Protecting Your Personal Info: Questions Census Takers Should Never Ask
Census Scam Targets Indians: Be Cautious of Unsolicited Calls and Online Requests
As the 2026 Census approaches, reports are emerging of a surge in fake census verification calls and online requests targeting unsuspecting citizens.
Cyber fraudsters are impersonating census officials to extract sensitive personal and financial information, including Aadhaar numbers, PAN details, and banking credentials.
According to experts, these scams involve social engineering tactics, where trust is manipulated to gain access to private data.
Once a person falls into the trap, their information is harvested and used for financial fraud, often resulting in significant monetary losses.
Authorized census officials are only permitted to ask general, non-financial questions, such as demographic and social data.
They do not require or request bank account numbers, OTPs, passwords, or any financial credentials.
In contrast, the fake census officials are demanding sensitive information, including OTPs and banking details.
The 2026 Census is expected to be conducted digitally, with features like geo-tagging of residential units and online self-enumeration.
While this will improve accuracy and efficiency, it also opens up opportunities for cybercriminals.
Experts advise verifying the identity of any individual before sharing personal details, as genuine census officials carry official identification cards and authorization documents.
If you fall victim to a census scam, take immediate action.
Inform your bank to block transactions and secure your accounts.
Contact the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or dial 112 for emergency assistance.
Filing a complaint on the official cybercrime portal is also essential to ensure timely investigation and minimize losses.
Experts emphasize that awareness remains the strongest defense against cyber fraud.
As large-scale government initiatives like the Census unfold, stay vigilant and rely only on verified sources to avoid falling prey to cyber fraud.