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2010 Census Bureau-Be Cooperative yet Cautious

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with RE/MAX Unlimited of Northern Virginia

Once again the US is gearing up for another Census. There are some cautions to take with regard to your personal information.

 

2010 Census Cautions
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 handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality
notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering
their questions.
And 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.
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.

So, to recap:

Aks for identification all valid Census workers will have a badge-don't believe anyone if they say, "we don't need no stinkin' badges"

DO not give Social Security numbers, credit card or banking information

The 2010 Census will not use email for ANY type of contact with you. If you receive an email be aware. Someone is trying to scam you.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org.
<http://www.bbb. org./>

Show All Comments Sort:
Kenneth Cole
Weichert Realtors Appleseed Group, 2043 Richmond Ave. S.I.N.Y. 10314. office phone 718-698-9797, Appleseedhomes.com... - Staten Island, NY
NYS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Thank you very much for this information.  Let's re-blog this every week or so.

Sep 01, 2009 10:45 AM
Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

GREAT advice KIM!!!!

Sep 01, 2009 01:51 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Kim - excellent information, thanks for putting this out here as a reminder.

Sep 01, 2009 10:59 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

Great Heads UP!!!!  Security of the residents should be the MAIN concern of the Census Bureau....most of the information they gather can be gotten other ways! 

Sep 02, 2009 04:45 AM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

I have a nice, heavy security screen door that stays locked when we're home, so I can answer the door without letting someone in, and their ID and stuff is visible through the door.

Sep 04, 2009 06:48 PM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

This is a great post Kim.  In fact I think I am going to re blog it because you are right....it is the perfect opportunity for people to be taken advantage of and we want to avoid that at all costs!

   

Sep 12, 2009 08:40 AM
Kim Curran
RE/MAX Unlimited of Northern Virginia - Bristow, VA

Please do re-blog. It is info that needs to be out there. I hate to see so many people taken advantage of.

Sep 12, 2009 08:45 AM