stupid question: why can't someone buy/sell to himself

obviously this can't be the case, but what stops say, a market maker or someone buying/selling shares in different accounts to himself?

like if a stock has little liquidity couldn't you move the price to wherever you wanted?

 

I'm sure you CAN do it, but it's manipulation and, if caught, you'd be in some serious shit

 

And also it could lead to tax fraud.

There is a mechanism in Switzerland for lending to yourself legally...

Ninna

 

1) What you're suggesting is called creating "wash sales".
2) It is a "problem" with lower volume issues.