2010 Census Phase 2 Begins – Census Takers Knocking on Doors Nationwide
New York, NY - April 30, 2010 - The second phase of the 2010 Census begins this Saturday as 635,000 census takers begin visiting households that did not return their census form through the mail. BBB serving Metropolitan New York encourages anyone who didn’t return their form in the mail to prepare for a visit from a census taker by learning what to expect and how to identify scammers.
“One way to identify a legitimate Census taker employee is by recognizing what they won’t ask or do,” said Claire Rosenzweig, President & CEO, BBB of Metropolitan New York. “A Census taker will not ask for your Social Security, credit card or bank account numbers nor will he or she ask to enter your house for any reason.”
The goal of the census is to count every man, woman, and child in the country. It is a massive undertaking and unfortunately scammers are taking advantage of the situation by sending out bogus census forms or knocking on doors and asking for sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers.
Secretary Andrade and BBB answer the following frequently asked questions about census taker visits to your home:
How can I identify a census taker?
First ask to see their ID. All census workers carry official government badges marked with just their name and a confidentiality notice explaining the safety of the 2010 Census. They may also have a "U.S. Census Bureau" bag. Note that the census taker will never ask to enter your home. In Texas, households may call 800-563-6499 to verify the identity of a census worker.
What kinds of questions will they ask?
The census taker will ask the following questions:
- The number of people living in the residence
- Any additional people that might be living there as of April 1, 2010
- Whether the residence is owned or rented
- Telephone number (in case the Census Bureau has follow-up questions
- Name
- Gender
- Age and date of birth
- Whether of Hispanic origin
- Race
- Whether that person sometimes lives somewhere else
The census taker will not ask to enter your home or request personal information such as bank account or social security numbers.
Do I have to respond?
Yes. Your participation in the 2010 Census is vital and required by law. Not only do you have to respond, it’s in your community’s best interest that you take part. Census takers will visit households that didn’t respond by mail up to seven times for a response. If no one answers, the census taker will leave behind a door hanger featuring a phone number for residents to call to schedule a visit. It costs the Federal Government, and ultimately the taxpayer, $57 per household for the follow-up operation.
Will the census taker ask any questions other than what was on the mail-in form?
At any point in time, the Census Bureau is conducting a number of surveys in order to better understand the complexities of our nation. Therefore, you may be asked to respond to a survey that is not related to the 2010 Census. The topics include healthcare, employment and the demographics of your household. Before responding to a survey that claims to be with the Census Bureau, do your research on the Census Bureau’s Web site (“Are you in a survey?”) at www.census.gov/survey_participants.
For more information on the 2010 Census, visit 2010census.gov.
About the 2010 Census:
The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to tribal, state and local governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in U.S. history, consisting of 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.
The BBB serving Metropolitan New York, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson Region is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. The BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Reliability Reports™ and charity BBB Wise Giving Reports™, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, the BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912 by advertising executives. The BBB of Metropolitan New York was founded in 1922 by the NY Stock Exchange. Today, 124 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than four million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about the BBB.
###