When dealing interstate it's also easy to scam someone who isn't familiar with the local laws and who doesn't have access to that area's multiple listing service.

You've described what amounts to scamming the owner out of market rent.

So when a guest scams” the system, or has unrealistic expectations, the “fairness” aspect of the system breaks down.  

Affiliate marketing, gurus and eCommerce are three of the biggest money making scams out there.

Only the local registered voters do and that's how crazy anti-STR policies can get passed. 

Anyone promising you guaranteed cash out the gate is probably scamming you.

I've seen a lot of scams in the space these days on FB.

In my opinion you really don't need a mentor, I used to make the same mistake of paying for expensive classes and coaches granted i didn't finish paying 90% of the back because it felt like a scam to me.

Jacksonville as a whole is a very anti short term rental city.

Some of those "gurus" are scam artists, and many of them charge enough money for their "lessons" that you could just as well put that money into an investment.There are even BP subscribers who will tell you it's possible to invest with No Money, and they'll have tales to tell.