

Beginning in March, Pinellas County residents will receive their 2010 Census forms in the mail.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office along with Pinellas County Justice and Consumer Services, the Census Bureau and
other local law enforcement agencies are united in their mission make the public aware that even the Census can be a
tool for criminals to engage in identity theft, fraud and burglary.
Census information is important because it is used in determining congressional and legislative districts as well as to
determining funding for schools, housing, roads and more.
The Census form is shorter this year than in 2000, and is comprised of only 10 questions. Residents are asked to fill out
the form and return it by U.S. Mail. If forms are not received by April 1, 2010, Census workers will begin visiting those
households that did not return their forms. These visits will occur from April through July.
Federal law mandates that individual responses remain confidential.
Census workers are not contacting anyone by e-mail or through the Internet. Do not respond to any census-related
inquiries online. All forms will be sent by the U.S. Postal Service.
The sheriff's office advises people to look twice at any e-mail or regular mail received using the word "Census" to
promote an unrelated event or fundraiser. The official federal census forms do not solicit donations for or promote any
organization or cause.
According to investigators with Pinellas County Justice and Consumer Services, “Legitimate census workers who are
conducting neighborhood visits after April 1 will carry an identification badge, a hand-held device, a Census Bureau
logo canvas bag and a confidentiality notice.” If someone claiming to be a census worker comes to your door, ask for
identification and do not allow that person inside. Official census workers are to remain outside to conduct their resident
contacts. They will not ask you to “use the bathroom” or “to make a phone call.”
Assigned census workers are knocking on doors to verify address information. They might ask for a salary range in the
household, but no other financial information will be sought. Be suspicious of any “census” worker who asks for your
credit card or banking information, your social security number or who solicits donations.
Official census workers may make contact by phone, and if you are concerned, you can confirm their identity and
affiliation with the Census Bureau by calling 1-800-432-1495.
Florida is part of the United States Census Bureau’s Atlanta Regional Census Center, along with Alabama and Georgia.
Two local census offices are in Pinellas County.