There are a number of traps and scams operating, but they can be avoided. Here's how to get the most out of Raging Bull.

1. Beware of "insider information". It probably isn't. Would a top-level employee of a company really risk being tracked down and fired (even charged) for posting confidential information? Of course not. Claims of insider information are a key suggestion of a pump-and-dump scam operating. People with supposed insider information want to drive the share prices up or down to make themselves a killing, hurting everyone else in the process.

2. Double check press releases. When someone cuts-and-pastes a press release into a posting, there's nothing stopping them from doctoring some information. Inflating some numbers, changing an analyst recommendation - anything. Always check any press release against an official release from the company or newswire.

3. The person who claims to have done detailed technical analysis probably has no clue what they're doing. Real, accredited analysts get paid well for their research, and would not waste their time and effort by releasing it for free over Raging Bull.

4. Realize that "Buy" and "Strong Buy" ratings are very, very common. Don't get excited because you see that an analyst has given a Strong Buy rating to anything. Analysts are notoriously bullish, and negative ratings are uncommon. "Hold" ratings are rare, and this is a bad sign for any company. More rare, however, are the "Sell" and "Strong Sell" ratings on a stock. You'll have a hard time even finding these, and are reserved for the absolute worst companies. It doesn't take much to get a positive report card from analysts, so don't run out and buy anything on a positive report alone.

5. News is not news by the time it reached Raging Bull. Individual investors are the last to receive information (usually via press releases), so by the time an individual posts some breaking news, it's often too late to act upon, especially if you're a day trader.

Bottom line, just be very skeptical of everything you read in the Raging Bull message boards. Always double check what you can, and beware of people claiming to be an insider, analyst, or expert.
Raging Bull is a great place to share information, but it should never be your only resource when picking investments.

FWIW