I recently saw an email (after the jump) which purported to originate from the national Better Business. The content was a warning about protecting individual confidential information. It outlines what the Census will be asking and, more importantly, that it will not be asking for social security and other information that might lead to identity theft.
What struck me was it mentioning that ACORN was not involved with the Census and to not reveal information to ACORN.
It seemed strange that the BBB would go out of its way to comment on ACORN.
It then struck me odd for the BBB to state that you only needed to tell the Census basic information like name, address, etc. While this may be true, it was something I had heard from wing-nut sources who are paranoid about government.
I traced back to the original BBB article. The original BBB article appears to be from http://www.bbb.org/... back in May 2009. A search for "2010 Census" on the BBB site turns up a few shorter blurbs but nothing about ACORN. The BBB article has no by-line and no reference to Susan Johnson who is the alleged author of the article.
This page (http://mysccblog.com/2009/08/08/2010-census-cautions/) is a copy of an article by Johnson but with no reference to ACORN. Media Matters also has this non-ACORN version. Neither of these version warn so strongly that you only need to provide basic information.
It appears that the wing-nuts are taking the original Johnson article, modifying it to add some hysteria about ACORN and personal information, and distributing it via emails.
Not a great surprise they would do this given all the other misinformation they have distributed.
Here is the email I saw:
> 2010 Census to Begin
>
> THIS IS PRETTY BASIC ADVICE; BUT, IN TODAY'S TIMES, I CAN SEE IT COULD
> LEAVE AN OPEN DOOR OR PASSING OUT YOUR PRIVATE INFORMATION.
>
> 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.
>
> For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit
> www.bbb.org
>
> PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.