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BILLMOAK
1'+ BBB cautions about census scams
OVER THE NEXT 18months, 1.4 millionU.S. Census workerswill be
surveying the popula
tion of the country to gatherdemographic informationabout
everyone living here.As the 2010 census processbegins, the
BetterBysinessBureau serving 1V!ississippiaci-V'ises-citizens to
cooperatecarefully in order to avoidbecoming a victim of
census-related scams.citizens are required by lawto respond to the
U.S. Census Bureau's requests for information. Census data willbe
used in allocation of morethan $300 billion in federalfundsas well
as in determin- Iing the number of Congressional representatives
thateach state is allowed.Most people are cautiousabout giving out
personalinformation to unsolicitedphone callers or visitors, butthe
Census is an exceptionto the rule. Scammers knowthat the public is
more willing to share personal datawhen participating in theCensus,
so they take advantage of this opportunity byposing as government
workers to get access to personalfinancial information. TheBBB
offers the following advice to help distinguish between bona fide
Censusworkers and con artists: U.S . Census workerswill have
identification, ahandheld device and a confidentiality notice.
Caution:never invite strangers intoyour home.
U.s. Census workerswill not ask for your SocialSecurity number
or any information about bank orcredit card accounts . U.s . Census
workerswill not ask you for moneyor say that you owe money.
U.S. Census workers willnot harass or intimidate you. U.S .
Census workerswill not contact you byemail - only by phone, bymail
or in person.For more information regarding the 2010 Census,visit
www.census.gov.Online coupons
The BBB has issued sometips for people who want touse online
coupons safely.Top 5 online coupon tips Don't divulge
personalinformation. You shouldn'tneed to provide any personal .or
banking information toaccess sites publishing online coupons. Only
the storeyou are buying from needsthis information, so be
suspicious of any other site asking for such details . 1 AVOid
pop-up couponads. You should be gettingyour online coupons
direct!from retailers and leglhmatcoupon code site. Assume that
e-mail 'coupons might be fake. un-jless you subscribe to a l e ~ t
i mate store or coupon site se-mail newsletter, youshould avoid
coupons (orclaims of such) coming toyou via e-mail. Understand
where thecoupon is coming from. Is ibeing offered by a store or ba
third party? If by a thirdparty, do you need to buyanything else or
sign up formembership to use the online coupon? If so, be wary.The
long term cost could blhigher than the presentvalue of the coupon.
Make sure that you re,the fine print. As with allother transactions
, youshould make sure that youunderstand the terms andconditions
before using anonline coupons.Bill Maak is president of Beter
Business Bureau ofMis!sippi .
http:///reader/full/www.census.govhttp:///reader/full/www.census.gov
