This whole sorry saga reminds me of the story of Ryan Dunlop and Hitz Radio in Scotland back in 2006-7. A young man claimed to be running an internet radio station from his garden shed getting stupid amounts of listeners globally. He managed to get national press attention and caught the interest of the radio industry.
That was of course until the authorities got involved!!!!
Hitz Radio UK - Wikipedia
I worked in the industry at the time, and to see that kind of nonsense written by journalists in the national press, and broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live along with regional television was an embarrassment.