Backated options aren't just Limited to a few bad apples!

Seems that more than 2200 US companies might have manipulated the timing of stock-option grants to executives between 1996 and 2005, according to a new study.

And the study shows that some companies were more likely to do it than others.

According to the study, smaller firms, technology companies, and those with a volatile stock price were more likely to do it.

At the moment, more than 60 companies are under investigation for potentially illegal pay practices. So if the problem is bigger than first thought, it could mean that the official investigation into backdated options might have to expanded.

And the investigators might start with the board of directors.

Outside directors might have been pushing options scams at more than 50 companies now under investigation, according to a study from the Corporate Library.

The study found that found that the 51 companies had common board members to a greater extent than a randomly chosen control group