sell (or FOMO buy). The price moves sharply — exactly where the position needed it.
The position is closed — sometimes within minutes of publication. Profits pocketed. The target company is left to deal with the fallout.
On-chain signals verified via block explorer data, Chainalysis public data, and abuse.ch feeds. AU-accessible platforms prioritised.
Legitimate short activism serves a market function — Muddy Waters exposed Luckin Coffee's $310M fraud in 2020. The Integrity Index separates research-based activism from manipulation.
Score tracks: directional accuracy (were targets subsequently confirmed fraudulent?), position disclosure timing, regulatory history, long-term target recovery rate, and research methodology quality (fundamentals vs. price action vs. narrative). Scores are updated as new information emerges. Full methodology →
Viper Shield is an intelligence and monitoring tool. Not financial advice. Short-selling is legal and can serve a legitimate market function. Gumshoe tracks the pattern — not the opinion.