Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers

Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers,

Article submitted by the BBB.

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business advises people to be cooperative, but cautious,

Bureau (BBB)

so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first

phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have

begun verifying the addresses of households across the country.

Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will

count every person in the United States and will gather information

about every person living at each address including

name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is – how do you tell the difference between

a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following

advice:

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will

have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag,

and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and

their badge before answering their questions. However, you

should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to

verify address information. Do not give your Social Security

number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if

they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU

REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOWMANY

PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information,

such as a salary range,

YOU DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL

ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.

The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank

account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit

donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT

with the Census Bureau.

AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS

DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN

ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.. —-

No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with

the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone,

mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau

will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email

scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email

that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding Identity Theft and Fraud

visit www.bbb.org for further information