Scam alert over Census completion
SWANSEA residents are being urged not to be taken in by scammers trying to take advantage of Census 2021 to hand over money or access to their financial details.
Following Sunday’s Census Day 2021, residents who’ve not yet filled out their form could be contacted by a member of the official follow-up team who will be knocking on doors and helping the public with queries.
But scammers could see the event as an opportunity to persuade people to part with information like their national insurance number, bank account details or computer passwords.
So Swansea Council’s trading standards team is warning people not to be caught out.
Sharon Jones, Census engagement manager for Swansea, said: “The easiest way for people to participate in Census 2021 is to go online and fill out the form.
“Tens of thousands of people in Swansea will already have done. If you have then you will not receive a call from the ONS Census 2021. If you’ve not, we might be in touch but we want to reassure residents that no-one will ask for money, for personal financial information like banking details or for computer passwords or PIN numbers.
“If a member of the field office team knocks on your door they will not come indoors – even if you ask them to. They will always show ID and allow you to inspect it.
“If someone claiming to be a member of the Census team does ask to come indoors then you should turn them away because it is very likely they are scammers.”
Some key points: ■ At no point will you be asked for your national insurance number, passwords, bank account details, or your credit or debit card numbers, nor any payment; ■ you will not receive any payment for completing the census, so any offers of money in exchange for your account details will be fraudulent; ■ you will not be called for information about the census unless you’ve made an appointment with the Census Contact Centre or made a query or complaint; ■ no-one will enter your home in relation to the census; and ■ help to fill out your form is free (for more information visit: https://census. gov.uk/ or phone 0800 141 2021).
Swansea Council’s library service is also offering free online support to fill out the form. There’s more information here: www.swansea.gov. uk/2021census
You can report a fraud direct to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit: https://www.actionfraud. police.uk/
Field census officers will be working across England and Wales. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have recruited around 29,000 members of staff to carry out visits.