Many people are being scammed or think they are being scammed by phony foreclosure rescue companies.  They're not alone; The FBI has been looking into these cases and so far nearly 4,000 incidents have been reported!

According to the Federal Trade Commission,   the scams advertise guarantees and high success rates to mislead consumers about their services. They charge upfront fees, that legitimate nonprofit organizations do not charge. They also use names or look-a-like Web sites that appear to be a nonprofit or government agency.

DON'T BE SCAMMED !! Remember that official government sites end with ".gov." Some of these scammers try to confuse people by using addresses that include a dash or slashh in front of "gov" or end in".us," or by using names that sound similar to legitimate programs.

Always be suspicious of unsolicited offers that look like government forms, or have logos that resemble government seals.  These offers suggest you may be eligible for a modification program to save your home under a government program.  Bewae of misspellings, dire warnings and references to government programs that you can't access without their help.

Check the company out, if you can't validate a company or if their privacy policy sounds fishy,      it's most likely a scam. 

Especially be careful of sites that contain only a single page where you fill out personal info to submit for a referral.  Even if the ad appears in a magazine or newspaper it could just mean they paid for advertising.

Always be leery of promises of any type.  RUN AWAY from any attempt to collect fees, and be wary of promises of a "free consultation" or a "money-back guarantee." 

Remember, there are ligitimate nonprofit organizations that work with government agencies to provide FREE HELP for distressed homeowners.  Contact the federal government's Hope Now program at: 1-800-995-HOPE, or visit www.hopenow.com to find legitimate assistance.