STEVE INSKEEP, host: Here's an e-mail from the NPR business news. Subject line: Crackdown on spam.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: Yesterday, federal regulators suspended stock trading in the stocks of 35 companies linked to spam campaigns - e-mails urging people to buy stocks in small unknown companies. Officials say about 100 million e-mails are sent out each week with messages like, fast money, and ride the bull. Only a hundred million? About half of them are going to me. They're sent by people who profit from the resulting spike in the stock prices. And when the price falls, ordinary investors lose money.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: The SEC crackdown is part of an ongoing effort called Operation Spamalot.
Federal officials are cracking down on e-mail spam that urges people to buy stocks in small, unknown companies. Thursday, regulators suspended trading in the stocks of 35 companies linked to spam campaigns. Officials say about 100 million e-mails, carrying subject lines such as "Fast Money" are sent by people who profit when a stock price jumps. But when the price falls, ordinary investors lose money.