Beware of Census Scams
Posted by Cheryl Barrett - March 17, 2010
Protect yourself from identity theft, fraud and email scams by following the Census Bureau information. Starting in March 2010, the US Census Bureau will be mailing out the census forms. The form will have 10 questions, all you have to do is answer the questions and mail it back in the self-adressed envelope. The form will ask for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home. Your answers are protected by law and are not shared with anyone. If the form isn't mailed back, a census taker will follow-up in person. Starting in April and going through July census takers will be going to the households that did not mail back their census forms.
Things to know
The 2010 Census will not ask for the following information:
- Social Security Number
- Bank Account Numbers
- Credit Card details
- PIN Numbers, User Names or Passwords
The Census Bureau does not send emails about participating in the 2010 census.
If a census taker arives at your home, he/she must present an ID badge that contains a Department of Commerce watermark and expiration date. If they do not have badges report them and don't answer any questions. The census taker may also be carrying a bag with a Census Bureau logo. Remember even Census takers are strangers and should not be invited into your home.
Ask the Census taker for his/her supervisors contact information and/or the Local Census Office phone number for verification.
If you believe you have been contacted as part of a scam :
For in-person scams: Contact your local census office and police department
For Email scams: Do not reply or click on any links within the email, do not open an attachments. Forward the email or web URL to the Census Bureau at Reporting@census.gov, then delete the email
For Mail scams: Contact the United States Postal Inspection Service
