[chloraphil]

The article mentions that fake charities were set up specifically for this purpose.

[alanctgardner2]

Can we trust that? If a long-standing group like the Red Cross were involved they'd hardly be shouting about it.

[saraid216]

Considering that Argo effectively did the same thing (set up a fake production company to make press and answer a phone line), I see a pattern in setting up fronts that seems entirely plausible.