Today I emptied my Snail Mailbox, and I noticed a mailer from the US Census that looked legit and resisted the urge to tear into it and toss it into the recycle. I started to rip at it but decided to be a little more careful, and boy, was I glad I did.
As I removed the envelope’s contents, a $5.00 bill fell out. At first, I thought it was fake, but nope it was real. Automatically my mind defaulted to “this must be a scam.” So I decided to do a little research. The $5.00 was sent in exchange for filling out the information, but before I offer up any info, I need to be sure it is legit.
What did I do next?
I went directly to the Census Website to make sure, and I am happy to report that it is legit. So if you get one, do not do what I usually do: rip it in half, thinking it is just junk; you may rip a $5.00 bill in half. Not everyone selected for the survey has children.
The homes selected are entirely random. If you do not have children, do not give this survey to anyone else who does. You still fill it out regardless if you have children or not. Here is a link to the FAQ page included with all survey invitations. Check it out if you have any more questions. Frequently Asked Questions about the National Household Education Survey.
How to check to see if it is legit.
One main piece of info that you will need is the return address on the envelope. So if you tossed that in the recycle, calmly reach back to retrieve it to verify this info. If you did not do what I did, congratulations, you saved yourself from that last step I had to take. Now check the return address. If it looks like it does the picture above, it is legit, so go ahead and fill out the survey.
For more information, you can head to the us Census official website and check the legitimacy before you do the survey. Verify a Census Bureau Survey, Mailing, or Contact
