Imagine that someone is about to run out of funding. They spin up an semi-plausible story that they have just discovered something great. But "the man"/big oil/pharma/Illuminati is suppressing you and the truth. It might allow them to save face with certain people in their social circle (at the same time burning their bridges in the larger world). And/or your creditors might think you have gone crazy and not try to collect on their debts. And/or they might be in the midst of a manic phase of their bipolar disorder.