GRESHAM, Ore. -- A mortgage scheme nearly snagged a Gresham couple.

You’ve seen the foreclosure signs in nearly every neighborhood.

Patricia Harmon and her husband nearly saw one go up at their Gresham home.

“My husband’s trucking business came to a stop and we got really far behind in our house payments,” said Patricia Harmon.

A television commercial from Christian M. Dillon attorney at law seemed to have the solution.

“It was pretty much a guarantee they could get our loan modified and our payments lowered,” said Harmon.

The company wanted $3,000 up front. Harmon was desperate, she wrote a check. Consumer groups say deceptive mortgage rescue companies are popping up everywhere.

Kyle Kavas from the Better Business Bureau said,

“There's television advertisements, there are posters, they go door to door. They may even show up at your house in person and tell you they can rescue your home.”

Harmon said Christian M. Dillon attorney at law told her to stop all contact with her mortgage company

“Don’t talk to them, even if they call you. Now I discover that's one of the first signs of a scam, is when they tell you not to talk to your mortgage company,” said Harmon.

Harmon learned the company had a history of consumer complaints in the nick of time. She canceled her check.

“When times get tough, foreclosure rescue companies come out of the woodwork,” Kavas said

The BBB gives the California company an F rating and the Oregon Attorney General recently helped a homeowner in Newport get their money back from the company.

Fortunately, you don't have to pay for mortgage counseling. A government approved counselor helped Harmon for free.

Christian M. Dillon attorney at law has not returned calls from KGW.

If you're facing foreclosure, stay away from anyone who promises to rescue you from foreclosure.

Instead, contact a mortgage counselor approved by the U.S. department of housing and urban development.