If it is (a father/son scam, that is)...it's really a good one!
Dad must love his son very much to be willing to play the fool, the bad guy, and take all the flack while Sonny Boy rakes it in.
Either that or he doesn't care who calls him a jackass as long as he can get everybody else to pay for the kid's education (and maybe even have some $$ left over).
Apple