Also, ask your agent to do prior rental verifications and to run the applicants through Forewarn app.

I definitely thought it was a scam but it was legit and easily one of my most profitable 1 night stays away from a pure revenue stand point.

For me, what was talked about above is nowhere near close enough for me to judge or provide an opinion on someone as just because someone changes their name (we have done it several times for different entities) or someone could be co-gp or LP in a deal but not in the limelight) does not immediately set off my radar of "omg this person is not legit or a scam artist". 

I did all my other due diligence like asking for paystubs, W2s, Tax returns, Employment verification, bank statements etc etc and did not see any red flags overall.

Avoiding the occupants from squatting is best addressed with background checks, employment verifications, and references before signing the lease.

Be sure to actually contact the landlord for verification—fake references are more common than you’d think.In-Person Meeting: Meeting potential roommates in person is a great way to get a feel for compatibility.

Start early, raise that equity well in advance, and make sure all those forms and verifications are filled out correctly.

Sadly, on BiggerPockets, some are quick to label companies as scams without real experience.

It's always a scam.

Can anyone tell me if this is a genuine scam or is this a viable program to use a vehicle to start my Real Estate Investing journey.