The holidays at this time of year account for a great deal of activity, both legitimate and not. It’s is prime hunting time for scammers and it’s more serious for senior citizens since, as a group, we elders are the most susceptible to falling for a scam. Here’s one I almost bought into recently.

Magazine subscriptions are a welcome gift for those who like to read and just like every area of our lives, there’s a way for scammers to take our money. On the Internet, there are many websites where free advice is given – often elaborate, multipage instructions about this “magazine renewal scam” – but it’s not so difficult to avoid.

About a year ago, I got a renewal notice for one of the several magazines I subscribe to. As it happens, I had just renewed the subscription, and I double checked the address from which the notice was sent – totally different. Then I started to dig into the well-known (but not to me) magazine renewal scam.

According to ConsumerAffairs.com, a number of scammers are sending magazine subscribers across the country very realistic-looking subscription renewal notices, some of which offer deep discounts for re-subscribing by a certain date. These sometimes low renewal prices might sound like a bargain but oftentimes when you send a check, you never see the magazine – or your money – again.

Sometimes these notices are from a publishing company, a collection agency or other official-sounding entity. Magazine publishers recommend the following advice to make sure you don’t get ripped off:

If you don’t remember the renewal date of your magazine subscription (how many of us do?), check the renewal date on the mailing label of your magazine. It usually is a little set of numbers and letters like “JUN13” for expiring June of 2013.

If you get a random renewal notice, compare the address on the form to the subscription mailing address in your magazine. The real mailing address is located on what’s known as the “masthead” (usually on one of the first few pages), which also lists the publication’s editors, reporters, etc. Don’t send money to an address that doesn’t match the one inside your magazine.

Still got questions? Contact the magazine publisher directly if you have any doubts or questions.

If you or someone you know suspect you’ve been victim of a scam or fraud aimed at seniors, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, of which U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is ranking member, has set up a new toll-free hotline to help.

It will be staffed by a team of committee investigators weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The investigators, who have experience with investment scams, identity theft, bogus sweepstakes and lottery schemes, Medicare and Social Security fraud, and a variety of other senior exploitation issues, will directly examine complaints and, if appropriate, refer them to the proper authorities. Anyone with information about suspected fraud can call the toll-free fraud hotline at 1-855-303-9470, or contact the committee through its website, www.aging.senate.gov/fraud-hotline.

Kay Soldier welcomes reader ideas for column topics of interest to seniors. She can be reached by email at kso48@aol.com, or write to 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, ME 04062.