As consumers continue to struggle under the weight of a lagging economy, many Americans are trying to refinance their car loans.

Unfortunately, scammers have taken notice and are increasingly trying to bilk people of their hard earned cash. According to Rosemary Shahan, the president of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, car loan scams are a “problem just about everywhere.”

Shahan recognizes that many people are able to refinance their car loans, but warns that “the way to do it isn’t to go to these companies who are out there advertising, ‘We can miraculously get you out of this excruciatingly bad deal.”

A recent article from MarketWatch provides some tips aimed at helping you avoid car loan scams:

• Choose wisely: If you want to refinance your loan, don’t opt for a group that heavily advertises its miraculous refinancing abilities. Instead, choose a safer organization, like a credit union or nonprofits like the Consumer Federation of America, or the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
• Speak with your lender: Since no lender wants to go unpaid, they are often willing to work with you to adjust your payment plan. According to the Better Business Bureau, lenders will often assist you by stretching your payments over a longer period of time.
• Get it on paper: If a loan reduction company offers you any promises, make sure to get them in writing. Other things to get in writing include the services they will provide, the costs of those services, and promised money-back guarantees.
• Do your homework: Your local Better Business Bureau likely offers reports that reveal how many complaints have been filed against a particular lender and whether that company has been the subject of any lawsuits.
• Shy away from up-front fees: If a company demands that you pay large fees before they provide any services, they may be violating state law. Many states have outlawed this kind of behavior. Even if up-front fees are legal in your state, the practice could still be a scam.

An Alternative to Refinancing

If you cannot make your car payments, but are reluctant to adjust the terms of your loan, there are alternative steps you can take to ease your financial pain.

One helpful alternative may be to simply sell your car. Sources indicate that use-car prices are pretty high right now since last year’s cash-for-clunkers program removed a lot of used cars from the market.

So, you may be able to sell your current car and purchase a cheaper one with more reasonable payment terms.

If, however, your car loan is the least of your financial problems, and you need someone to talk to about your struggles, consider calling a personal bankruptcy lawyer.