How to identify authentic Census Bureau text messages
Last week, I received a text message stating: “U.S. Census Bureau needs your help to understand challenges in the current economy,” followed by a live link. With the Better Business Bureau sharing so many warnings of bogus texts and government agency impostors, this could easily be considered spam. But it turns out this one is an authentic message from the Census Bureau, which is using text messaging and email to gather quick responses to its Household Pulse Survey.
The survey was designed to gather information on household experiences during the coronavirus, and messages are being sent at random to collect data. The approach for the Household Pulse Survey is different than most Census Bureau surveys in that it is designed to provide gathered information in a very shortturnaround period to help gather aid where it’s most needed in the pandemic recovery.
The survey is not mandatory, but the information gathered could help both federal and state agencies in their continued efforts towards recovery planning. The message notifies you that you can respond with “stop” to opt out of text messages. Otherwise, if the Census Bureau has not received a response from you, you may receive up to three follow-up reminders.
With these texts being sent at random to households, it’s very likely imposters will attempt to send similar messages. Here’s two clues to help you identify the authentic messages versus a fake one:
› If you have been selected to participate in the Household Pulse Survey, you will receive an email from COVID. survey@census.gov or a text message from 39242* with a link to complete the survey.
› In both the email communications from the Census Bureau and its text messages, the link to the survey will include survey.census. gov in the URL.
Only those whose addresses have been selected to participate can complete the survey, and a limited number of addresses across the country have been invited to answer the Household Pulse Survey.
If you receive the message, you can anticipate the Household Pulse Survey will take about 20 minutes to complete and is an online survey studying how the pandemic and other emergent issues are impacting households across the country from a social and economic perspective.
This round of messaging is gathering data under Phase 3.7 of the Household Pulse Survey plan and includes new questions on the impact of living through natural disasters and items focused on Medicaid coverage.
The survey continues asking about core demographic household as well as asking questions about a range of child care, education, employment, transportation and health issues.
Many people wonder if their responses will be private and protected. The Census Bureau is required under law to keep your information confidential, and it is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you.
Since we’re talking about the risk of a text being an impostor scam, here’s some additional tips from your Better Business Bureau on how to recognize a fake message claiming to be from a government agency or recognizable organization:
› Power/utility scam: Utility company impostors typically reach out via a telephone call or knock on your door claiming to be a representative from the water, electric or gas company. In the most common scenario, the fraudster will say a payment is overdue and the utility will be shut off if you don’t pay up immediately.
› Phony banking texts/phishing schemes: You receive a text message allegedly from a bank, alerting you of fraudulent activity on your account. You may or may not have an account at that bank. The con artists might even know your account number. They use a variety of messages and techniques, but the desired outcome is the same. They want you to give them account information, the key to your money.
› IRS impostors: There are many ways to tell if a call about tax debt is a fraudulent IRS call. According to the IRS, people with overdue taxes will always receive multiple contacts, starting with letters first. The IRS will also notify taxpayers before sending their accounts to a private collection agency. If you get a call first and had no idea you owed taxes, be cautious and skeptical.
› Emergency scam (also called grandparent scams or family/ friend scams): This scheme involves the impersonation of a friend or family member in a fabricated urgent or dire situation. Emergency calls prey on a person’s kind nature and willingness to help friends and family in need. Con artists impersonate their targets’ loved ones, make up an urgent situation and plead for help and money. Thanks to social media sites, these people can offer plausible stories and incorporate nicknames and real travel plans into the con to convince their targets.
› Favor for a friend scam. This is a version of an emergency scam. However, instead of a major crisis, the scammer is asking for a small favor. It can be easy to fall for these cons because the stories are believable and the money amounts are much lower. For example, in this scam, a “friend” needs money for groceries after misplacing their wallet. Just like with an emergency scam, always check directly with your friend before sending any cash.
› Tech support scams: A tech support rep calls you at home and offers to fix a computer bug you haven’t even noticed, or a popup warning appears on your screen instructing you to dial a number for help. In this con, scammers pose as tech support employees of well-known computer companies and hassle victims into paying for their “support.”
› Better Business Bureau: That’s right, the bureau is an often-impersonated organization. Many of these scams target small businesses. Scammers call, text or email to collect unpaid “dues” or email dangerous links or attachments they claim are related to “complaints,” or various other excuses. While a bureau office may indeed contact a business for a variety of reasons, you should never give personal or financial information over the phone during an unsolicited call from someone you do not know. End the call or close the email and call back through the number listed in the BBB.org directory.
TIPS TO AVOID IMPOSTOR SCAMS
› Stay calm. If you receive any of these impostor calls, resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is or how threatening or intimidating the caller sounds. ›
Don’t reply directly. Don’t respond to the call, text or email. Instead, call the company or person directly to verify the message that was sent or the phone call that was received.
› Go to the source or get help. When in doubt, call a friend, loved one or your local Better Business Bureau to ask for a second opinion. Regardless of what is said in the phone conversation, tell someone.