OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION                    240.777.3636

OCP warns residents to beware of census scams cropping up due to the 2010 census survey currently underway. Residents should know that the current survey has a total of 10 questions, and none of those questions ask you for a bank account, credit card or Social Security number.

Con artists are using phishing scams to steal personal information from you by posing as a trustworthy internet site. If you receive an e-mail purporting to be from the U.S. Census Bureau, do not open it. Instead, the Census Bureau recommends that you take the following steps:

� If you think it is a bogus email, do not reply or click on any links within the email.

� Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain code that could infect your computer

� Forward the email or web site URL to the Census Bureau at [email protected].

� After you forward the email, delete the message.

Remember that:

� The Census Bureau is NOT conducting the 2010 Census via Internet

� The Census Bureau is NOT sending emails to residents about Census 2010 participation

� The Census Bureau NEVER asks for your full social security number, money or a donation, or for password or account information

� A Census Bureau worker will NEVER ask to enter your home

For additional information, please contact the Census Bureau by calling 800.923.8282, or view their Fraudulent Activity & Scams  and Preparing for the Census Taker  fact sheets.

To view WUSA9 alert featuring the Office of Consumer Protection, click here>> Be Counted and Not Scammed By The 2010 Census