Don’t Be an Identity Theft Victim of 2010 Census Scams!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 15, 2010 -- As the 2010 census process begins, the Census Bureau is canvassing the country and administering surveys by phone, mail, and personal interviews. Census Bureau employees are gathering important census information from citizens. At the same time, identity thieves posing as Census Bureau workers are conducting numerous census scams. Since all U.S. citizens are required to participate in the census, it’s easier than ever for identity thieves to take advantage of unsuspecting people with census scams.

But you don’t have to be a victim! By knowing what information you’ll be asked to provide—and what you won’t be asked to provide—you can protect yourself from census scams and identity theft.

How Do I Know It’s Really a Census Worker?
The first step in avoiding census scams is being able to identify a census worker. All census workers have a badge, a confidentiality notice, and a Census Bureau canvas bag. If a real census worker is at your door, he or she will:
• Show you their Census Bureau identification badge
• Tell you the name of the survey
• Explain how long the survey will take to complete
• Tell you how the Census Bureau safeguards the information you provide

If you have any doubt that the person is a census worker, call 866.226.2864 to verify their identity.

Spotting Census Scams:
There are only ten questions on the 2010 census (http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/interactive-form.php), making it one of the shortest census questionnaires in history. Census workers will only ask you for basic information such as name, gender, age, and race. This information is used to determine how to distribute approximately $400 billion to communities for schools, healthcare, and other services. The census data is also used to determine Congressional seats and redraw local political district lines.

Census workers will not ask for your:
• Social Security number
• Bank account information
• Credit card numbers
• PIN codes or passwords
• Donations

If you get asked for any of this personal information, the person is a scammer trying to steal your identity.

Common census scams also involve the Internet and emails. The Census Bureau does not use Web sites to conduct the census and it does not send emails regarding the census. If you receive a suspicious email about the census, don’t open any attachments or click on any links in the email. Report the census scam by forwarding the email to the Census Bureau at ITSO.Fraud.Reporting@census.gov.

Protect Yourself From Census Scams and Identity Theft!
Learn more about preventing census scams from the identity theft expert. Call The Identity Advocate at 310.831.4400 or email info@theidentityadvocate.com. Visit The Identity Advocate online at www.theidentityadvocate.com.

About The Identity Advocate:

The Identity Advocate is committed to providing unparalleled education, consulting, resources, and investigations to help protect professionals, corporations, and consumers from the perils of identity theft and healthcare fraud. As your advocate, our mission is simple: Educate you on the risks, provide the support and resources you need to protect yourself, and help you report the crime if you become a victim.

Led by Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., an identity theft and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations, The Identity Advocate approaches these challenges with a unique perspective. With over 35 years of experience in healthcare, Ms. Vincent has seen it all. As a registered nurse, private investigator, and healthcare consultant, her experience includes hospital and physician audits, managed care consulting, and healthcare fraud education, training, investigations, negotiations, and case review.

Start protecting your identity today by calling The Identity Advocate at 310.831.4400 or emailing info@theidentityadvocate.com. Visit www.theidentityadvocate.com.

More information can be found online at http://www.theidentityadvocate.com

2010 Census     Census Bureau