IVJAliNOLIA
CLIPPING SERVICE
(601) 856·0911 I (205) 758.8610
HA TTIESBURG AMERICAN
HATTIESBURG MS
Circulation = 26509
DAILY
10/16/2009
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BILLMOAK
1'+ BBB
cautions
mail - only by phone, by
about
census scams
Online coupons
VER THE NEXT 18
O
months, 1.4 million
U.S. Census workers
will be surveying the popula­
tion of the country to gather
demographic information
about everyone living here.
As the 2010 census process
begins, the BetterBysiness
Bureau serving 1V!ississippi
aci-V'ises-citizens to cooperate
carefully in order to avoid
becoming a victim of cen­
sus-related scams.
citizens are required by law
to respond to the U.S. Cen­
sus Bureau's requests for in­
formation. Census data will
be used in allocation of more
than $300 billion in federal
funds ·as well as in determin- I
ing the number of Congres­
sional representatives that
each state is allowed.
Most people are cautious
about giving out personal
information to unsolicited
phone callers or visitors, but
the Census is an exception
to the rule. Scammers know
that the public is more will­
ing to share personal data
when participating in the
Census, so they take advan­
tage of this opportunity by
posing as government work­
ers to get access to personal
financial information. The
BBB offers the following ad­
vice to help distinguish be­
tween bona fide Census
workers and con artists:
• U.S . Census workers
will have identification, a
handheld device and a con­
fidentiality notice. Caution:
never invite strangers into
your home.
• U.s. Census workers
will not ask for your Social
Security number or any in­
formation about bank or
credit card accounts .
• U.s . Census workers
will not ask you for money
or say that you owe money.
• U.S. Census workers will
not harass or intimidate you.
• U.S. Census workers
will not contact you bye­
mail or in person.
For more information re­
garding the 2010 Census,
visit www.census.gov.
The BBB has issued some
tips for people who want to
use online coupons safely.
Top 5 online coupon tips
• Don't divulge personal
information. You shouldn't
need to provide any personal .
or banking information to
access sites publishing on­
line coupons. Only the store
you are buying from needs
this information, so be sus­
picious of any other site ask­
ing for such details .
• AVOid pop-up coupon
1
ads. You should be getting
your online coupons direct!
from retailers and leglhmat
coupon code site.
• Assume that e-mail '
coupons might be fake. un-j
less you subscribe to a le~ti
mate store or coupon site s
e-mail newsletter, you
should avoid coupons (or
claims of such) coming to
you via e-mail.
• Understand where the
coupon is coming from. Is i
being offered by a store or b
a third party? If by a third
party, do you need to buy
anything else or sign up for
membership to use the on­
line coupon? If so, be wary.
The long term cost could bl
higher than the present
value of the coupon.
• Make sure that you re,
the fine print. As with all
other transactions , you
should make sure that you
understand the terms and
conditions before using an
online coupons.
Bill Maak is president of Be
ter Business Bureau of Mis!
sippi .