It's About Us!
It's About Us! because the census population totals determine which states gain or lose representation in Congress. It's About Us! because the census also helps determine the amount of state and federal funding communities receive over the course of the decade. It's About Us! because the facts gathered in the census shape decisions for the rest of the decade about public health, neighborhood improvements, transportation, education, senior services and much more. The City has a lot at stake, and a fundamental part of achieving a complete and accurate count in the 2010 Census is to identify, communicate and inspire hard-to-count groups to participate. All responses are used for statistical purposes only, and all are strictly confidential. Federal law protects the personal information you share during the census. When you think about it, It's About YOU! Census Day is April 1.
Be Aware of Census Scams -
Tips To Ensure You’re Counted and Your Information Is Safe
While we have been urging you to participate in the 2010 Census, law enforcement officials have been issuing warnings that scammers already are posing as Census Bureau employees, knocking on doors asking for donations and Social Security numbers. It is important, of course, that everyone be counted because the census population totals determine which states gain or lose representation in Congress and also help to determine the amount of state and federal funding communities receive over the course of the decade.
A big question is, how do you tell the difference between a U.S. census worker and a con artist? The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice:
- If a Census Bureau worker knocks on your door, he or she will have a badge, a handheld device, a confidentiality notice and may have a bag or a laptop with the Census Bureau logo. Ask to see the badge before answering questions. Never invite strangers into your home.
The Census Bureau offers these further tips to help you recognize fraudulent activity or unofficial data collections. If you are contacted for any of the following reasons DO NOT PARTICIPATE. It is NOT the U.S. Census Bureau.
- The Census Bureau does NOT conduct the 2010 Census via the Internet
- The Census Bureau does not send emails about participating in the 2010 Census
- The Census Bureau never:
- Asks for your full Social Security number
- Asks for money or a donation
- Sends requests on behalf of a political party
- Requests PIN codes, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts
Phishing
“Phishing” is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, Social Security numbers, bank account or credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing is typically carried out by email and it often directs users to enter sensitive information at a fake web site whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one.
If you believe you have been contacted as part of a bogus or fraudulent activity representing the Census Bureau:
- In Person Scam
- Check for a valid Census ID badge
- Call the regional office to verify you are in a survey. The regional office for this area is located in Atlanta and may be reached by calling 1-800-424-6974.
- Email Scams
- If you think it is a bogus email, do not reply or click any links within the email
- Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain code that could infect your computer
- Forward the e-mail or web site URL to the Census Bureau at ITSO.Fraud.Reporting@census.gov
- After you forward the email, delete the message. You will not receive a confirmation email after forwarding the information to the Census Bureau. However, the Census Bureau will investigate the information and notify you of its findings
- Mail Scams
Is your survey legitimate?
You may further verify if a collection activity is legitimate by calling the regional census office – 1-800-424-6974 – regarding mail surveys, and the National Processing Center - Hagerstown, MD: 1-800-392-6975, Jeffersonville, IN: 1-800-523-3205, Tucson, AZ: 1-800-642-0469 – for phone surveys. Other questions may be answered through the Census Bureau’s Are You In A Survey page (http://www.census.gov/survey_participants/).
By being alert and aware and remembering these tips, you can be sure that you will be counted and that your information will be kept confidential.
The City of Boynton Beach is not responsible for the accuracy of this information, which was compiled from the U.S. Census Bureau and other websites.
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