HOW TO SPOT A GENUINE U.S. CENSUS WORKER
Tips for American Indian households on avoiding fraudulent visits
from Joely Proudfit, U.S. Census Consultant/Naqmayam Communications
Condensed by Native Village ]

The Better Business Bureau (BBB )is raising awareness about possible identity thieves posing as census workers. According to the BBB
When a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, he or she will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice.
Always ask to see an I.D. and badge before answering any questions.
Never invite anyone you don't know into your home.
Census workers will only ask questions about your address, the number of household members, and general information about your salary range.
Do not give them your social security number, credit card or banking information.
Do not give out any donations at all.
 Census workers may also contact you by phone but NEVER by email. Don't answer emails with census inquiries.

American Indians can expect up to two short visits, calls or forms from census workers this year. Two 2010 census operations are relevant to American Indian communities:
The traditional decennial count of the entire population living in the U.S., which by law occurs every 10 years. The last was done in 2000. The 2010 Census is a count of the entire U.S. population
The American Community Survey (ACS), aims to tell "what the population looks like and how it lives." In Indian Country, reservations and rancherias will have a small group of tribal members selected to complete the ACS survey. If only one tribal member answers the ACS, that one person will be the census data representative for their entire community until the next time the surveys are collected. 
If you participate in the ACS, you must still answer the Census 2010 questionnaire.

Workers collecting ACS information will visit before the April 1, 2010 deadline for mailing in census forms. They may later visit those who didn't sent their forms back. Expect to spend about 10 minutes answering all questions. .

For more information about the 2010 Census and the ACS, visit:\
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/SBasics/AIAN_broch.html

background: www.robertkaufman.com