How to Identify Official Census Takers
Kansas City – In light of recent reports involving persons fraudulently impersonating official Census takers, the U.S. Census Bureau wants you to know how to identify official Census takers should you encounter someone posing as a Census taker.
It is important to remember that door to door follow-up Census operations with households will not begin until late spring.These follow up operations will be conducted by official Census takers.If you have any questions about Census operations in your area, you may call the Kansas City Regional Census Center at (816) 994-2000. Here are some tips on how you can identify an official Census taker.
An official 2010 Census taker:
- Must present an ID Badge containing a Department of Commerce watermark and expiration date.
- May also be carrying a bag with a 2010 Census logo (copy attached).
- Will provide you with their supervisor’s contact information and/or the local census office phone number for verification, if asked.
- Will only ask you questions appearing on the official 2010 Census form (sample copy attached). If you need assistance completing your Census form, you may call (866) 872-6868.
Census answers are confidential and protected by federal law.All U.S. Census Bureau employees have taken an oath and are subject to 5 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine if they disclose any information that could identify you or your household.Answers will only be used for statistical purposes.The 2010 Census will ask for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether the home is owned or rented and how many people live in the home.The 2010 Census also asks for your phone number.If question responses are not understood, the household will be called.
Also, Census takers will:
- NOT ask for your social security number, bank account number or credit card number.
- NOT ask any information about your taxes or income.
- NEVER solicit donations or contact you by e-mail.
- ONLY ask you the questions listed on the Census questionnaire.
Persons needing assistance completing their 2010 Census questionnaire may call a U.S. Census Bureau telephone questionnaire assistance center at (866) 872-6868.
The 2010 Census is an actual count of everyone living in the United States and it is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.Census data is used to allocate congressional seats to the states and to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to tribal, state and local governments each year.
Available resources on-line include:
2010 Census website: www.2010census.gov
2010 Census website in Spanish: www.2010census.gov/espanol
2010 Census Jobs: www.2010censusjobs.gov
2010 Census How It Works: www.2010census.gov/2010census/how
2010 Census Why It’s Important: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/why
2010 Census Privacy & Confidentiality: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/privacy
Updated 03-25-2010
READER COMMENTS
