Though the financial crisis of 2008 is nearly a decade behind us, the effects are still echoing in the housing market. Foreclosure auctions in Massachusetts were up 44 percent over the first seven months of the year, as compared with the same period last year, according to real estate data firm the Warren Group. In July alone, 560 foreclosures were completed.

It is easy to become overwhelmed — and perhaps embarrassed — when faced with a problem like a potential foreclosure. And that means it can be all too easy to lose track of your rights or fall victim to scam artists who want to take advantage of people at their most financially vulnerable.

If you are at risk for foreclosure, you have the right to ask your lender to review your case and determine whether there are options — such as refinancing or a loan modification — that could help you avoid foreclosure. New rules issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau last month require lenders to offer this protection to borrowers more than once, if they have gotten up to date on their loans after any previous delinquency.

The process of avoiding foreclosure, however, is ­complicated, and many people want help navigating the twists and turns. The most important thing to know is that you never need to pay for this sort of help. Housing counselors approved by the US Department of ­Housing and Urban ­Development will work with you, free of charge, to help you create a plan of action, work with your mortgage company, and apply for any programs you might be eligible for. Visit consumerfinance.gov/find-a-housing-counselor to locate a counselor near you.

Plenty of scammers, however, are eager to take advantage of homeowners’ desperation for an easy fix and the opacity of the convoluted process. If ­anyone asks you to sign over the title to your house as part of a supposed solution, run away as fast as you can (and think about reporting the person to the authorities). Phrases like “We buy houses for cash’’ are big red flags, according to the Massachusetts Attorney ­General’s office.

Never agree to work with someone who asks for a fee upfront, and be wary of someone who seeks you out actively ­offering assistance. And a ­definite sign that the party ­offering assistance is not on the up-and-up? A guarantee that they can save your home. There’s no such thing as a ­surefire solution.

Have a consumer question or complaint? Reach Sarah Shemkus at seshemkus@gmail.com.