Fraudsters count on Census scam

HAVE you filled out your 2021 Census survey yet? If the answer is no, you could be in for a £1,000 fine.

Households across England and Wales are being asked to respond to the survey by today or “as soon as possible after”.

But although it is a legal offence to ignore the survey – which is conducted every decade to count the number of people – readers have been telling me this week that fraudsters have been abusing it.

Judith, 78, from Wimbledon, South West London, received a knock on the door from a man who said he was from the Office for National Statistics last Friday.

He asked if Judith had received the Census survey, which she confirmed she had, then promptly informed her that the deadline had passed and she was going to be fined £1,000.

The man then said the fine would be reduced to £500 if she handed over the completed survey and paid him on the spot in cash.

Judith did not have any cash so asked the man if he would accept a cheque.

He said he would if it was made out to “cash” – ultimately the same thing – and did not bounce.

Judith only discovered it was a scam after she told her son what had happened.

But unfortunately, the cheque had already been cashed so she lost her money. Simon, from Leicester, also received an email on Monday warning of a £1,000 fine for failing to send the completed Census back by March 21.

The email offered an electronic version of the survey that could be completed online in “two minutes” by simply clicking a link.

Simon did exactly that but then got suspicious so contacted me – as he had heard me talking about scams on LBC radio. Had Simon continued with the link, he clearly would have fallen victim to a scam.

Action Fraud says members of the public will only be contacted about the Census via letter – never email, text or phone.

It said: “When filling out the Census, you will be asked for personal details such as your date of birth, your occupation and where you live.

“You will never be asked to provide your National Insurance number or financial details.”