Thousands of people struggling to keep their homes are being quietly stalked by slick con artists who claim they can help save your home from foreclosure.

With the rising foreclosure rate, more desperate homeowners are being duped by calculating sharks who know exactly what to say.

Foreclosure rescue scam victim Eva Buck learned the hard way. The scammers are very good at what they do.

"They're clean-cut, quite educated. I did not approach them; they came to our door," she said.

The con artists pounced on the Seattle mother of two when she was desperate. She was out of work and facing a $40,000 balloon payment.

At first, Buck was skeptical and said she needed time to think it over. A week later, she says a man was back at her door, promising to make her problems go away with their plan for helping her stay in her home.

Buck said in addition to their clean-cut appearance and professional approach to solving her problem, they talked about their families and how they were involved in the church. They seemed so trustworthy, Buck said, and she signed the documents with an "investor" who was part of the deal. The documents gave the investor legal rights to her home.

At first, things were great. Then a year later, Buck says the a real estate sign post went up in her yard. She was told the home was for sale and she had to move out. The people who'd promised to help her stopped taking her calls.

Like countless other homeowners who missed all the Problem Solver warnings, Buck lost her home and all the equity. She and her young daughters had to move into the basement of her parents home.

Scammers use public records to track down homes headed to foreclosure. They approach the owners with an answer to their prayers. Eventually, they trick you into signing over your property. Then they all skim the equity, and sell your house. You're out on the street with nothing.

And as past Problem Solver investigations have revealed, a lot of otherwise reputable people are involved in these schemes.

"We're talking attorneys. We're talking real estate agents. We're talking about people you would think would not be doing this," said Buck.

Buck's message is part of a special Tough Tactics seminar co-sponsored by the AARP and other consumer advocates who warn- this economy is ripe for all sorts of scams to take your money.

The following are some legitimate resources to help you fight back against foreclosure rescue scams.

Contact authorized housing counselors at recognized local organizations such as Solid Ground, and the Metropolitan Urban League in Seattle.

On the Internet, go to MakingHomeAffordable.gov, the new federal government Web site launched to assist qualified homeowners with loan modification and possibly reducing mortgage payments.

For non-criminal legal advice, the Northwest Justice Project may also be able to help.

But never deal with anyone who promises to can help you keep your home, whether in person, by mail, by email or on the Internet.

"They look for homes that what is owed on the home is less than what the equity is. So that they can steal the equity from that home, and there's no way you'll ever be able to get your home back, none," said Buck.

Also be aware that scammers are creating fake housing assistance websites that look like the government sites.

Legitimate foreclosure assistance:

HUD: Loan Modification Frequently Asked Questions/a>

Making Home Affordable

Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle

Solid Ground

Mortgage intervention sessions:

Metropolitan Urban League in Seattle
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 16, 2009 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.