ALEXANDRIA, Va. —We frequently receive calls at UMA regarding the legitimacy of written requests for surveys from the U.S. Department of Commerce/U.S. Census Bureau. In an era of rampant fraud courtesy of the internet, it is very wise to exercise caution. The Department of Commerce provides some items you can use to verify if a solicitation is legitimate.
- Check to see if the Web address provided in the letter is a “census.gov” domain.
- Be sure that correspondence contains reporting instructions and a toll-free number for survey assistance.
- Look on the log-in screen. A warning message should be present stating the respondent is accessing a U.S. Government computer.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports they routinely measure the economy through its business surveys and censuses, and these are an important tool for policymakers. The Bureau conducts more than 60 monthly, quarterly, annual and periodic surveys and censuses throughout the year. While participation in some surveys is voluntary, many of the surveys mandate participation under federal law.
If your company is selected to participate in a survey or census, you will receive an invitation through mail, email or fax. The invitation will provide the instructions and credentials required to complete the survey. The U.S. Census Bureau assures your response is confidential.
