This one isn't tied only to foreclosures assistance scams or other types of real estate scams. This is a tactic used by many unethical companies and individuals to help them commit their crimes.

Sometimes you wonder why so many people could fall into the trap. The reality is that people want to believe there's hope and they want to believe they can get help. The truth is there is hope and there is help, but you have to be careful if someone is asking for a lot up front and sounds too good to be true.

The reason these scams are so successful is because they gain your confidence. The 'con' in con man and con game is short for the word confidence.

The Times of Trenton has an article about the Mercer County Clerk's Office trying to alert individuals that they have received calls about a foreclosure assistance firm that allegedly is claiming to be "working with the county's clerk's office.".

The Mercer County Clerk's Office is alerting residents to phone solicitations being conducted by a company claiming to represent the county.

Clerk Paula Sollami Covello said yesterday that calls are being made from a company that identifies it self as American Modification Agency (AMA) of Uniondale, N.Y., and claims to be "working with the county clerk's office," offering to help renegotiate the terms of mort gages.

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Covello said residents with trouble paying their mortgages should call either the Consumer Credit Counseling of Central NJ at (609) 586-2574 or Foreclosure Help at 1-888-995-4673 for free advice.

The best way to prevent falling for this type of scam is to write down the name of the company contacting you, write down the name of the party they claim to be affiliated with then hang up and tell them you'll get back to them. Lookup the numbers for the entity they claim to be affiliated with and call them and ask if the claim is true. Also make sure the company they claim affiliation with is the entity you think it is and that they are relevant.

I have seen junk mail come in with companies that sound official and look like they come from a government agency, when in fact they are from a private company.

Just remember, scammers are counting on you to not know what to do and to feel panicked. You need to act and you need to act quickly if you're having problems, but you shouldn't let that stop you from taking some time to be smart about it.

If your home has been foreclosed and the highest bid was in excess of the money needed to satisfy the foreclosing debt and any other junior liens, you are entitled to the difference. For instance, if the highest bid was $400,000 and the judgment for the first mortgage on the property was $300,000 and there was also $50,000 in principal left on a second mortgage secured by the home, the first mortgage company would get their money first then any left over would go to the junior lien holder's debt. The remaining $50,000 is considered "surplus funds".

With banks letting foreclosures go at auction for less than the judgment this is a rare occurrance in Bergen County foreclosure auctions but something you should be aware of if things change.

If you're in this situation, you may be contacted by a company or individual who will offer to get your surplus funds on your behalf. The problem is they charge exhorbitant fees to do this for you.

According to this consumer brief from the NJ Department of Consumer Affairs, for less than $100 you can claim the surpluss funds yourself and in most cases do not need an attorney.

The first thing you should do after an auction, is contact the Sheriff's department that conducted the sale and find out if there were any surplus funds. The number for the Bergen County Sheriff's Department is 201-646-3020. Follow the voice prompts and select the Civil Process department and then the prompt for the foreclosure sales division. If the prompts change or you are having problems you can speak to the operator and ask for the foreclosures department. I don't have any affiliation with the Sheriff's department but I followed the prompts to be able to give the correct info.

If you need assistance applying for your surplus funds, contact the NJ Superior Court Trust Fund Unit at 609-292-3937 or writing to the following address: