Clackamas, Oregon
United States
Scam alert: OR Dept of Justice warns of fake US Census takers
Oct. 14, 2009
Attorney General John Kroger is warning Oregonians about con-artists, posing as U.S. Census workers. Conducted every ten years, the U.S. Census is an important process that helps to both define legislative districts, and determine how to allocate $300 billion to local, state and tribal governments each year.
For every person living at an address the U.S., the U.S. Census will ask for a name, age, gender, race, ethnic origin, birth date, marital status, employment status, and other similar information. Con-artists posing as Census employees ask for donations, personal financial information, and/or Social Security numbers. Here are some tips to tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and con-artists:
- U.S. Census Bureau will not contact you by E-mail.
- U.S. Census workers will not ask you about past debt, solicit money, or in any way harass you about finances.
- U.S. Census workers will not ask for you Social Security Number, banking information, or credit card number.
- U.S. Census workers will have identification; a copy of the notification letter you received, or should have received, in the mail describing the survey; and, depending on the area, a laptop and laptop case bearing the insignia of the U.S. Census Bureau.
If you are unsure whether or not you are the target of a Census-related scam, please call the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392.
Or read this AARP Bulletin article for more information on how to tell the difference between a census faker or an official taker.
