If some law passed yesterday was said to be deceptive, people wouldn't hesitate to look into it. The son, having stolen it from someone, fabricates a story about how someone gave itto him for saving a pet dog from drowning in a swimming pool. A small lie, and a relatively small theft. The boy, of course, still doesn't admit the truth. One of those friends happens to have a cousin who writes for a local newspaper, and he decides that it would be nice to write about something positive for a chance, and he writes a little article, praising the boy's bravery.
More donations come in, and more people want to know the story.
The story is a little more impressive each time the boy tells it. Once upon a time, a relatively small deception made its way into homeopathic theory. Rules were laid down that at first glance seemed to apply to all patients. But the procedure was only for a small percentage, and the people who received benefit were the ones spoken of and written up. And after all, homeopaths who didn't know the true system weren't to blame if many if not most of their patients didn't get any better during treatment.