Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says senior citizens should be on the lookout for con artists who target older people.

She warns that consumer scams increase during tough economic times and may involve debt settlement traps, fake check cashing scams, risky reverse mortgages and health care fraud.

She says it's difficult to undo the damage once people have sent money or given out personal financial information.

Madigan has been speaking to seniors as part of her Silver Beat program.

It helps train seniors to become experts at stopping scams.