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GOOD INFORMATION TO PASS ON TO EVERYBODY THAT YOU
KNOW:
2010 Census to Begin
WARNING:
2010 Census Cautions from the Better Business Bureau
Be Cautious About Giving
Info to Census Workers by Susan Johnson
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. However,
you should 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.
REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM
HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS..
While
the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary
range,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL
SITUATION.
The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank
account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one
asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.
AND REMEMBER,
THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS
INFORMATION.. No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the
Census Bureau.
Eventually,
Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home.
However, the
Census Bureau 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.
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Who we are
Catalog Choice is a sponsored project of the Ecology Center. It is endorsed by the National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Resources Defense Council, and funded by the Overbrook Foundation, the Merck Family Fund, the Kendeda Fund, the Weeden Foundation and the Mead Foundation.
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