Along with an increase in the number of foreclosures across the U.S., so too has there been an increase in the number of scams. These scams present themselves as companies who are coming to the rescue of homeowners who are facing foreclosure. Instead, what happens in foreclosure rescue scams is that your money is stolen, your credit is destroyed and the equity in your home is wiped out.

Foreclosure scammers victimize those who have fallen behind on mortgage payments and are faced with foreclosure. It’s not hard for these con artists to find potential victims because mortgage holders must publish notices before they foreclose on a home.

Once they’ve picked out a vulnerable person, the scam rescue company gets in touch with the homeowner by phone, email or even with a home visit. It’s important not to be swayed into thinking that because you’ve seen an ad in the paper or on the web, they are aboveboard. And even if they refer to themselves as a foreclosure rescue agency or a mortgage consultant, it doesn’t really prove that they are.

Be very cautious of anyone who offers to negotiate with your lender for a fee. To protect yourself, take the time to check out their reputation and their credentials. See if the Better Business Bureau has any record of them.

If you are facing a foreclosure, the last thing you need is to be taken by a scammer. Anyone offering to represent you for a fee should be regarded with a healthy dose of suspicion.

The best way to delay or to a stop a foreclosure is to contact your mortgage holder and find out what if anything can be done. Any extra money you have will probably be better spent being applied towards your mortgage or in getting legal advice.

But if you do decide that you want to work with a third party, being aware of a few things may help you avoid potential problems.

First, make sure that everything is put in writing and that you get a copy of any agreement you come to. A written document can be used to protect your rights if a problem occurs. Verbal promises have no weight in court.

Even if you are feeling stressed and out of time to resolve your problem, don’t let yourself get rushed into signing a contract or any kind of document. Take time to read and understand everything before you sign.

And don’t sign if it doesn’t make sense. Take it to a financial adviser or an attorney to get advice and explanation. You should be aware of a few things that you probably should never sign.

First and foremost, never sign over the deed to your house. If you do you are handing over both your rights to your home as well as any equity you have. Second, do not sign any document with blank spaces. These could be completed after you sign and you don’t want to give someone else that kind of control. Finally, any time that you find errors on a document, don’t sign until the errors have been corrected.

Don’t agree to let a foreclosure rescue company make your mortgage payments. Make them yourself directly to your mortgage holder.

When you do that, your mortgage holder can see that you are working towards making your payments. And by making payments yourself, you can be assured that all the money is being applied towards your mortgage without fees for the rescue company being taken out first.

Remember the adage that if a thing sounds too good to be true then it probably can’t be true. By following these suggestions, you will be able to avoid being a victim of foreclosure rescue scams.

Protect yourself and your family. Find out how to avoid foreclosure scams. Get answers to some foreclosure FAQ so you don’t get ripped off.