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Just out of curiosity, what's to stop companies about lying about numbers like these?

Obviously, it's very much in their interest to make themselves appear bigger and more successful than they are. After all, who would know? And, if they ultimately actually do become successful, who would care?

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I'm not sure appearing bigger and more successful would actually lead to a company becoming bigger and more successful though.

A company lying would ultimately just be fooling themselves.

Most people want to do business with successful companies, because they're under the impression that a successful company is a competent company and can deliver on whatever it is they're promising.

Successful companies also usually tend to get favorable news coverage (this article being a case in point). And companies usually become bigger as they become more successful.

There's every incentive to appear more successful than you are, if you can do so without getting caught.

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