What you're describing sounds like an equity skimming scam that many states have outlawed. 

I guess my greatest beef with most gurus (not all, some are actually honest and straightforward, and even offer marginally beneficial advice) is the following1- they’re dishonest in numerous ways2- completing their training in no way qualifies the student to earn money or even perform competently in real property field3- the techniques they teach are often harmful to the people their students deal with4- they unleash a horde of unprepared, unqualified, unknowledgeable, misguided and unaware newbies on an unsuspecting pool of desperate homeowners5- they sell the song that all formal education is a waste of time and money6- they never provide any audited proof that they have been successful in real estate investing7- they encourage people to pay for a mentorship plan they can’t afford by increasing the limit on their credit cards8- they create falsified accounts to post how great their program is9- their programs are packaged by professional seminar companies out of Provo, Utah or Las Vegas, Nevada10- they disparage people who have spent years accumulating the knowledge, experience and capital necessary to be successful in real estate11- SOME gurus teach techniques which are unethical, immoral and even illegal. 

I wanted to know more but all of my life experience up until that point had shown me that this must be a scam.

There are even online portals where people are flipping notes to unsuspecting newbies who don't know how to value a lien throughout the entire process, including cost of capital sitting on a note or trapped due to a homeowner bankruptcy case, etc...  

Out of state investing is NOT a scam.  

I think its a scam I 've ask for my $$$$$ back ,but no answers yet. next is the BBB and hope no one else get scamed.                    

On a side note, I happen to agree with you that 401k plans are a scam but for different reasons. 

same here, i havent heard anything and feel scammed

Google seller scam  especially Wells Fargo and Bank of America  I only know about it because a wife’s friend lost almost $10,000 and Bank of america said sorry  we only protect against unauthorized transactions although you were scammed, you authorized the transaction.

to the the investor who is getting scammed by holdfolio..