As foreclosures continue to rise, so does the amount of fraud against homeowners who are facing foreclosure. As millions of homeowners are faced with the loss of their homes, con artists are seizing the opportunity to defraud the already distressed homeowner with home rescue schemes. Their victims are being found through foreclosure filings by lenders in courthouse records, newspapers, community foreclosure counseling sessions, and areas with high rates of foreclosure. Rescue scams are being distributed by mail, notices on utility poles, roadside signs, solicitation by telephone or door to door. Any form of media and method of communication is being used as a means to target their victims.

On the surface, many of these fraudulent offers appear legitimate, offering help with loan modification, short sales, refinancing, bankruptcy or rent back options. These con artist prey on your fears, humiliation, desperation, depression or your lack of knowledge of mortgage procedures. They know how to spin their words to assure you that their sole purpose is to help you through a bad period in your life.

Once you open your door to a con artist, you become his victim. The scam artist often begins with a spiel of how he can do more for you than you can do for yourself. No matter what your situation is, he can help you. When he knows he has you hooked, he asks for an upfront payment before he can begin to help you. Once he receives payment, he reaches into his briefcase, and pulls out a stack of papers. As he shoves paperwork in front of you, he gives you an inaccurate summary of each paper he has for you to sign and then points to the place for your signature. Each paper you sign takes you, unknowingly, one step closer to giving him your home. Once he has all the necessary paperwork signed to carry out his scheme, he’ll shake your hand, thank you for your business and walk out the door, the proud owner of what used to be your home.

As foreclosure scams continue to rise across the country, states are searching for viable solutions to help distressed homeowners on the verge of foreclosure and to prevent mortgage fraud. Some states have passed laws that prevent “mortgage consultants” from requesting upfront fees before performing a service. Some are conducting studies to determine what options are available to help homeowners and still others have implemented laws for stricter mortgage loan practices. However, laws can only help in the prosecution of fraud. You, as a homeowner, are the only line of defense to protect your home from such scams. Become familiar with the foreclosure laws of your state and educate yourself in what to look for in foreclosure fraud.

Here are twelve tips to help you avoid foreclosure fraud:

• 1. Beware of those who want money upfront before performing any service
• 2. Beware of those who offer to buy your home and rent back to you
• 3. Beware of those who request that you sign your deed/title to your home over to them
• 4. Beware of those who guarantee you results regardless of your situation
• 5. Do not give your mortgage payment to anyone other than your lender
• 7. Do not sign documents that have blank spaces or errors in them
• 8. Do not sign documents you do not understand, and/or have not read
• 9. Do not sign documents that you feel you are being forced or manipulated to sign
• 10. Ignore documents received in the mail that appear as a legal form and state “This is Your Last Chance”
• 11. Avoid door to door or telephone solicitations with offers to help you save your home
• 12. Avoid responding to signs placed on the side of the road or signs posted on utility poles, etc.

No homeowner is exempt from foreclosure fraud. Many of these scams are so sophisticated that you may not be able to detect being scammed until it is too late. Educate yourself to the options available for saving your home. Get the right help by contacting your lender, if and when foreclosure becomes eminent, and close the door to those who perpetrate fraud to steal your home.

Become an educated homeowner and find out more information about your options to foreclosures at http://www.squidoo.com/forclosure-facts-types-and-options