Census Safety Tips Posted:  March 23, 2010

The 2010 Census has officially started. Every 10 years the Census Bureau is tasked with the responsibility to count the population of the United States.

Participation in the U.S. decennial census helps our community. In order to help keep you, your household, and your information safe, we have put together information and safety tips below. Should you have any questions regarding the Census, you should check the Census website, or contact the Boston Regional Census office, which serves all of Maine.

Boston Regional Census Center (2010 Census)

One Beacon St., 7th floor
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 223-3700
E-mail: Boston.PDSP@census.gov

http://2010.census.gov

Many people may be asking how they can be sure their information is safe and how they can identify an official census taker.

• Census forms and census takers will NOT ask for ANY unique personal information such as Social Security Numbers, driver's license numbers, bank account information, income information, or any other similar information.
  
  
• Census forms are NOT available by email or online in any form. The Census Bureau WILL NOT contact you by email. Do not respond to an email or online webpage claiming to be from the Census Bureau or attempting to solicit census information.
  
  
• Any request for information will be clearly marked as coming from the U.S. Census Bureau and as OFFICIAL BUSINESS of the United States.
  
  
• It is a FEDERAL crime for anyone to pretend to represent the Census Bureau (in person or on paper), and is punishable by fines, prison, or both.
  
  
• Census Bureau officials are prohibited by law, for life, from ever disclosing identifying information to anyone, including the IRS, CIA, FBI, or any other agency, and are required to take an oath of permanent confidentiality.

Each residence in the Town of Kennebunk should soon receive, if they have not already received, a Census survey in the mail. Most resident's interaction with the Census will be limited to the Census survey. However, a census taker may call or visit some residences in our community to assist in completing the survey and to finalize the census data for that residence location.

Census takers who come to your home will:

...never ask to come inside your home.

...show you their Census Bureau identification badge.

...tell you the name of the survey for which your participation is needed.

...provide a copy of the notification letter you received or should have received in the mail describing the survey.

If you have any doubts about the worker’s legitimacy, you may contact the Boston Regional Census Center, which serves all of Maine, at (617) 223-3700 to confirm if they are indeed employed by the Bureau prior to giving out information.