Trap Move
Volume Price Analysis glossary · Support, Resistance & Breakout Mechanics
Definition
A manufactured price move on low volume, designed to lure traders into weak positions before a reversal.
Trap Move in plain English
A trap move is a fake-out — a price move deliberately engineered to make ordinary traders jump in at the worst possible moment, right before the price whips around against them. The tell is that the move happens on LOW volume: if a real, powerful move were underway, big money would be piling in and volume would be high, but here it's suspiciously quiet, meaning almost nobody serious is behind it. It's like a store hanging a giant 'SALE!' banner that lures a crowd, then quietly jacking the prices once everyone's inside. Spotting the thin volume behind a tempting move is how you avoid walking into the trap.
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