This is nothing but deceitful nonsense. What you call a "marketing strategy", I would call fraud.
Scammer: a confidence game or other fraudulent scheme, especially for making a quick profit; swindle.
Swindle: to obtain money or property by fraud or deceit
Fraud: a person or thing intended to deceive others,
typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities.
No, but when I'm 2 weeks into a bounty program I'm basically forced to go along with it.
No, you are not forced to do anything you do not want to do here, especially when someone is being fraudulent.