If you receive an official looking email saying you didn’t complete the Census survey correctly and asking for sensitive information, do not reply or click on any links or attachments within the email.

The 2010 U.S. Census survey was mailed to all U.S. residents in mid-March, opening the door to con artists who will use the program as an opportunity to swindle people out of their money and their identity.
 
To help protect yourself from Census fraudsters, be aware of the following scams and know that the official Census questionnaire asks 10 questions - none involving sensitive information such as bank account or credit card numbers, your Social Security Number (SSN), or computer usernames and passwords.
 

• Phishing. Phishing is the fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. It is typically carried out by email and often directs users to enter sensitive information at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one. If you receive an official-looking email saying you didn’t complete the Census survey correctly and asking for sensitive information, do not reply or click on any links or attachments within the email. This is likely a phishing attempt, as the Census Bureau does not conduct the 2010 Census via the Internet, nor do they send emails about participating in the 2010 Census.
• Fake Census survey. If you receive a 2010 Census questionnaire in the mail requesting any sensitive information such as your bank account or credit card numbers or SSN, do not respond. To see what the official U.S. Census Bureau survey should look like and the ten legitimate questions you will be asked, visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/pdf/2010_Questionnaire_Info.pdf.
• Phony Census call. If someone calls you claiming to be from the Census and asks you to divulge sensitive information, it’s a scam. Only in rare instances would a Census worker call to clarify information you’ve submitted, and they will never ask for sensitive information. Do not be fooled by Caller IDs that show up as “US Census” or a similar identifier, as fraudsters have ways to make their calls appear legit.
• In-person Census visits. Beginning May 1, official Census takers will visit the homes of people who have not yet completed the questionnaire and may visit some homes more than once as the program conducts quality-control checks. But while some in-person visits may be legit, you need to watch out for the ones that aren’t. To make sure you’re talking to an official Census worker, ask to see his official government badge with his name and a Department of Commerce watermark. Then, ask for a second picture ID for confirmation. If you’re still not sure, contact the regional Census office to confirm that the visit is legitimate. A Census worker who comes to your door will only ask you the same questions that are on the survey and will NEVER, under any circumstances, ask to enter your home. If you are asked to pay for the Census, to provide sensitive information, or to let the person in to your home, immediately close the door and call the U.S. Census Bureau.
   
  For more information about the 2010 Census process, visit the U.S. Census Bureau website at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/.

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