I use Twitter to follow the crisis. I watch “foreclosure” and #ftmc. I am amazed at how many scams are out there. There is a huge “industry” out there ready to scam home owners. What the betting that these are the very same people that got others into this mess in the first place.

WVXU (Cincinnati) has this interview with the Attorney General of Ohio.

KERA in Dallas has a useful guide to help people avoid being scammed. here are the main points:

KERA’s Sam Baker talks with special investigators with the Dallas District Attorney’s office and Specialized Crime Divison about mortgage foreclosure scams Monday.

Andrew Masters, a special investigator with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office and Specialized Crime Division, and Stephanie Martin, an assistant District Attorney for Dallas County Specialized Crime Division, offered some red flags consumers should  watch out for:

-Company asks for money upfront to pursue your case. Often it’s a hefty fee of $1,000 or more. Free help is available through HUD-approved housing counselors. Contact HOPE NOW at 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) or dial 2-1-1 to be connected to local resources.

- You’re contacted by the company directly, and pressured to take action before calling your mortgage company. Public posting requirements of a home slated for foreclosure make it easy for such firms to come knock on your door.

-The company tells you NOT to contact your lender. You should always stay in contact with your lender.

- Company contacts you and says it’s affiliated with a government agency. That may be true, but you should always check with that agency to be certain.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott also warns against so-called “equity-stripping” schemes, in which a company offers to “temporarily” sell the home so the owner can catch up on mortgage payments.

The Texas Attorney General offers several resources on avoiding fraudulent foreclosure operators and has a special taskforce devoted to protecting consumers.

To file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General, go to the Web site or call 1- (800) 252-8011

Learn more about how to avoid foreclosure on the Housing page of KERA’s Economy Web site. Find out about upcoming home foreclosure prevention workshops on the Events page.