$PZZA Gate, Part 2: The Network Behind Fake Papa Johns News – Till Daldrup
Explosive investigation reveals Dubai-based UK operators manipulated Papa Johns stock through coordinated disinformation campaign, using low-cost fake news sites to trigger 18% market surge and potential options trading profits.
Hunterbrook Capital's forensic investigation reveals how UK nationals operating from Dubai orchestrated a coordinated disinformation campaign using fake acquisition news to manipulate Papa Johns stock, triggering an 18% intraday surge before the hoax unraveled.
Ticker: PZZA
Position Disclosure: Hunterbrook Capital states they held no position in PZZA at the time of investigation
Research Type: Third-party investigative analysis
Core Thesis
- Coordinated Market Manipulation: A network of pay-to-play websites spread false Papa Johns acquisition rumors on November 10, causing an 18% stock surge before corrections led to an 8% intraday decline
- Dubai-Based Operation: UK nationals Sam Allcock and Danielle Trigg operated interconnected low-traffic domains sharing hosting infrastructure to disseminate fake news for as little as $150-$180 per placement
- Mainstream Media Infiltration: The hoax successfully penetrated reputable outlets including Bloomberg Terminal and Barron's before being retracted, demonstrating the scheme's sophisticated reach
- Digital Forensics Evidence: Website analysis, IP tracing, and reverse image searches connected multiple domains (BusinessMole, ABC Money, NewsReleases) to the same operators through shared hosting and personal profiles
- Profit-Driven Network: The low-cost, high-impact model suggests potential for significant returns through coordinated options trading around artificially created price movements
Key Insights & Intriguing Details
- Facial Recognition Investigation: Researchers used PimEyes facial recognition technology and reverse image searches to connect Sam Allcock's personal photos across multiple fake news outlets
- $180 Market Moving Power: A feature story placement on ABC Money costs approximately $180, yet generated enough market movement to potentially yield massive returns through strategic options trading
- Prolific Phantom Writer: "Danielle" produced multiple diverse stories in a single day, ranging from private school expansions to hydrocarbon discoveries, raising questions about authentic authorship
- SEO Content Farm Network: The investigation uncovered a cluster of low-traffic domains (AbuDhabiWeek.ae, WebRise.co.uk, City-Futures.org.uk) designed to mimic legitimate news sources while operating as coordinated content networks
- Instagram Evidence Trail: Public Instagram posts revealed connections between key operators, with Sam Allcock posting alongside Steve Laidlaw's advertising executive, further cementing network relationships
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly happened to Papa Johns stock on November 10?
False acquisition rumors caused PZZA shares to surge over 18% intraday before retracing gains when the hoax was exposed, ultimately closing down 4% for the day
Who are the key individuals behind this alleged manipulation scheme?
Sam Allcock and Danielle Trigg as central figures, with Allcock connected to multiple domains including NewsAnyway and appearing as an author across various outlets, while Trigg serves as Editor-in-Chief of ABC Money and co-operates CryptoNexa with Allcock.
How did fake news reach mainstream financial media?
False reports originated on BusinessMole and ABC Money before being picked up by Bloomberg Terminal and Barron's, demonstrating how pay-to-play networks can infiltrate legitimate financial news distribution channels.
What evidence supports claims of coordination between these websites?
Multiple domains share hosting infrastructure, IP addresses, and common operators, with websites like BusinessMole citing NewsReleases (tied to Allcock) and ABC Money sharing server space with SteveLaidlaw.com.
How much does it cost to place market-moving fake news?
Feature placements on sites like ABC Money can be arranged for approximately $150-$180, with some Fiverr services advertising news publication for similar amounts.
What makes this different from standard PR practices?
This goes beyond legitimate PR by using false information specifically designed to manipulate stock prices, rather than promoting genuine business developments through transparent paid content.
How did investigators trace the network connections?
Hunterbrook employed digital forensics including website data analysis, IP address tracing, reverse image searches, and facial recognition technology to connect disparate online profiles and domains to common operators.
What role did Dubai play in this alleged scheme?
The network appears to be operated by UK nationals based in Dubai, with Steve Laidlaw running Digital24 (a press-release syndication service) from Dubai and connections to various domain hosting arrangements in the region.
This summary is based on investigative research conducted by Hunterbrook Capital and does not constitute primary research by our organization.
The original detailed analysis can be found at the source report.
All allegations and findings presented are attributed to Hunterbrook Capital's investigation. The research team included Till Daldrup (ex-Wall Street Journal), Dhruv Patel (Harvard Crimson), Blake Spendley (OSINTTechnical), and Laura Wadsten, with editing by Sam Koppelman.
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