Fill Out Census, but Beware of Scams

The once-in-a-decade census has begun, and it’s likely that some Americans will decline to be counted out of fear that the information collected will be used in a nefarious way.

Consumer advocates say citizens should take part and answer questions because of all the good that comes from the data. But they urge people to be wary of scams aimed at gaining access to bank accounts or other sensitive information.

The kickoff to the U.S. 2010 Census began Monday, Jan. 4 with a promotional event in New York’s Times Square. Questionnaires will be mailed out to all Americans, who are urged to take 10 minutes to fill them out and send them back. Most people will get them by mid-March.

How is the information used? For one, it determines how many representatives each state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives, The Christian Science Monitor reports. The demographic data also will help decide how some $400 billion in federal government spending is allocated for transportation, education, medical services and other social programs.

And yet only 67 percent of respondents answered the last census, in 2000. In big cities the response rate is lower than in rural and suburban areas: Only 55 percent of New Yorkers answered 10 years ago.

Anyone who doesn’t send back a questionnaire, or returns it incomplete, will see one of 800,000 part-time census-takers show up at their door, and here’s where con artists may see an opportunity. The government has anticipated that scammers may pose as census-takers and ask for more than the requisite information.

In most cases real workers will ask you only to verify data like name, address, age, gender, race and how many people live at the address. You won’t be asked for your Social Security number or any account numbers or passwords, reports the Torrington Register-Citizen in northwest Connecticut.

Census workers will be carrying black canvas bags and ID badges and will provide confidentiality notices. They’ll also stay outside the house while you answer questions.