There is nothing to say these individuals/organizations would have followed up on their promises to set up these shell companies. They could have been stings,

There is nothing to say these individuals/organizations would have followed up on their promises to set up these shell companies. They could have been stings, or even scams. In the case of the American provider who acknowledged the purpose of the shell company might have been a front for funding terrorism, they could have just requested an upfront payment (e.g. 6 months at $5,000 per month), taken the money and ran.