Far too many families have lost or are at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure.   To make matters worse, scammers are taking advantage of homeowners desperate to save their homes, committing acts of mortgage fraud and coaxing families into accepting sub-prime loans.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) website provides a list of certified foreclosure counseling agencies which offer free counseling assistance.  They will also help homeowners minimize through the process of restructuring a sub-prime loan into a sound mortgage loan.

Whether you need assistance locating a certified HUD foreclosure counseling agency or believe you may have been a victim of mortgage fraud, the following website links and phone numbers may help:

FDIC Foreclosure Prevention Website

www.fdic.gov/foreclosureprevention (877) ASKFDIC or (877) 275-3342

Government-sponsored Mortgage Modification and Refinance Programs

Making Home Affordable

www.makinghomeaffordable.gov

Hope for Homeowners (H4H)

http://portal.hud.gov/ (800) CALL-FHA or (800) 225-5342

Foreclosure Mitigation Assistance and Counseling

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/fc/ or www.hud.gov (800) 569-4287

Homeownership Preservation Foundation

www.995hope.org (888) 995-HOPE

NeighborWorks America

www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org/ or www.nw.org/network/home.asp

Report Foreclosure Scams

Federal Trade Commission

www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ or www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit/mortgage.shtm

State Attorney General Contact List

www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php

State, County and City Consumer Protection Offices

www.consumeraction.gov/state.shtml