Beware of the potential for Census scams over the next month
You will soon be receiving your invitation to respond to the 2020 Census if you haven’t already. Every 10 years as mandated by the Constitution, our country conducts a count of the population. It counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia and five
U.S. territories. Better Business Bureau and the US Census Bureau know there are some common questions and concerns about the process.
The census provides data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers and many others use to provide daily services, products and support for you and the community. It helps determine how billions in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads and other resources. The results also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives and are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
You will be asked to answer simple questions about yourself and everyone who is living with you on April 1, 2020. For instance, you’ll be asked:
■ How many people are living/staying in the home
■ Is it a house, apartment or mobile home
■ What is the name, age and sex of each person in the home You will not be asked:
■ Your Social Security number
■ Your bank account or credit card number
■ For money or donations
■ Anything on behalf of a political party
■ Or, any citizenship questions
Many are concerned about how the information they provide will be protected. The good news is the Census Bureau cannot release identifiable information about you, your home or your business, even to law enforcement. Your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. The answers are used only to produce statistics. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you.
Historically, the BBB sees scammers take advantage of every current event and the census is no different. BBB advises you to beware of census phishing scams. Phishing occurs when someone tries to get your information by pretending to be an entity you trust. Phishing emails often direct you to a website that looks real, but is fake and may be infected with malware. It’s important to remember the Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails.
If you suspect a census scam, call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative. In addition, contact the police. You can also report it to BBB Scam Tracker at bbb. org/scamtracker.