Those free-lunch seminar scams are still going on. That's because it's lucrative for scammers. They want to separate you from your money, and too often they succeed.

The American Association of Retired Persons has released a study on victims of scam seminars and other financial risks to seniors.

The study showed that people who are more likely than the general population to fall for investment scams have the following behaviors: They will listen to sales pitches on the phone, attend promotions where a free night's stay or a meal is given, provide personal information to salespeople, allow people to come into their home for a sales pitch, read junk mail, not hang up on telemarketers, and call 1-800 numbers to send for free information.

In other words, they're opening themselves up to being scammed.

Even if one of these financial seminars is hosted by your local senior center or another trusted local organization, do your homework in advance. Call the center to ask who checked it out, and how. Go online and do a search for the company's name. What are their true qualifications? Are they local? See if there are any complaints at the Better Business Bureau.

And if you go to a free lunch seminar (don't go, but if you do): Don't fill out any forms that give your personal information. Even giving your telephone number could be a step toward being harassed. They'll want to visit you at your home, where you're more vulnerable and have all your financial information handy so they can determine how much you're worth and decide how to fine tune their approach.

And leave your checkbook at home.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com.

(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.