NORWAY – Scammers are slick. But then again, so are people who’ve been around a long time.

Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe visited Norway on Wednesday afternoon to give senior citizens tips on staying a few steps ahead of criminals itching to steal the financial identities of unsuspecting victims.

“You have assets, liquid assets,” he told about 16 people gathered at the Fare Share Market. “You have good credit ratings.”

In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission reported 788 fraud complaints and 306 identity thefts in Maine. But Rowe said these types of crimes are often underreported. The crime is most common in Portland.

With Rowe was Wilton Police Chief Wayne Gallant, who is running as the Democratic contender for Oxford County sheriff. The event was sponsored by the Oxford County Democratic Committee.

Gallant offered some creative tips about warding off home burglars, from putting out a “Beware of Dog” sign, even if you don’t have one, and leaving an empty dog chain and food bowl outside.

He also said light timers work, recordings of barking and growling inside the door, and for single women, placing a man’s baseball cap on the coat hook near the front door.

Gallant also said people should be careful about what information they reveal when picking up medication at pharmacies, because drug thieves might loiter there to find out who’s taking what pain medications and where they live.

Speaking in his characteristically fast way, Rowe reeled off a number of ways people can avoid losing their money or their good credit.

Never believe telephone callers who say you’ve won some money in a lottery but need your credit card number or bank account information to collect a $15 mailing fee.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Rowe said.

Research charities before donating money. It’s best to give money to your church or synagogue, he said, or organizations with a credible name and a track record. Then, always pay with a check.

Delete e-mails and ignore calls from credible sounding companies – even, say, your bank or favorite department store – claiming your account is at risk and asking for account information to continue an investigation. If your bank needs to alert you to trouble, it will call you in to speak to an employee directly.

Ignore these calls even if your phone is flashing an ID you recognize. “These guys are slick,” Rowe said.

Also, Rowe said a Maine law forbids businesses from demanding a customer’s phone number or Social Security number, except in certain circumstances.

“Go to another business,” Rowe said, if the business insists it needs this information.

He also recommended putting mail in the mailbox as late as possible to deter snoops from opening bills to extract personal information.

Finally, federal law allows banks to share personal information with other companies. To opt out of this, Rowe said to contact your bank and ask to be taken off this list.

Unfortunately, he also said family members are often the worst perpetrators of identity theft, and that everyone should take care to keep private documents private. He recommended cross-shredders to destroy revealing papers.

“People who are victims don’t live that long,” Rowe said. “Senior victims are three times more likely to die in the next 10 years.”

Miriam Laster of Norway said she attended the seminar to learn how to protect herself.

“I am worried about identity theft,” she said. “Everybody is. We keep reading about it in the paper.”