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(Nov 17, 2009)
Warning from the Better Business Bureau: 2010 Census
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. For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org
APGFCU encourages members to review all Visa and Debit card receipts, before signing, to avoid a potential "Cash Back" scam.
What is the "Cash Back" Scam? If you use a Visa or Debit card for your purchases, the cashier could add a "Cash Back" transaction to your receipt before they total your order. For example: At the register, your purchases total $48.00, but the cashier adds another $20 to the order as a "Cash Back" transaction, making your total $68.00. The cashier is hoping you will not notice the $20 addition before you sign the receipt and leave. The cashier then pockets the cash back amount, or passes it to a friend in line as change.
To protect yourself, always check your receipts at the point of purchase and check your accounts regularly for fraudulent activity. APGFCU’s FREE Online Banking & Bill Pay services allow you to check your accounts 24/7. Simply login to check your account for unexpected charges or unusual activity.
If you notice unusual activity on your account, please call our Member Service Center at 1-800-225-2555, press 4.
Credit Union National Association (CUNA) is aware of phone calls, text messages, and emails being made about:
Confirming Account or Credit Card Numbers
Account De-activation
Account Status Alert
Changes to Terms and Conditions
Irregular Activity
Other Versions include messages supposedly sent from NCUA. The e-mails and text messages ask that the customer call a number in order to have their account reactivated. Some may request that you leave callback information or provide your financial information directly. All of these messages are fraudulent. Please do not respond to these messages.
The Credit Union National Association is the trade association for credit unions in the US. CUNA does not maintain any type of customer/member financial information.
Additionally, your financial institution would never solicit your personal identification information via email or telephone. If you did respond to such a solicitation, you should contact your financial institution directly using the local phone number provided by your financial institution. Learn More about Phishing Scams
It has come to our attention that Heartland Payment Systems, a provider of card processing for merchants, has had a breach of their credit and debit card information systems. This breach took place in 2008.
According to a press release issued by Heartland Payment Systems “No cardholder Social Security numbers, unencrypted personal identification numbers (PIN), addresses or telephone numbers were involved in the breach.”
Please know that these types of security breaches sometimes occur through no fault or involvement of APGFCU. We are monitoring this situation very closely and strongly encourage you to check your accounts for fraudulent activity. APGFCU’s FREE Online Banking & Bill Pay services allow you to check your accounts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please log on to examine your account for unexpected charges or unusual activity. If you don’t have Online Banking, sign up today. It’s quick, easy, and FREE. Just click “Enroll Now” on the APGFCU.com homepage.
While reviewing your account, if you notice something suspicious, please call our Member Service Center at 1-800-225-2555 and press 4. Representatives are available Monday through Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturdays 9am to 1:00pm EST to assist you. Please be aware that you are protected from unauthorized activity on your credit card account by Visa’s Zero Liability Fraud Protection Policy.
APGFCU is committed to protecting each and every member’s personal and financial information. We are taking every precaution necessary to protect you and your account. For more information on this breach please visit www.2008breach.com.
