StarBulletin.com

Legitimate census takers won't request personal data


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POSTED: Thursday, April 15, 2010

The Hawaii Better Business Bureau is warning residents to be alert for possible census fraud and not to give out Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or banking information to fake census takers.

The warning comes after law enforcement authorities also have issued warnings about scammers posing as Census Bureau employees, the Hawaii BBB said in a news release.

Census workers will not ask for Social Security numbers, credit card information or banking information and will not be soliciting for donations.

The BBB suggests that if a census worker comes to your door, ask to see their identification and badge before answering questions. A census worker will have a badge, handheld device, Census Bureau canvas bag and confidentiality notice.

Also, do not respond or click on attachments to e-mails that say they are from the Census Bureau, the BBB warns. Census workers might contact you by telephone, mail or in person, but no through the Internet.