This can even be part of the scam, in fact they are returning (in installments) only 1/4 of the original investment, so fake everything, let the victims panic, despair, etc and then come up with this offer to make it "legal".

Perfect...

Also, why do we should believe in their word that they are going to pay, after what happened?, what if they "fry a cat" again and fly?, this time without any chance of legal recourse?