Census warning

2010 Census to Begin
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> > THIS IS PRETTY BASIC ADVICE; BUT, IN TODAY'S TIMES, I
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> > CAN SEE IT COULD LEAVE AN OPEN DOOR FOR PASSING
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> > OUT YOUR PRIVATE INFORMATION.
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> > WARNING:
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> > *2010 Census Cautions from *
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> > *the Better Business Bureau*
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> > Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers by
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> > Susan Johnson With the U.S. Census process beginning,
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> > the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to
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> > be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become
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> > a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first
> > phase
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> > of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun
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> > verifying the addresses of households across the country.
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> > Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers
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> > will count every person in the United States and will
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> > gather information about every person living at
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> > each address including name, age, gender, race,
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> > and other relevant data.
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> > The big question is - how do you tell the difference
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> > between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist?
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> > BBB offers the following advice:
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> > If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they
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> > will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census
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> > Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice.
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> > Ask to see their
> > identification and their
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> > badge before answering their questions.
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> > However, you should never invite anyone
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> > you don't know into your home.
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> > Census workers are currently only knocking on doors
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> > to verify address information. Do not give
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> > your Social Security number, credit card or
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> > banking information to anyone, even if they
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> > claim they need it for the U.S. Census.
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> > REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED
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> > TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.
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> > While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial
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> > information, such as a salary range, YOU DON'T
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> > HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR
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> > FINANCIAL SITUATION. The Census Bureau
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> > will not ask for Social Security, bank account,
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> > or credit card numbers, nor will
> > employees
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> > solicit donations. Any one asking for that
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> > information is NOT with the Census Bureau.
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> > AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO
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> > WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.
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> > No Acorn worker should approach you
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> > saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.
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> > Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone,
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> > mail, or in person at home. However, the
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> > Census Bureau will not contact you by Email,
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> > so be on the lookout for Email scams
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> > impersonating the Census.
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> > Never click on a link or open any attachments in an
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> > Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
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> > For more advice on avoiding identity theft
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> > and fraud, visitwww.bbb.org <http://www.bbb.org>