Finding buyers/investors, bad advice?

[Pete Storseth]

Recently bought a course to help me focus on my goals and jump start my marketing. The first lesson however was to amass a buyers list. The lesson essentially says to create a fake ad for a house that needs tons of work, and have potential buyers interested respond with their name and number. Upon calling them, I'm supposed to apologize that the "fake" house has been sold and use the opportunity to ask them for their specific criteria for future deals.

This seems shady and dishonest, especially for beginning a very important relationship with future partners with a lie.

What are some better, more ethical strategies for finding buyers? I am already going to REIAs, etc. I would like to try a variation of this strategy of posting ads, but not with fake deals. Thoughts?