As the 2010 U.S. Census begins in March, you should be on the alert for potential scams. Con artists could use the event to acquire personal information that can lead to identity theft.
Most Census forms will arrive in the mail March 15 to 17. Census workers will then go door-to-door from the end of April to July to households that didn't return the questionnaire.
 One thing to watch for is a form or person asking for a Social Security number and financial information, such as bank account numbers. Another red flag: Email. The Census Bureau will not contact you by email. And the form can't be completed online.
Census takers will carry an ID badge with an expiration date and a Department of Commerce watermark. You can also request contact information for a supervisor or the local Census office for verification. Census takers are trained to do business outside the door, so be wary of people trying to enter your home, as well as anyone soliciting donations.
To report a scam, contact your regional Census center, the Better Business Bureau and/or local law enforcement if necessary. You can report fraudulent emails to ITSO.Fraud.Reporting@census.gov and fraudulent mail to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (postalinspectors.uspis.gov).
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