BBB Advice: Counting on the U.S. Census Bureau

By Angie Barnett

For years, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has educated consumers about not giving out personal information over the telephone or to anyone who shows up at their front door.
With the U.S. Census Bureau household process beginning, the BBB is advising citizens to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. As an employer, you will likely be surveyed, too, so here are some things to keep in mind if you are contacted at your place of business.
Businesses will most often be contacted by mail to complete a survey. Your type of business can impact which of the many surveys you will receive. According to a representative at the National Processing Center's Economic Division, a business will not receive a phone call or a visit from an enumerator unless it has not responded to a survey sent via the U.S. Postal Service.
It's important to know that the U.S. Census Bureau will never send a survey via e-mail. Furthermore, it discourages businesses from initiating unsecure e-mails in an attempt to comply with or respond to a survey.
While e-mail is a red warning flag that a scammer is phishing for confidential or sensitive information, you may opt to complete your survey using a link provided to your business in the hardcopy letter. The letter also should include an ID specific to you that will allow you to log into a secure bureau web site.
To help spot a phony solicitation in the mail, look for the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Census Bureau logos on your letter. Remember, it doesn't take much sophistication to pirate a logo; we see examples of unauthorized use of our logo every week.
That said, check for an eight-digit Office of Management and Budget number (e.g., OMB No. 0607-0422) and an "Approval Expires" date. If you still have any reservations about the authenticity of the document, visit the Business Help Site at http://BHS.econ.census.gov/BHS, call them at 877-790-1876 or check www.bbb.org.
Unlike the once-a-decade household survey, businesses are surveyed on an on-going basis. In most cases, you are required by law to complete census bureau surveys. However, some surveys are voluntary.
The trouble is that the bureau isn't exactly forthcoming in that case. So look for the warning, "Your Response is Required by Law." If you don't see it, your participation is voluntary.
You can help your staff and co-workers steer clear of U.S. Census Bureau Scams by sharing the following BBB tips.
- If a U.S. Census Bureau worker knocks on your door, that person will have a badge, a handheld device, a bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see his or her identification and badge before answering any questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.
- Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if the person claims he or she needs it for the census. Census workers will not ask for banking and financial information nor will they solicit donations.
- Eventually, census workers may contact you by telephone, mail or in person at home. However, they will not contact you by e-mail, so be on the look out for e-mail scams impersonating the census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that is supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Angie Barnett is president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland. She can be reached at 410-347-3990 and abarnett@greatermd.bbb.org.