by Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia
U.S. Census questionnaires will begin arriving in Harris County mailboxes in just two weeks—are you ready? With fraud running rampant as we enter Census 2010 Month, many of our residents have expressed concern about protecting their personal information from con artists and potential scams. I’m dedicated to making sure you know exactly what to expect as the 2010 Census gets fully under way.
After all, the only way for Harris County to receive the funding we deserve is to achieve an accurate Census count, and residents should feel completely comfortable submitting their questionnaires.
How can you protect your personal information from fraud? Remember to keep in mind the following:
- Census forms will be mailed out on March 16th and should be mailed back by April 15th. You should not expect to have a Census worker knock on your door unless you do not complete and return your questionnaire by the deadline.
- You will receive a letter from the Census Bureau director notifying you that your household will soon receive a form in the mail, a phone call from the Census Bureau, or a visit from a Census Bureau representative.
- The Census Bureau will never ask for your Social Security number or other financial information, including bank account numbers.
- The Census Bureau will never contact you via email, and questionnaires may not be completed online.
- Census employees will carry an official identification badge with an expiration date and a Department of Commerce watermark.
- Census takers are trained to conduct business outside the door, so be cautious of people who insist on entering your household.
You can be 100 percent confident that information you submit will be protected by the U.S. Census Bureau. The information compiled by the Census is used to produce statistics, without any identifying characteristics, and responses will not be shared with anyone. All Census Bureau employees also take the oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data they collect.
Be sure to visit www.PowerinNumbersHarrisCounty.com for more information about the 2010 Census and how you can get involved.
You can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@hccensus2010 or become our fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HarrisCountyCensus2010 to receive updates on Harris County’s 2010 Census campaign.
