I don't know if there's a god or a heaven -- but the people who perpetrate these scams are going to hell.

The USA Today reports on the growing number of "foreclosure rescue" scams that rip off homeowners on the brink of foreclosure. Some of these companies operate simple advance-fee scams -- they send homeowners letters promising to help them negotiate with their lender for an up-front fee of a thousand dollars or less. And then that's that. Other schemes are more complex but they all follow the same basic formula: take advantage of the desperation of people who are about to lose their homes.

The Better Business Bureau is receiving tons of complaints, and state attorney generals are filing lawsuits. But with a fast-growing industry like this, consumers probably have to protect themselves. Here is a resource to help: The Housing and Urban Development department has a list of mortgage counselors that have its blessing. You can search by state here.

Your best bet is probably one of the many non-profit counseling agencies, whose employees are working tirelessly for low wages in an effort to help people.

One of the biggest mistakes that got people into toxic mortgages was that they went with private subprime lenders, unaware of the government programs designed to help first-time home buyers. Now, people can avoid compounding the problem by picking a non-profit counselor.