DWYM: Fake Census Calls
DWYM: Fake Census Calls
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT THE US CENSUS IS STARTING UP DOOR TO DOOR VISITS THIS WEEK.
BUT SOME TRI-STATERS ARE ALSO STARTING TO GET CALLS FROM THE U-S CENSUS BUREAU, OR SO IT SEEMS.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARDTHAT THE US CENSUS IS STARTINGUP DOOR TO DOOR VISITS THISWEEK.BUT SOME TRI-STATERS AREALSO STARTING TO GET CALLSFROM THE U-S CENSUS BUREAU, ORSO IT SEEMS.CONSUMER REPORTERJOHN MATARESE SHOWS HOW TO SEEIF IT IS LEGITIMATE... SO YOUDON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY.REMEMBER THECENSUS?
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TOBE THE BIG STORY OF2020...UNTIL COVID 19.BUT THE CENSUS BUREAU ISRESTARTING ITS VISITS....WHICH MEANS YOU MAY GET AKNOCK ON THE DOOR OR A CALL.BUT IS IT REALLY THECENSUS?--------------AMY CHENEY'S CELL PHONERANG THE OTHER DAY... AT HERBOND HILLWORKPLACE."When I get a call on my cellphone, and it's not arecognized number, I don'tanswer it."ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE WAS NOIDENTIFYINGNAME.What did it show up as onyour phone?
It showed up anUnknown, and Unknown phonenumber." BUT ITCALLED AGAIN...AND A THIRDTIME!
FINALLY AMY ANSWERED ANDWAS TOLD IT WAS THE US CENSUSBUREAU.
SHE WASSUSPICIOUS."I know from yourreports and lots of otherplaces that the IRS does notcall people, and SocialSecurity does not call people.And I thought why would thecensus buearu be callingme?"NORMALLY IF YOU DON'TRESPOND TO THE CENSUSMAILING -- YOU SHOULD HAVERECEIVED ABOUT 3 OF THEM BYNOW -- THE BUREAU WILL SEND ACENSUS TAKER TO YOUR FRONTDOOR.
BUT IN THIS YEAR OFCOVID, THEY ARE TURNING TOPHONESINSTEAD."He explained thatbecause of COVID 19 they arenot able to do their door todoor canvassing they normallydo, and so they are makingphone calls to people tofollow up on information."HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT ISREAL?
--A LEGITIMATECENSUS CALLER WILL TELL YOU TOGO TO THE CENSUS WEBSITE.--THERE YOU WILL FIND THEEXACT NUMBER THEY ARE CALLINGFROM.
--THEY WILL ALSONEVER ASK FOR YOUR SOCIALSECURITY NUMBER OR A CREDITCARD.
AT THAT POINT,GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THEIRQUESTIONS....EVENIF..."It felt weird to have agovernment agency making aphone call tome."AN UPDATE NOW: AS OF AUGUST10TH THE CENSUS IS RESTARTINGITS DOOR TO DOOR VISITS.SO IF YOU DONT FILLOUT THE FORM YOU MAY GET ACALL OR A VISIT SOON.AS ALWAYS DONT WASTE YOURMONEY.
WCPO 9NEWS.
