Don’t lose your Lose You Identity during the 2010 Census
As the 2010 census process begins, the Census Bureau is canvassing the country and administering surveys by phone, mail, and personal interviews. Census Bureau employees are gathering important census information from citizens. At the same time, identity thieves posing as Census Bureau workers are conducting numerous census scams. Since all U.S. citizens are required to participate in the census, it’s easier than ever for identity thieves to take advantage of unsuspecting people with census scams.
The big question is – how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist?
** 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. There are only ten questions on the 2010 census (http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/interactive-form.php), making it one of the shortest census questionnaires in history. Census workers will only ask you for basic information such as name, gender, age, and race. This information is used to determine how to distribute approximately $400 billion to communities for schools, healthcare, and other services. The census data is also used to determine Congressional seats and redraw local political district lines.
***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 takers. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau. Report the scam by forwarding the email to the Census Bureau at ITSO.Fraud.Reporting@census.gov.
Be vigilant. Protect your information. Learn more about preventing census scams from the identity theft expert, Linda Vincent, RN. PI.
Tags: census scams, identity theft; identity fraud
This Entry was posted by Linda Vincent
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 / Fraud, Identity Theft.
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February 24th, 2010 at 9:39 am
Linda:
Great piece on the census. Would you mind if I sent this information to our member welfare funds? I promise to give you full credit and include your contact information.
Andy Johnson
February 24th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Andy,
Thank you! You certainly may share this and sending my information is greatly appreciated
Shall I put you on my mailing list for the newsletter? I usually produce one a month.
Linda
March 6th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Hi Linda, Caught you on Fox and Friends this morning (03/06/2010). Thanks for sharing timely tips. Its good to know if I fill out/return the form, I won’t have someone at my front door.
Thanks.
Jackie
March 6th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Glad you caught the show. Quick points, easy to remember red flags. Plus, never let anyone in your home you don’t know, including the census takers.
Linda
March 16th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
I thought the census only requires the number of adults living at an address? Why mot state what is required by law- the form itself is a security risk?
Also, can you please address the issue of having to provide your birthdate to airlines? That seems an invitation to ID theft. Thanks.
March 16th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
The census form itself only requires the 10 questions be answered…the form itself is not an Identity Theft issue issue. However, when the ‘census takers’ arrive your home because you did not return the form…this is when Identity Thieves can be at work…they can misrepresent themselves to obtain more personal information, such as credit cards, social security numbers, banking information or seek donations. Also the Census Representatives have not started the door to door questions as the forms are just going to the mail now. The actually time period you can expect to see a Census Taker at your door, if you do not fill out the form mailed to your home, will be from May1 to July 31. The government web site is full of information as well: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/
The reason the airlines need your date of birth is to match your identification you are presenting at the airport. This is another way to prevent terrorists from impersonating someone … from the web site:
The transportation security Administration (TSA) requires you to provide your full name, date of birth, and gender for the purpose of watch list screening, under the authority of 49 U.S.C. section 114, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004, and 49 C.F.R. parts 1540 and 1560.
I hope this answers your concerns. Please feel free to contact me as concerns arise. Linda
May 12th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Definitely, what a splendid website and informative posts, I definitely will bookmark your site.Best Regards!
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:39 am
Beautiful website!
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:33 am
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