Beware Of Bogus Census Collectors

11 April 2011, 14:25 | Updated: 11 April 2011, 14:31

Bogus doorstep callers have been posing as census collectors to try to get into people's homes – and householders are being warned to be on their guard for fraudsters.

The Census 2011 deadline was Wednesday 6th April but people can still complete the questionnaire online at www.census.gov.uk. 

Census collectors will be visiting a small number of households for those that haven’t managed to fill in and return their forms but they will provide identification. They will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the census, give out new forms or even help you fill it in. They will not however, demand a fine from people that have not completed their forms as the issuing of fines is the absolute last resort and is dealt with through the courts.

All census staff will carry an ID card with a photo, logo and hologram, which they should automatically show to you. They may ask for the names and number of residents but they will not ask for specific details such as credit card or bank / building society details.

Bedford Borough Council’s Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, John Molyneux said: “Trading Standards are asking people to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious callers in their area in light of the bogus census collectors elsewhere in the country. Fraudsters will try anything to con people out of their hard earned money and posing as census collectors is a good guise for them.”

If you have any reason to suspect a caller is not genuine, please call Bedfordshire Police on 01234 841212