Warning: 2010 Census cautions from the Better Business Bureau: Be Cautious about giving information to census workers. 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?

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, 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. For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org.