Census Safety Information

This is the text from an email I got from a trusted source. This director of the Infant and Toddler program for Virginia in this region. It is about safety and avoiding census scams. I figured I would cut and paste it here so it gets on my Facebook page.

Here it is...

2010 Census to Begin

WARNING: 2010 Census Cautions from the Better Business Bureau

Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers

By Susan Johnson




With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist?

BBB offers the following advice:

** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information.


Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, 
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau. AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.. No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the 
Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau. Here's their web site: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/

Additional security related information to keep in mind:

• Any request for census information from the Census Bureau will be clearly marked as coming from the U.S. Census Bureau and as OFFICIAL BUSINESS of the United States

• It is a federal offense for anyone to pretend they represent the Census Bureau, or any other office of the United States Government

• When the 2010 Census takes place, you will receive a letter from the Census Bureau Director, notifying you that, in a few days, your household will receive a form in the mail, or a phone call from the Census Bureau, or a visit from a Census Bureau representative

Identifying the Census Taker

• All census takers carry official government badges marked with just their name

• You may also ask them for a picture ID from another source to confirm their identity

• Some census workers might carry a "U.S. Census Bureau" bag

If you still are not certain about their identity, please call the Regional Census Center toll-free number to confirm they're employed by the Census Bureau.

Most importantly, the Census Bureau will NEVER, under any circumstances, ask to enter your home.

25 Things

I was tagged three times on Facebook! Here is my 25 Things list:

1. My 16 month old son was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, had open heart surgery at 4 months old, and now has a pacemaker. Luckily, it looks like he doesn't need his pacemaker anymore! We find out more in June. I am madly in love with my baby.

2. I swam on a relay across the Catalina Channel with teammates from Pomona College. We got a world record for the fastest womens team to cross. Our record is still on the website Catalina Channel Swimming Federation.

3. I was co-captain of my college swim team Junior and Senior year and waterpolo my Senior year.

4. I watch incredibly too much television. I have MSNBC on constantly and in the evenings we have a few shows we watch regularly. BSG, The Office, Burn Notice, Heros, 24, LOST, plus occasional other shows.

5. I found out that I love to cook after I graduated from college. I got a subscription to Bon Apetit and kept it going for 10 years. A few months ago I freecycled the whole collection to a woman who was thrilled to get them. I find that I use the internet for recipes rather than going back to old magazines.

6. I lived in NYC for 2 years working as an assistant coach at Columbia University and working a variety of Physical Therapy Aide jobs all over Manhatten. I think everyone should live in NYC for a couple of years in their 20's. The experience formed who I am today.

7. I gained over 60 pounds since college. No, it isn't all baby weight.

8. I have had clinical depression probably since I was about 12 years old. I didn't get true treatment until after graduate school. I sought treatment in college, but they sent me to a student who said, "Exercise helps depression." Those of you who swam with me will understand how that was not going to help as I already exercised an insane amount. If I ever become a millionaire, my Pomona College donation will be earmarked for a decent mental health clinic.
I have been on most of the medications on the market, and am still trying to find the best mix. I am currently seeking information on the hormonal aspects of depression and PMDD to find a safer way to control depression during pregnancy.

9. I desperately want to get pregnant again. My doctors want me to wait until the depression is better controlled. I want to be totally off of medication for my next pregnancy. My goals and their goals don't match.

10. I married the most incredible man. He is handsome, a genius, understanding, affectionate. He puts up with my crazy days. He keeps the house clean- that's the Navy in him. He is an incredible father to our son. Henry 5 absolutely adores him. A civilian worker thought he was out of earshot when she commented that he makes the new uniform look good. She was right.

11. I got married in front of the Beluga Whales at the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT.

12. I hated living in Hawaii. (But that might be the depression talking. I am willing to try it again.)

13. I would love to live in Japan. But if we move there, I would spend all of our money on fabric.

14. I love being a Navy wife. I am so proud of my husband and how hard he works.

15. When I was 12 I thought I wanted to be a physical therapist. Now I am. I prefer working with Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke and Spinal Cord Injury patients in Acute Care hospitals.

16. I am currently a stay at home mom. We thought I would return to work reasonably soon after giving birth, until we found out about Henry's ToF. Then I thought I would go back to work a couple months after his surgery. The delay is my need to catch up on CEUs.

17. I love to sew. I graduated from Pomona with a degree in Neuroscience and for graduation my mom gave me a sewing machine. I still have the same one and use it to make things for the baby and friends.

18. I have done several triathlons and want to get back into it for the approaching season. I did a half Ironman about 4 years ago. I didn't train adequately. I was the first out of the water in my age group. I was second to last in the entire field to finish. It was horribly grueling. The bike portion was so painful that I hoped I would get hit by a car so that I could stop racing without shame. I also had to pee really bad- so bad that I tried to pee my bike shorts while riding my bike- I knew if I got off I wouldn't be able to get back on. It didn't work- I found a port-a-jon by a nuclear power plant. After several years to get over the trauma, I have the urge to train properly and do another one. My husband says he never wants me to do another one because it was so painful to watch.

19. I joined a work out group at the YMCA.

20. I get so mad when smokers throw their butts out the car window that I sometimes give them the finger.

21. I drive too fast.

22. I want to go into my parent's basement and freecycle most of it.

23. I love having computers and electronics, but get really irritated when they are too slow or break.

24. I have travelled in Asia to Viet Nam (to visit Amanda), Korea and the DMZ, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the Pacific Islands Guam and Saipan. If we have to move to Guam I am starting a dog farm to take care of all the strays. I Viet Nam I was attacked in the Binh Thanh market by a 100 year old pint sized little lady because she wanted me to buy a diet coke from her. A few days later I realized what she wanted was the $50 she stole from me. The best pastry I have ever eaten was in Viet Nam. In Thailand I ate a cricket. I have never been to Europe.

25. I can't get over how much I love my baby. He is the light of my life.

#080/101: Facebook

Well, I joined Facebook. I have gotten invites in the past, but it was old high school pal Christy who convinced me.

Christy, Nikki and I were lab partners in AP bio. Ronald Ann is our rat from "The Ronald Ann Files: A Composition about Decomposition."

I can't believe I didn't join Facebook sooner. Within a few clicks, I met Goal #080: Get in touch with 4 old friends.....

....actually, I kicked that goal's butt.