This causes a surge in the token’s price, at which point the scammers sell their own tokens — raking in lots of profit — while other investors are left holding coins they bought at an inflated price.
This causes a surge in the token’s price, at which point the scammers sell their own tokens — raking in lots of profit — while other investors are left holding coins they bought at an inflated price.  The price tumbles back down to its natural market position.