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Phishing, Email Scams & Bogus Census Web Sites

What Is Phishing?

'Phishing' is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, social security numbers, bank account or credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing is typically carried out by email and it often directs users to enter sensitive information at a fake web site whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one.

The Census Bureau does NOT conduct the 2010 Census via email or the Internet.

Census Bureau initiated communication through email

You may receive an email from the Census Bureau regarding your participation in a survey, however:

  • The Census Bureau does not request detailed personal information through email.
  • The Census Bureau does not send email requesting PIN codes, passwords social security numbers or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.

If you receive an email from someone claiming to be from the Census Bureau or directing you to a Census Bureau web site:

  • 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.
  • If you feel the message is legitimate, go directly to the web site indicated (i.e., type the URL into your browser) or contact the Census Bureau representative identified in the message to verify if you really do need to take the action requested.

How to report phishing, email scams and bogus Census web sites

If you receive an email or find a web site you think is pretending to be the Census Bureau, do the following:

The Census Bureau can use the information, URLs and links you forward to trace the hosting web site and alert authorities to help shut down the fraudulent site. The Census Bureau, as a follow-up measure, may contact you for additional information.

 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Field Division
Partnership & Data Services Program