The Better Business Bureau recommends the following ways to protect yourself as the census workers begin to make their rounds. Be sure you read the following so you can identify a real census worker and not a con-artist or thief attempting to get other personal information for you.
How to Identify a Census Field Representative
If a U.S. Census Bureau employee knocks on your door, here are some recognition tips to assure the validity of the field representative:
1. The field representative must present an ID badge that contains: photograph of the field representative, Department of Commerce watermark, and expiration date.
2. The field representative will provide you with supervisor contact information and/or the Regional Office phone number for verification, if asked.
3. The field representative will provide you with a letter from the Census Bureau Director on official letterhead.
4. The field representative may be carrying a laptop and/or bag with a Census Bureau logo.
What the 2010 Census DOES NOT Ask
Field representatives will never ask you for your social security number, bank account number, or credit card number. Census workers also never solicit for donations and will never contact you by email.
The Census is Safe
1. The 2010 Census will ask for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home – just 10 simple questions that will take about 10 minutes to answer.
2. Your answers are protected by law and are not shared with anyone.
3. The Census Bureau safeguards all census responses to the highest security standards available.
