U.S. Census Scam-Scammers impersonating as U.S Census employees!
Personal information of any individual is a data which if gets into the wrong hands can not only harm that particular individual, but the society on a whole also stands at a risk.
One of the most important work that needs to be carried out by the U.S government every 10 years is the U.S Census process. It is a process which spans between 15-18 months during which U.S census employees will reach out to every household recording important information such as details regarding age, address, gender, race, birth date, marital status etc.
Every person who holds a U.S citizenship (by birth or acquired) is bound by law to provide information to census officials. This data will then be used for determination and allocation of funds to citizens in need.
The U.S census department can use a variety of methods to reach out to citizens for collection of personal information eg personal visits, phone calls etc. This is also a golden opportunity for scammers to collect important personal information for their census scam. Census scam is one of the most simplest of scams wherein scammers can easily represent themselves as employees of U.S census department. Scammers impersonating employees of the U.S census department poses a greater risk since there is no single way in which U.S census employees might contact the citizens. This serves as a blessing in disguise for all scammers. Now, the big question that pops up in the mind of every citizen is-how to differentiate a legitimate U.S census employee from a scammer? Some guidelines mentioned below can be of help:
1.Though U.S census employees contact citizens either through personal visits or by phone calls, they will never ask for your personal information through the internet. Never provide any personal details to anyone through email.
2.Social security number, credit card details and account information is something which any legitimate U.S census employee will never ask or is not entitled to ask. Do not provide any such details to a person, even if that person is from the U.S census department.
3.Employees of the U.S census department can never ask for money or tell you that you owe the government (even if you do).
4.Employees of the U.S census department are specifically instructed to be polite with each and every citizen or non-resident that they contact. If anyone does come across an official who is trying to be aggressive or trying to intimidate/coax you into something, citizens have the right to refuse giving any information and are advised to report the matter to the authorities.
5.Lastly, and the most important detail to be kept in mind by every citizen is to ask for a device or document or both for the purpose of verifying the identity of the person representing the U.S census department. It is the duty of every U.S census employee to provide his/her identification to every individual that is being visited. It is also the fundamental right of every citizen to ask for and verify the details regarding identification, from any person representing the U.S census department.
Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/
*Please note: Sharon LaMothe is not a MD, is not an attorney nor does she hold a mental health degree. All advice given is solely the experienced opinion of Ms. LaMothe. If you have any medical, legal or psychological questions or concerns, please contact your own Doctor, Attorney or Mental Health Professional.
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