Census / Federal Survey Scam Phone Numbers
Numbers impersonating U.S. Census Bureau. Caller posing as the U.S. Census Bureau requests financial details or your Social Security number.
How the Census / Federal Survey Scam works
Real Census Bureau enumerators call about specific surveys but never ask for your full Social Security number, your bank account number, your credit card information, or political contributions. Scam calls in this category use the Census name to extract personal financial information from the recipient or to push fake "federal employment" offers that require a background-check fee.
Common pressure tactics
- Asks for full SSN
- Asks for bank info
- Fake federal job offers
- "Background check fee"
The script you'll usually hear
Most census / federal survey calls open with one of three hooks: a fake "officer" or "agent" introducing themselves with a badge number, a recorded voice claiming an account or status has been frozen, or an aggressive demand to "respond within the hour" to avoid a consequence. The script then escalates pressure quickly. Recipients who push back are typically transferred to a "supervisor" who continues the same pitch with a slightly more authoritative tone — there is rarely a real second person on the line; it's almost always the same call-center agent putting on a different voice.
If you receive one of these calls
- Hang up. Do not "press 1" or stay on the line — both confirm a working number.
- Report it to the agency the caller pretended to be. For U.S. Census Bureau, find the agency's official complaint channel and forward the time of call, the spoofed caller-ID number, and any voicemail recording you have.
- Block the number on your device. If the calls keep coming from new numbers, consider a call-blocking app or the call-screening features your phone or carrier already offers.