A Very Clever Scam

[Pressman]

This was in today's email. Having not heard anything from the media I looked closer at this. The email addy seems legitimate, but reading further into the message I found several phrases that indicate it's a scam likely from Africa.
If anyone get this, please don't respond. You have too much to loose.
Ken



A Message from the U.S. Census Bureau U.S. Census Bureau <covid.survey@census.gov>
(Para más información en español, vea al final de este mensaje)

The Census Bureau is asking for you to participate in a special COVID-19 survey, called the Household Pulse Survey. Your response to this survey is critical to supporting our nation’s recovery.

Take the survey

This survey is separate from the 2020 Census. Americans are facing significant changes in their finances, employment, health, education, and interactions with friends and family from the COVID-19 pandemic. Your answers, combined with other households across the country, can guide federal, state and local policymakers in making decisions that support our nation’s communities in their recovery.

While your participation is voluntary, it is important. This survey provides information that cannot be found elsewhere.

Thank you in advance for your time and participation. My sincere wishes for your good health and safety during this challenging time.

OMB Number
This collection has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The eight-digit OMB approval number is 0607-1013 and will appear at the bottom of each screen. Without this approval, we could not conduct this survey.

Authority and Confidentiality
Title 13, United States Code, authorizes the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct this collection and to request your voluntary assistance.
**************
Mensaje de la Oficina del Censo de los EE. UU

La Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos le invita a participar en una encuesta especial del coronavirus, la Encuesta del Pulso de los Hogares. Esta encuesta se está llevando a cabo solo en los próximos cinco días. Es distinta al Censo del 2020.

Tomar la encuesta

Los residentes de este país están enfrentando cambios significativos en sus vidas como resultado del coronavirus (COVID-19). Muchos hogares han visto cambios en sus finanzas y empleo, en mantenerse saludable, en su educación y en socializar con amigos y familiares.

Sus respuestas, combinadas con las de otros hogares de todo el país, pueden guiar a los legisladores federales, estatales y locales a tomar decisiones que apoyen a las comunidades del país en su recuperación. Aunque su participación es voluntaria, es muy importante. Esta encuesta provee información que no se puede recopilar en ninguna otra parte.

La Encuesta del Pulso de los Hogares está disponible aquí.
Tomar la encuesta

Gracias de antemano por su tiempo y por su participación. Mis más sinceros deseos de que goce de buena salud y seguridad durante estos tiempos de desafíos.

Número de la OMB
Esta recopilación ha sido aprobada por la Oficina de Administración y Presupuesto (OMB). El número de ocho cifras de aprobación de la OMB es 0607-1013 y aparecerá al final de cada pantalla. Sin este número de aprobación, no podríamos llevar a cabo esta encuesta.

Autoridad y confidencialidad
El Título 13 del Código de los Estados Unidos autoriza a la Oficina del Censo a llevar a cabo esta recopilación y a pedirle su ayuda voluntaria.
**************
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[turtlezx]

you saying i shouldnt have given my bank acc #

[john.k]

Yes ,I see ...."My sincere wishes for your good heath and safety".......no public servant ever said that ,as they dont care if I live or die.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I always view the actual link before clicking, if it's suspicious or incorrect in anyway, I don't click.

[imashooter2]

What is the point of the email? I don’t see a blatant request for money. Email address harvesting? Perhaps ransom ware?

[imashooter2]

Turns out the scam is so clever, it’s legit.

https://www.census.gov/programs-surv...se-survey.html

[abunaitoo]

Anyone who would fall for this is an idiot.
That being said I'm sure many people have.
It's just a sign of the times.

[bakerjw]

What were the links? I see no wording that would lead me to believe that it is a scam.
Did the e-mail call you out by name?

[bedbugbilly]

Legit or not - I personally would never give any info to the govt. They already knpw and collect way too much about American Citizens and taxpayers. If it legit - maybe Biden and his Socialists will collect and compile it and handle it in the same skilled manner that they are exhibiting with the withdrawal from Afghanistan. That's what they make a delete button for - and if I get one from a govt. agency "inviting" me to participate in some survey - that we taxpayers are footing the bill for - I hit the delete button TWICE . . . then go and make sure I wash my hands well.

[alfadan]

If the government sent it, it is a scam; a legal scam.

[MT Gianni]

Did you do the census on line or give your email to them?

[FISH4BUGS]

If the government asks for information over the Internet, it gets deleted immediately. I don't care if it is a scam or not.

[gwpercle]

Yes ,I see ...."My sincere wishes for your good heath and safety".......no public servant ever said that ,as they dont care if I live or die.

Ain't That The Truth !
They can arrange to get your vote even after you die so they no longer need you to vote for them .

[Pressman]

What were the links? I see no wording that would lead me to believe that it is a scam.
Did the e-mail call you out by name?

Thank you in advance for your time and participation. My sincere wishes for your good health and safety during this challenging time.

OMB Number
This collection has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The eight-digit OMB approval number is 0607-1013 and will appear at the bottom of each screen. Without this approval, we could not conduct this survey.

It's this wording that makes it look like the writer has English as a second language. It certainly is not US Gov. speak.
Maybe it is legit, I still do not trust it, and sadly neither can I trust my government.

[Burnt Fingers]

See post #6.

[Pressman]

I got a text message from them this afternoon asking that I please complete their survey.

Nope.

[MT Gianni]

If it were me, I would complete it in the manner that would tic them off the most.

[high standard 40]

I got a text message from them this afternoon asking that I please complete their survey.

Nope.

I go that one as well. Deleted it. I have been getting a swarm of scam emails lately. Most claiming my McAfee antivirus software has expired. I haven't used McAfee in over 15 years. I block these as soon as I get them, so far over 60 from different email addresses in the last 2 weeks.

[Geezer in NH]

if the government asks for information over the internet, it gets deleted immediately. I don't care if it is a scam or not.

winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nicholst55]

Surveys are not your friend, no matter who is conducting them. They are used to gather information to conduct social engineering, in addition to being used for scams. We are regularly warned not to participate in surveys during our government information awareness training, and then the .gov routinely conducts surveys. Go figure. I delete them all.