Recently I wrote about the importance of responding to the 2020 U.S. Census. The Census is conducted every 10 years to ensure representation is properly apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives. On the state and local levels, a variety of voting districts from NC House and Senate to count commissioner and city council districts rely on census information.

But in this electronic age when so many of us are used to doing business via the Internet, we must be especially careful to protect ourselves from scams and phishing expeditions. The publication “Understanding the Census” gives sound advice for spotting scams and phishing to protect you and our information.

In the section “Avoiding Scams” the pamphlet gives this warning: “The Census Bureau will never ask for your full Social Security number, bank account number or passwords.” I have already had one email communication claiming to be from the Census Bureau. Guess what the email wanted me to provide to ensure my identity for the purpose of the census? The email wanted to know my Social Security number. Anytime you receive an emailing requesting your Social Security number, then you are dealing with a scammer trying to steal your identity.

Any legitimate communications from the Census Bureau will have the U.S. Census Bureau in the return address – or U.S. Department Commerce. The same is true for snail-mail originating from a regional census office. If you have any questions, call the Census Bureau’s customer service number at 1-800-923-8282.

Adopt this motto: “Verify before Reply.”

Once things return to some semblance of normality after COVID-19 subsides, a census taker or field representative may visit you for census information or to administer one of the roughly 100 other types of surveys the US Census Bureau uses for demographic studies.

To make sure you are speaking with an actual Census Bureau representative, look for these identifiers. First, check for an ID badge that includes the person’s name, the person’s photograph, a Department of Commerce watermark – and an expiration date. If any of these items are missing, you are not dealing with a legitimate employee of the Census Bureau of US Department of Commerce.

Each field representative will also have an official bag and an electronic device – a laptop or smart phone – that bears of Census Bureau logo. Census takers and field representative work from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. local time.

Since the Census Bureau conducts more than 100 surveys other than the 2020 census, if your address has been selected to participate in one of these other surveys, a field representative will contact you by phone or in person. These contacts are focused and kept brief.

However, the field representative will NOT ask about your financial information or ask for your Social Security number. No matter how official the field representative may appear, be sure to check for credentials. If the person asks for financial information or your Social Security number, you are dealing with an imposter.

If you are asked to participate in a survey, check the Caller ID on your phone. If the call originates from the Jeffersonville (Indiana) Contact Center, the number will show as (812) 218-3144. If the call originates from the Tucson Contact Center in Tucson, Arizona, the number will show as: (520) 798-4152. If you receive a call and wish to verify its legitimacy, then call 1 (800) 523-3205 for the Jeffersonville Center or 1 (800) 642-0469 for the Tucson Center.

Be constantly on your guard –  and practice my motto:

“Verify before Reply.”

Mike Parker is a columnist for Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.