They include telling the securities division about possible scams and using the division to check out whether a potential scammer is licensed or has a troublesome record; monitoring investments to check for trouble; asking lots of questions from the people making the pitches; and withstanding the pressure to make a rushed decision. "Trust but verify" was her main message. "They're going to lie, but you're going to find that the more questions you ask, the more likely that you're going to pick up on the inconsistencies, the more likely that you're going to uncover that it's fraud," Davis-Schmidt said. "The more questions you ask, the more information you're going to have to base your decision on. And if you don't like how they respond, walk away."

Seniors need to realize that scammers "don't think like you and I do," she said. "They just don't. You think that people are basically good and that if we're honest with people, they'll be honest with us. They do not think that way at all. They have no problem impersonating a grandson to get your information to get what they want."

Rob Ence, state director of AARP Utah, said avoiding scams is especially important in difficult economic times.

"There are many questions and challenges that we're confronted with," Ence said, "and what do we do to make sure that our resources last as long as we do? One of the things you don't want is to fall prey to the multiple scams and fraud schemes that are in play out there that will do irrevocable damage, perhaps, to already trying times."

Saturday's event was in collaboration with the Brain Institute at the University of Utah and also featured information about memory loss, brain function troubles and other age-decline issues. The event will be repeated from 8:30 a.m. to noon next Saturday at the Dixie Center in St. George. Details and registration are at stayingsharpstgeorgenov8.eventbrite.com or 877-926-8300.

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E-mail: bwallace@desnews.com