HARDLY a week since the census began a laptop has been stolen and a life taken.
Helen Szemerei, CEO at Integri Sure, warns: do not become another statistic.
She says consumers should be cooperative but cautious so as not to become victims of fraud or identity theft.
There are more than 140,000 census workers knocking on doors to gather information about every person living at each address countrywide.
She says consumers are not obliged to allow census officials into their homes if they do not feel comfortable.
"The interview can be conducted at your gate," she says.
Szemerei says if a census worker comes to your door you must, before answering any questions, ask for their identification and badge to verify their authenticity.
If they do not have these items do not allow them into your home or answer any questions.
"Criminals have become increasingly clever in regard to how they gather information about potential targets, so it is critical that consumers remain on their guard during this period," she says.
She says while census workers might ask for financial information such as your salary range, consumers need not answer such questions.
"While it is important that consumers take due care when participating in the census, it must also be remembered that this is an important project to determine the current demographics of South Africa, which will give government far clearer indications of where we are going forward," Szemerei says.
A few important things to note:
- A Census worker will have a badge, a hand-held device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Make sure to ask for these before moving on with the interview.
- Never invite anyone you don't know into your home.
- Do not give out too much personal information. Do not give your identity number, credit card or banking information to anyone - even if they claim they need it for the census.
- The official 2011 Census website states that the questionnaire should take about 35 minutes to complete, and that once all the security checks have been completed, consumers should feel comfortable to let the worker into their home.
- Don't let the census worker into your home if you feel uncomfortable. Any interviews can be conducted through a security gate, or the questionnaire can be completed in one's own time and returned to the field worker by October 30 2011.
Census: Safety first as counting begins
HARDLY a week since the census began a laptop has been stolen and a life taken.
Helen Szemerei, CEO at Integri Sure, warns: do not become another statistic.
She says consumers should be cooperative but cautious so as not to become victims of fraud or identity theft.
There are more than 140,000 census workers knocking on doors to gather information about every person living at each address countrywide.
She says consumers are not obliged to allow census officials into their homes if they do not feel comfortable.
"The interview can be conducted at your gate," she says.
Szemerei says if a census worker comes to your door you must, before answering any questions, ask for their identification and badge to verify their authenticity.
If they do not have these items do not allow them into your home or answer any questions.
"Criminals have become increasingly clever in regard to how they gather information about potential targets, so it is critical that consumers remain on their guard during this period," she says.
She says while census workers might ask for financial information such as your salary range, consumers need not answer such questions.
"While it is important that consumers take due care when participating in the census, it must also be remembered that this is an important project to determine the current demographics of South Africa, which will give government far clearer indications of where we are going forward," Szemerei says.
A few important things to note:
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