2010 Census to Begin
Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers by Susan Johnson
With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, 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 hand held 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 HOW MANY 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
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
10 comments:
Fill out the form (takes 30 seconds)then no one will come to your house.
Received it yesterday. Marked how many live at my address, left the rest blank, mailed it back. If they contact me, I will repeat over and over the same number that I wrote on the form, nothing else unless they can show me in the U.S. Constitution that the government has the right to know how many toilets or TVs are in my home.
Conservatives believe in limited government. Liberals believe in intrusive government to achieve their societal engineering goals. Guess which one I am.
My form did not ask me about toilets and TVs.
There are lots of things we do that are not in the Constitution. Speed Limits for example.
Here is something fun: if you truly are a patriot and love this country based on the FOUNDERS PRINCIPALS and the CONSTITUTION, then drive as fast as you want, anywhere and anytime. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say anything about limiting the speed in which we drive.
Make sure to tell the government-agents (police) who pull you over about that too.
9:03,
Gee, my form never asked about toilets or tv's.
Be sure not to use anything funded by the federal government, since you are so against it.
I better go back and check mine for the toilet question, missed it. Was there anything about death panels on there?
I got mine yesteray also and answered on the number of people question. They do not need to know my phone number, my name, my race or anything else. The census is supposed to be about the number of people in this country, not data gathering for who knows what purpose.
ya what is with having to put your name on the form thought it was to count people not know who lives there
MR BROWN or is it MR SMITH I think im one or the other but its only me
If you have ever pulled up an old census report on the web, you will see what information is pertinent for them to have.
This is an invaluable tool for genealogy researchers and those searching they own family roots.
Why do they need to know about race or ethnicity? I thought this was only about counting heads.
Sent my form back yesterday. I marked down how many people reside in my house and I crossed out everything else and wrote "None of your damn business" in big letters on all the other sections
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