From the article. Perhaps that is where he messed up - the average guy probably never heard of this board - and he may very well have name-dropped the name of the company for whom he worked.
It doesn't say he returned the surplus equipment.
Lots of holes in the story.
He was offered free service, not extra equipment that he would be charged for. Comcast is involved in explicit fraud in this situation.
He not have been able to return the extra equipment in time to get a refund.
If I were an American, I’d certainly have nothing to do with thus company if I could help it.
Lots of holes in this story