The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition stock scams are about as old as the market itself, but the combination of worldwide information technology and automated programs that can make thousands of trades in a second has created new paths for potential frauds. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says in May, 2010, the Dow index plunged 600 points in about five minutes and closed with a loss of 348 points, triggered by a computerized selling program, and in April, 2015, the U.S. government filed criminal charges against British futures trader Navinder Singh Sarao. This year, shares of Avon Products soared after a false Securities and Exchange Commission filing said an investment firm wanted to buy the cosmetics retailer for $8-billion (U.S.). In May, the SEC sued a Bulgarian man, Nedko Nedev, and said he and five others violated securities laws by creating fake takeover offers. The SEC said Mr. Nedev also made fake bids for Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in 2012 and insurer Tower Group International in 2014. In July, Twitter's stock climbed as much as 8.5 per cent after a fake story said the short messaging service received a $3-billion (U.S.) buyout offer.