The U.S. Census -- which comes around every 10 years -- is harmless, right? Actually, no. It could be very bad for you if you get caught in one of the census scams floating around.
The 2010 U.S. Census survey will be mailed to all U.S. residents in mid-March, opening the door to con artists who will use the program as an opportunity to swindle people out of their money and their identity.
The U.S. Better Business Bureau, in Arlington, Va., warns consumers to be on guard for online and in-person Census fraud in the coming months, says spokeswoman Alison Southwick.
The Census questionnaire asks 10 questions, none involving personal financial information such as bank account or credit card numbers or your Social Security number.
"We are warning people to beware of phishing e-mails that purport to be from the Census Bureau, (as well as) phone calls, knocks on the door and mail, basically all forms of contact where people are asked for financially sensitive information such as their Social Security number or bank account numbers," says Southwick.
Already, there have been reports of people identifying themselves as Census takers, contacting senior citizens in Chicago and trying to extract their financial ID numbers, says William Kresse, associate professor and director of the Center for the Study of Fraud and Corruption at St. Xavier University in Chicago.
"In the past, the fraud has been related to identify theft, gaining access to victims' bank accounts and credit card accounts," says Kresse. "Fraudsters try to work off something topical in the news that people don't fully understand which makes the 2010 Census a prime target."Senior citizens are most at risk, says Kresse. "Seniors tend to be lonely and more willing to talk with strangers on the phone than any other group," says Kresse. "Many also have access to money they've accumulated for retirement or other assets."Here are some ways that scammers may try to deceive you and what you should do:Phishing fraud:A phishing scam typically uses a phony e-mail to collect your personal or financial information under false pretenses.In this case, you'll receive an official-looking e-mail saying you didn't fill out the Census survey correctly and asking for your Social Security number or bank account information or computer user names and passwords, says Kresse."E-mail is relatively anonymous and the dishonest can contact several hundred thousand people simultaneously," Kresse says.What you do: You can't file online and no one should receive official e-mails for the 2010 survey. Eun Kim, spokeswoman for the U.S. Census Bureau, says if you do, don't respond.
Fake Census survey:You receive a fake 2010 Census questionnaire in the mail, requesting your personal financial information.What you do: Visit the U.S. Census Bureau Web site and compare your survey with the official one online. If your survey doesn't match the 2010 Census survey, toss it, says Kresse. Next >Bankrate.com is the Web's leading aggregator of information on financial products including mortgages, credit cards, new and used automobile loans, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans and online banking fees. Visit Bankrate.com to get the tools and information that can help you make the best financial decisions.You might also be interested in reading:Age Well With Mind PowerSenior Fitness: The Secret to Healthy AgingHow to Slow the Aging Process
