Beware of Phishing Scams Targeting 2010 Census
The 2010 U.S. Census Campaign is underway and it is important that individuals remain vigilant to avoid becoming victims of potential online scams attempting to obtain confidential information, such as emails purporting to be from the Census Bureau requesting information.
The U.S. Census Bureau provides the following information on its website
( http://2010.census.gov/2010census/index.php
) to inform residents about protecting their information.
- The Census Bureau does NOT conduct the 2010 Census via the Internet .
- The Census Bureau does NOT send emails about participating in the 2010 Census.
- Additionally, the Census Bureau never:
- asks for your full social security number
- asks for money or a donation
- requests PIN codes, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts
If you receive an e-mail claiming to be from the Census Bureau or directing you to a Census Bureau site, you should take the following actions:
- Do not reply or click on any links within the email.
- Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain code that could infect your computer.
- Forward the email or web site URL to the Census Bureau at ITSO.Fraud.Reporting@census.gov .
- After you forward the email , delete the message.
- You will not receive a confirmation email after forwarding the information to Census Bureau. However, the Census Bureau will investigate the information and notify you of its findings.
Partnerships
Additional information and resources for educating citizens on cyber issues and implementing sound cyber security practices are available at the following websites:
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