Census survey scams: how to tell a real census taker from a fake
Quick answer
Scammers pose as census takers to get your personal information. The Census Bureau never asks for your full Social Security number, bank or credit card numbers, or money or donations. Check the photo ID, and if unsure, verify with the Bureau using details you look up yourself.
- Comes by
- In person, Phone call, Email, Text, Mail
- Pretends to be
- U.S. Census Bureau
- First reported
- Latest official alert
- (FTC)
- Last updated
How it works
The FTC and the Census Bureau warned in 2020 that scammers may pretend to be census takers to collect personal information and then use it for identity theft and other fraud.
The real process gives you things to check. A census taker visiting your home must show a photo ID with the U.S. Department of Commerce seal and an expiration date, and will give you a supervisor's contact information if you ask. Real calls come from Census Bureau contact centers or field representatives, and caller ID can't be trusted.
A scammer may knock, call, email or text, claim to need a "survey", and ask for more than the Bureau does.
Red flags
- A request for your full Social Security number
- A request for bank account or credit card numbers
- A request for money or donations
- Anything asked on behalf of a political party
- A visitor without a photo ID showing the Commerce seal and an expiration date
- A caller who relies on caller ID to prove who they are
Example message
This is the Census Bureau. To complete your household survey we need to confirm your Social Security number and bank details. Reply or call [phone number] today.
What to do
- 1
Don't give out the details they ask for
Real census questions don't include your full Social Security number, bank or credit card numbers or any payment. Stop the conversation.
- 2
Verify who they are
Ask a visitor for a photo ID with the Department of Commerce seal and an expiration date, and ask for a supervisor's contact details. For calls, look up the Census Bureau's contact information yourself on census.gov.
- 3
If you already shared details
Go to IdentityTheft.gov for steps matched to what you shared, and read our guide on what to do after a data breach. Consider a credit freeze.
- 4
Report it
Report suspected census fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
A scammer posing as the census already knows your address, and often your name and phone number. Those come from data brokers, people-search sites and public records. The details make a fake survey feel official.
Serus finds where your address and phone number are listed and removes them where it can, so fewer scammers can build a convincing pretext.
Official alerts
More U.S. Census Bureau scams
Frequently asked
What will the Census Bureau never ask for?
According to the FTC, your full Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers, money or donations, or anything on behalf of a political party.
How do I know a census taker is real?
They must show a photo ID with the U.S. Department of Commerce seal and an expiration date, and will give you a supervisor's contact details if you ask.
Can the Census Bureau call or email me?
Yes, as part of follow-up and quality control. Caller ID can't be trusted, so check the number against the Bureau's own site.
Who do I report it to?
The FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
