Be Skeptical
Scammers often work hard to present themselves as legitimate. For this reason, it's important to be extremely wary, even when a solicitation or correspondence looks official.

 Don't pay for help
HUD-approved counseling agencies offer free foreclosure prevention counseling. 

"What happens for that fee is that the scam company does little more than call the phone number on the homeowner's mortgage statement and asks that the homeowner's loan be modified," Robinson says. "Or the company writes a letter asking for the same thing, and that's all."

 Don't transfer the property deed
Scammers sometimes try to encourage homeowners to turn over the ownership reins. In one popular scheme, an organization promises to buy an at-risk homeowner's home and agrees to let the former homeowner rent it out.

Scammers sell these programs by suggesting that giving the title to a new borrower with a better credit rating will help secure financing thus preventing loss of the home.

Supposedly, the homeowner is allowed to live at the residence as a renter with the option of buying it back later.

Ignore promises of shortcuts
Scammers often promise to make foreclosure problems go away overnight. Be skeptical of such claims.

"The foreclosure process is a lengthy and difficult process." 

Any potential solution to foreclosure takes time. An at-risk homeowner may be asked to negotiate a workout package with the loan servicer. In addition, the homeowner may need to seek financial assistance from other organizations and craft an individual plan to reduce monthly expenses.