Phony BBB E-Mail Spreading

 Misinformation About Census

WALLINGFORD — An email that falsely claims to be from Better Business Bureau about the upcoming 2010 Census is causing confusion among consumers.

According to Connecticut Better Business Bureau President Paulette Scarpetti, part of the confusion about the census involves its timing.

“We are reminding Connecticut Consumers that no Census Bureau workers will even begin going door-to-door until April. If anyone claims to be working for the Census Bureau before then, they probably are trying to obtain your personal information illegally,” she said in a release February 2. Other information  of which consumers should be aware includes:

When Field Representatives Will Be Going Door-To-Door:

*From April to July 2010, the Census Bureau will knock on the door of every household that does not mail back a completed 2010 Census form.

*It is critical that you take just ten minutes to fill out and mail back your form rather than wait for a census worker to show up.

*The Census Bureau must receive a completed form from every residence in the United States.

How To Identify A Census Field Representative:

If a US Census Bureau employee knocks on your door, here are some recognition tips to assure the validity of the field representative:

*The field representative must present an ID badge that contains a Department of Commerce watermark and expiration date.

*Field representatives will carry a bag with a Census Bureau logo.

*The census-takers will provide you with supervisor contact information and/or the Regional Office phone number for verification.

*The representative will also carry a letter from the Census Bureau Director on official letterhead.

What The 2010 Census DOES NOT Ask:

*Field representatives will never ask you for your social security number, bank account number, or credit card number. Census workers also never solicit donations nor contact you by e-mail.

The Census Is Safe

*The 2010 Census will ask for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home — just ten simple questions that will take about ten minutes to answer.

*Your answers are protected by law and not shared with anyone.

*The Census Bureau safeguards all census responses to the highest security standards available.

For more information about the upcoming 2010 Census visit www.census.gov/2010census.