Enlarging Bovine,
You are ( as always!!) correct. Any FTO's in financial difficulties should be honest enpough not to take money as pre payment for any services unless they can provide cast iron gaurantees that the money will be ring fenced ( in most cases this is not possible).
Scurrilous and inaccurate rumour and innuendo are very damaging to any business. Aircraft being impounded is not actually that uncommon and being easily moveable across international boundaries many airport operators impound aircraft to recover relatively small sums of money. Sometimes this is necessary for the "can pay but won't pay" brigade, as opposed to the "can't pay at all" mob.
Some years ago there were some viciuos and perhaps not unfounded rumours about a UK based airline after a/c were impounded at variuos airports. Fees were paid, refinancing obtained and it continues to fly from strength to strength. Sadly, I have seen some poison pen rumours on this and other sites about some businesses that has resulted in (perhaps) unnecessary failure.