I don't believe him, unless you have other not so public contact to think otherwise. Are those people snuffing their product as well? Quite a bit of desperation about.
So he claims. Typically, PR or IR contractors get paid up-front for the minimum engagement period under their contract. The conference call would be an expense which he might have fronted to be paid back later by the Company, but I am sure the cost is tiny compared to his compensation already received.
And anyone on the inside who couldn't see NERG was a clear and obvious scam is either ignoring the obvious or is too ignorant to hold any similar position with any public company. Especially after the incredibly outrageous and impossible "offer" from the mysterious Russian Company. That alone should have sent any experienced (and honest) contractor running for the exit as fast as they could go.
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