LENR is definitely not a heat pump. COP is general term used in physics to measure the efficiency of an energy conversion process (as in a heat pump). It’s the ratio of input energy to output energy.
As LENR/Cold Fusion etc being a scam. It’s possible. I used to think it was, but I’ve read just about every single piece of data for the last 4 or so years. I think it’s the real deal. For it to be a scam, 100’s of people would have to be in on it now, going all the way back to Pons and Fleishman. With so many people in on it, and based on what I’ve read, I’m inclined to say something is there. Time will tell.
It would be very illuminating to get one of these into the hands of a really competent chemistry lab. Surely someone in mainstream chemistry could make this the subject of a PhD level study?
I can only find references to COP being used as a measure for heat pump efficiency. It's use for LENR appears to be a misapplication, intended to spread manure.
For it to be a scam, 100’s of people would have to be in on it now, going all the way back to Pons and Fleishman.
If you want to play the numbers game, there are far more people in the scientific community who say it's a scam, including the USPTO.