Seniors & Families be on the Alert for Census Scams

Office on Aging warns seniors about census scammers

By KARI HELTON/The Valley Chronicle

Published: Friday, March 12, 2010 1:26 PM CST

The Riverside County Office on Aging this week warned seniors about scammers using the 2010 Census to commit fraud.


In a news release, the Office on Aging reported that scammers have posed as census workers to get personal information from seniors. Such scams have been reported nationwide, though none locally, the news release stated.


“Participating in the census is one of the most important contributions seniors can make for their communities,” Office on Aging Director Ed Walsh said in the news release. “However, we want to ensure that all residents participate safely.”




The Office on Aging and the Department of Public Social Services will hold workshops about the link between the census and the availability of local services. Information also will be given on how to detect census fraud.


A workshop will be held at 10 a.m. March 24 at the San Jacinto Community Center and at 1 p.m. March 29 at the Simpson Center in Hemet. Workshops are planned throughout the county; a schedule is available by calling (800) 476-7506 or visiting the Web site at  http://www.rcaging.org/.


The Web site also has information on detecting potential scammers. For instance, census takers will come to homes between April 12 and July only if residents have not returned their census forms, which will arrive in mailboxes in mid-March. Anyone coming before April 12 is likely not a census worker.


In addition, census takers will not ask for ID or Social Security information, ask to enter homes, require signatures, or ask for payments or donations.


To confirm the identity of a census worker, residents can call local census offices at 324-2030 or (760) 992-3118.


In addition, the U.S. Census Department will not make any contact by e-mail.


A representative may call, but only to clarify information on a form that has been submitted.


Residents who have not submitted census forms should hang up on anyone claiming to be with the Census Department.


All e-mails related to the census should not be opened, just deleted.