State officials warn of scams around U.S. Census

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(Harrisburg) — Some scammers may try to take advantage of the 2020 Census to steal people’s personal information.

As the federal government starts mailing census forms, leaders with the state Department of Community and Economic Development say the possibility of scams is growing.

Secretary Dennis Davin said the census questionnaire is short and clear. It will not ask for social security numbers, bank or credit card information, money or donations, or anything on behalf of a political party.

The agency provided the following tips to protect your personal information:

• If you receive a survey or letter in the mail, check that the return address is from Jeffersonville, Indiana.

• If you receive a phone call, you can call the U.S. Census Bureau at 1-800-923-8282 to verify whether the caller is an employee.

• If you receive an email or are sent a URL to respond to the census, make sure the website address begins with “HTTPS” and includes a lock symbol. If you receive a suspicious email or URL, do not reply, click links, or open attachments. Forward the email to the U.S. Census Bureau at ois.fraud.reporting@census.gov and then delete it. The U.S. Census Bureau will investigate and report their findings to you.

• If you’re visited by a census worker, ask to see their identification. They should have an official identification badge with their photo, U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. If you have questions about their identity, you can call 1-800-923-8282 to speak to a local U.S. Census Bureau representative.

Anyone who gets a questionable or confusing document in the mail should contact their regional Census office.

The federal government uses the once-a-decade headcount to allocate seats in Congress and billions of dollars for things like transportation projects and education.