Stark County Sheriff Tim Swanson recommends residents follow the precautions highlighted in the following information, released by the Better Business Bureau.
With the U.S. census process beginning, the 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.
Most people are rightfully cautious and will not give out personal information to unsolicited phone callers or visitors; however, the census is an exception to the rule. Unfortunately, scammers know that the public is more willing to share personal data when taking part in the census, and they have an opportunity to ply their trade by posing as a government employee and soliciting sensitive financial information.
The census data will be used to allocate more than $300 billion in federal funds every year, as well as determine a state's number of Congressional representatives. Households are actually required by law to respond to the Census Bureau's request for information.
During the U.S. Census, households will be contacted by mail, telephone, or visited by a U.S. Census worker, who will inquire about the number of people living in the house. Unfortunately, people may also be contacted by scammers who are impersonating Census workers in order to gain access to sensitive financial information such as Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers. Law enforcement in several states has issued warnings that scammers are already posing as Census Bureau employees and knocking on doors asking for donations and Social Security numbers.
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, he will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see his identification and badge before answering their questions. However, one should never invite anyone he does not know into his 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 he claims to need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations.
* Eventually, census workers may contact individuals by telephone, mail or in person at home. However, they will not contact anyone by e-mail, so be on the look out for e-mail scams impersonating the census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, see www.bbb.org.
Any suspicious activity should be reported to the local law enforcement immediately, Swanson said.
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