This is what "pump-and-dump" means:
It's simple I think. When some coins value are increasing it means pumping. And when some coins value are decreasing it means dumping.
If you want to define it the "simple" (naive) way, then that is up to you. But the problem with that definition is that in a pump-and-dump scam, the rise in price is the result of the pump, and the fall in price is the result of the scam. However you want to define it, you must be aware that "pump-and-dump" is a scam, and if you are involved but you aren't running the scam, then you are the intended victim.
One way the scam is done is through a pump-and-dump "group". The operator of the group invites people to join, saying that everyone in the group will benefit by pumping up the price of a coin and then dumping it (exploiting the naive definition). Here is how it really works:
- 1. The scammer forms a pump-and-dump group.
- 2. The scammer buys up a coin slowly in order to minimally affect the price.
- 3. The scammer announces to the group that a "pump" will begin at a certain time. This is the real pump.
- 4. The "pump" begins, members start buying, the price rises, and the scammer starts selling. This is the real dump.
- 5. The "pump" ends when the scammer has sold all of their coins and when the members have bought all they will buy.
- 6. The "dump" begins as members try to unload, but there are no buyers. The scammer sits back and watches the carnage.
Another way the scam is done is simply to put out a newsletter or service that announces when the prices of coins are expected to rise. The people that follow that newsletter or service are the intended victims. The scammer buys up a coin slowly in order to minimally affect the price and then announces that they expect the price to rise and that followers should buy it now. Of course, the price rises as followers buy, and the scammer sells for a profit, leaving everyone else with worthless coins. The price eventually drops because there is no real reason to own the coins, and everyone dumps their coins.
Finally, the biggest pump-and-dump scams these days are the ICOs. It seems that owners of cryptocurrencies will believe anything and will buy anything in the hope of striking it big. Of course, some of these ICOs are well-intentioned, but they are start-ups and most start-ups fail. The rest are just scams. I believe that less that 1% of the ICOs being sold will actually be successful in the end.