2010 Census Cautions
Hoosiers can be counted without
being conned – learn how to spot a census scam
Completing the
2010 Census form is an important civic responsibility all Hoosiers share. The
results impact how $400 billion will be allocated to communities across the
country. However, just as the U.S. Census is a tradition Americans have come to
expect, so are the census scams attempting to steal money and identities from
Americans.
The 2010 Census
form is the shortest form in history and it will be delivered by mail or in the
case of rural areas, it may be hand-delivered. The 10 Census questions below are
the official decennial U.S. Census questions. Any other questions are not a part
of the Census and Hoosiers should not answer them.
1. How many
people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April
1, 2010?
2. Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not
include in Question 1?
3. Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned without
mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?
4. What is your telephone number?
5. Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person
here who owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or
renter lives somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be
Person 1. What is Person 1's name?
6. What is Person 1's sex?
7. What is Person 1's age and Date of Birth?
8. Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?
9. What is Person 1's race?
10. Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?
Some people may
have concerns about the confidentiality of their Census answers. By law, the
Census Bureau can’t share your information with anyone — including other federal
agencies and law enforcement.
Participation
in the 2010 Census is important because every Hoosier counts and every Hoosier
should be counted.
For more information, visit
www.2010.census.gov.
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 biggest 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 do not 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. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.
Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, they 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 http://www.bbb.org.