Some Cautions to take with Upcoming Census Workers

With Identity theft on the rise...now more than ever...

BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT GIVING INFO TO CENSUS WORKERS 

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, (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now),
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

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

        Nal 

I am very suspect of the Census...not in the instrument itself, but groups similar to ACORN using it for the purpose of manipulating the government to get funds.

Well, Lips, that is hardly fair.  I think we gentlemen on LCB would agree we'd tell you ANYTHING if you showed up on our doorsteps!

that's cute doc...but i think you lost your gentleman status a long time ago...

Nal! Thank you for this. In this day we have to be VERY careful and especially the elderly! It's too easy to get some of them to be friendly and uncautious. Good thinking about posting this and I do thank you.

Nal.....guilty as charged!
You must have heard about my date that featured cold cuts and a rental from the dollar video store!

hehe!! 

Shelli........yeah....hmmmm....Nal's cutting sarcasm does have a sexy side......

i am laughing too loud for this time of night...

i prefer to call it a quick wit...one of my old bosses used to call me a sarcy bitch....so i tried to cut the sarcasm down by about 10%  ;D  
but i think it grew by about 20% as i got older

i have to make myself laugh doc, or i would probably cry  8)

You are a trip!

Yeah, scary women have an appeal, too!

Well I don't trust the better business bureau either...i watch everybody and everything i have been a victim of identity theft it is now part of my life!

I like the BBB because they are speaking out against the Obama/ Democrat policies that are choking small businesses.