Morris Invest is not really a turnkey company but a marketer of ill repute; and in any case is an outlier in that they are the worse of the worse for the extent of the scam they have run in multiple markets now. 

Or they know full well low quality tenants typically don't buy so they're just scamming them out of their option money.

I would love any advice/warnings of how to recognize and avoid scam money lenders.

Certainly, Scam Alert!!!

You will be majorly being scammed if you take their deal as is.

Tried it very seriously a few years ago - given all the scamming that goes on in all aspects of life these days, it's massively difficult to get people to believe you're legit and to work with you.

Also, if they're that shady, I would question what else they're hiding or trying to scam you on

I've known others that have been scammed by lenders, taking their down payments and never to be seen again.

As of now, all of my work hours are being claimed by the marketing business, and I am struggling to find even one hour daily to devote towards real estate. 

It was a scam and the home continued to be in foreclosure.