We know that US Government Census workers will be canvassing our neighborhoods and asking legitimate questions. If we aren't available, they may call us or send a mailed survey.
If an email arrives, do not respond since the Census Bureau will not contact you that way. Do not open a link on that email or open any attachment. Anyone who pretends to be a census worker and who contacts you through email is reallly running a scam.
So if a Census worker knocks on the door, how do we know that person is a legitimate representative of the Census Bureau? Johnson reports that a legitimate Census taker will have identification, "a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice." Even so, don't invite anyone to enter your home.
Basically, you have to report how many occupants live at your address. Other legitimate questions will be about "name, age, gender, race." They may ask other pertinent questions such as salary or finances in general, but you aren't required to answer those.
They should not ask you the following: financial account information, social security ID or credit card numbers. Such questions are a definite red flag that the person at your door is not a legitimate representative of the Census Bureau.
Since the Census Bureau has opted not to work with ACORN to gather census data, you shouldn't respond to questions on the census if contacted by an ACORN representative.
My only question is this: If a Census worker contacts me by phone, how do I verify identification or any of the identifying materials? Without knowing that answer, I would choose to not give any information. If you know how to verify phone calls or mailings, I'd love to hear from you.
Thanks to Susan Johnson for writing the article based on the BBB alerts in News Blaze. Thanks also to Barb in Florida for sending us the information.
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