Risk Alert from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)- Be Cautious About Giving Information to Census Workers. With the U.S. Census process beginning, the (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data. The big question is – how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist?
If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have:
- a badge,
- a handheld device,
- a Census Bureau canvas bag, and
- a confidentiality notice.
The BBB offers the following advice and information: Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions.Do not invite anyone you don’t know into your home. Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information.
Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.
Remember, no matter what they ask, you only need to tell them how many people live at your address. While the Census Bureau might ask for the basic financial information, such as a salary range, you do not need to answer anything about your financial situation. The Census Bureau will not ask for your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.
Eventually, Census workers may contact people by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Breau will not make contact by E-mail, so be on the look out for E-mail scams impersonating the Census. Never click on the link or open any attachments in an E-mail that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
For more advice on avoiding identiy theft and fraud, visit
www.bbb.org or go this link :
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Scam Alert -
Sophisticated-Gas-Pump-Skimming-Thieves-Are-Filling-Up-Their-Wallets. In case you missed the article, Credit Union Times recently reported that criminals are now trying to steal a member’s personal data (card number and PIN) by attaching a device to a gas pump to skim personal data. It has been reported that thieves are able to open a gas pump and insert a device that captures card numbers while a camera positioned nearby captures the cardholders’ PIN. The fraudster then uses the stolen data on a counterfeit card and can then access an ATM to withdraw money from the CU member’s account. Recent losses have been reported around the Raleigh, NC area but this particular problem may continue to grow and CU’s and their members need to be aware of this situation.
Below is a link to the CU Times article written by David Morrison –>
