Are you getting a loan modification or being scammed?

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The federal government might finally be getting tough on loan modification scammers.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, Atty. Gen. Eric Holder and numerous other Obama administration heavy hitters got together Monday to announce a crackdown on loan mod ‘experts’ who collect big fees but do little or nothing in return.

But are you already getting scammed by a loan mod outfit you’ve paid?

Take this test, made up of warning signs provided by the Federal Trade Commission and other agencies.

You might be getting scammed by a loan modification outfit if:

• You’re asked for up-front fees.
• You’re guaranteed success.
• You’re asked to pay by wire.
• You can’t get them on the phone after paying.
• You’re told to stop paying your mortgage.
• You’re told to not contact your lender or attorney.
• You’re pressured into signing documents you don’t understand.
• You’re asked to sign over your house title (NEVER do this with a stranger).

The bottom line is: You don’t need to be paying someone for loan modification help in the vast majority of cases. Absolutely free help is available from Department of Housing and Urban Development-certified counseling agencies that have been given government grants to aid anyone with a mortgage. To find a local agency, go to www.hud.gov and click on Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling. For more information on loan modifications, see The Times’ consumer guide to mortgage modifications.

— David Colker