US Official Census Forms
WARNING! Census phishing scams are floating around. Here’s the Census Bureau’s official list of 10 questions. Beware of emails or forms asking for Social Security or bank account numbers, passwords and usernames. You cannot answer the 2010 Census forms online. This is one of the biggest scams.
How To Avoid 2010 Census Phishing Scams
It was bound to happen. Identity theft scams masquerading as Official 2010 United States Census Bureau Forms, are designed to steal your information. These forms and emails are not from the U.S. Census Bureau. This morning, Good Morning America’s Mellody Hobson explained how to avoid census scams. She says beware of emails asking you to go to a website to enter Census questions.
Can You Fill Out Your Census Forms Online?
At this time, you cannot fill out the official census forms online. Online internet census forms are not available. If you think you received a phony email, Hobson says not to open it or any attachments as it could cause a virus to infect your computer and help the scammers steal information.
Should you get an in-house visit from a Census worker, ask to see their official badge, and another form of ID to ensure the badge is not stolen. Hobson also says the badge should have an expiration date and the Department of Commerce watermark.
Save the Government Some Money
It is required by law that you send your Census forms in. Responding to the Census is mandatory. If you don’t respond by mail on time, you will get a visit by a Census taker at home. According to Hobson, If everyone mailed in their form it would save the government approximately $1.5 billion in follow-up visits, according to Hobson.
Official Warning from the US census Bureau
If you are contacted for any of the following reasons — Do Not Participate. It is NOT the U.S. Census Bureau.
‘Phishing’ is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, social security numbers, bank account or credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing is typically carried out by email and it often directs users to enter sensitive information at a fake web site whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one.
Other Census Scams:
- The Census Bureau does NOT conduct the 2010 Census via the Internet
- The Census Bureau does not send emails about participating in the 2010 Census
The Census Bureau never:
- Asks for your full social security number
- Asks for money or a donation
- Sends requests on behalf of a political party
- Requests PIN codes, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.
Complete List of 2010 US Census Questions
- How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?
- Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?
- Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned without mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?
- What is your telephone number?
- 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?
- What is Person 1’s sex?
- What is Person 1’s age and Date of Birth?
- Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?
- What is Person 1’s race?
- Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?
For more information, or to see a list of the official Census questions, and possible scams, go to the U.S. Census Bureau home page.
Sources: www.census.gov; Good Morning America
Photo: Copies of the 2010 Census forms are seen during a news conference Monday, March 15, 2010, in Phoenix to kickoff a national drive as Census forms are mailed to everyone. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
