US Census Bureau warns of email scams

2009-09-29

The US Census Bureau has warned people that it will not send out emails asking for personal information such as passwords and social security numbers, which may concern those looking to avoid a data breach.

Spokesman Neil Tillman from the organisation wrote an email to CNN revealing that the body has seen email scams and phishing attacks citing the US Census Bureau.

Ravi Sandhu, a professor of cyber security at the University of Texas at San Antonio, also spoke to the news provider, saying that attackers have data on millions of consumers.

"It's a bit like a lottery. To have identity theft actually occur against you, you need to have a little bad luck. There is some comfort in numbers," Mr Sandhu added.

The US Census Bureau looks to serve as the leading source of quality data about US people and its economy

It collects population and housing data every ten years and carries out its American Community Survey every year.

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