[huntedsnark]

This is exactly the kind of tactic/hack that PG/Y Combinator actively encourages for that stage of startup is it not?

[Gustomaximus]

Are you referring to gauging interest by setting up fake service pages?

If so I suspect most people can see there is a gulf of difference between offering a service on a website and saying its currently unavailable when people hit 'buy' vs "securities fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering."

[andrei_says_]

Fraud?

[smt88]

Yes. "Fake it til you make it" and "Do things that don't scale" are common advice in Silicon Valley and often cross into the realm of fraud.

It's common in the industry in general to sell software you haven't built yet. Even IBM did it with Watson Health.