Pop A Lock Atlanta:

Avoid Census Scams

Did you mail in your Census form by the April 16th deadline? If not, you can expect a Census Bureau employee to visit your home starting May 1st.

The information gathered by the Bureau's survey takers will be used to allocate federal funds for infrastructure and community projects and to determine Congressional seats, and you are required by law to cooperate with the Census Bureau. However, you should also know how to protect yourself from scams.

First, never invite a stranger, even a Census Bureau survey taker, into your home if you are home alone.

If a Census Bureau employee visits your home, check for a valid Census ID badge. Each Census Bureau survey taker is required to wear one, and you should feel free to ask for a driver's license or some other form of identification to verify the information on the badge.

The Census Bureau will never request your Social Security number or bank account information. If a survey taker does ask for this information, you should call your local police department or 1-866-226-2864 to report fraud.

Also, beware email scams. There is no online version of the 2010 Census, nor will the Bureau send emails about participating. If you suspect email fraud, do not click on the link; instead, forward it to itso.fraud.reporting@census.gov.

Tax Time: Prime Time for Identity Theft

With the April 15th tax deadline just around the corner, it's a fitting time to talk about identity theft, particularly as it applies to children under 18. What's the significance of April 15th as it applies to identity theft?

Because in order to claim a child as a deduction on taxes, parents must provide their child's social security number. If this information falls into the wrong hands, it could cause damage that can take literally years to repair.

According to the Javelin Strategy and Research Center,  10 million Americans fell victim to identity theft in 2008. That's up 22% from 2007. Children are a particularly attractive target for identity thieves. Because of their non-existent, and therefore clean, credit histories, the theft of their identities can go undiscovered for a long time.

How can you protect your child from identity theft?

Never, ever carry your child's social security number or card around with you. Keep it locked in a safe-deposit box. Use it only when necessary, such as when filing taxes, providing information for financial accounts, applying for a passport, or enrolling your child in school.

Also, be sure to check your child's social security earnings record each year. You can do this by requesting a Social Security Earnings Record, which will alert you if someone uses your child's social security number to get a job. Call 1-800-772-1212 to request a report, or contact one of the three credit bureaus to obtain a credit file on your child.

And if you find that someone is using your child's social security number fraudulently? File a report with your local police department and online at the Federal Trade Commission website.

Want to learn more ways to keep you and your family safe? Subscribe to this blog for weekly updates.