strange census stuff.. is it a scam

[Cyphr]

background info: USA has just started getting the census going. I work at a security desk at my dorm dorm room.

So one of the people who live at my dorm just came to the desk asking about a piece of paper on her door claiming a representative of the census bureau wished to conduct a random interview with them. This was on a piece of (badly) cut paper using Microsoft Word's default settings. I think this is a scam. what do you guys think?

[Broomjockey]

Well, since the bureau would probably have notified the building they were doing such, and would probably use official letterhead, yeah, it's probably a scam. To seal it, call the census bureau, ask if they're doing it. They'll have records, I'm sure.

[strawbabies]

Is a dorm room ever actually anyone's legal address?

[Greenday]

When I lived in a dorm, if I ever had received anything like that, I would have ripped it up on the spot. It would obviously be fake as anything sent to me by the government would be sent to my home unless I stated otherwise which I didn't

[Broomjockey]

Is a dorm room ever actually anyone's legal address?

It was mine for 3 years. And in Canada, the Census bureau tends to leave things like that on the door/in the mailbox. So that alone isn't an automatic disqualifier. Even "badly cut" isn't. A lack of letterhead and no communication with the dorm management, however IS.

[AccountingDrone]

Census uses home of record, in general dorms are not a home of record, it tends to be the parents home.

Call the US Census office?

http://www.census.gov/

[Soulstealer]

The bureau tends to send official letters with official letterheads like the rest of the government departments. I've not heard of them being desperate enough to break into a dorm and attach it to a door. Someone's a scammer.

[draggar]

Is a dorm room ever actually anyone's legal address?

I think so.

When I went to UMaine we had the 1992 elections and they told us that we could use our dorm addresses to vote - even if we were from out of state.

Funny, I could have voted twice that year. I had my absentee ballot from NH and I could register in Maine and vote there, too.

[pitmonkey]

Worked for the Census 1990. We were to leave only official notices. If the building has an address then they will do a count, but will redirect the total to the home district (at school in nowhere but counted in home town). I would call the local office and let them Know about the notice so they can be on the lookout for this scam.

[Cyphr]

Thanks for the respnces everyone - I was pretty sure it was a scam and from you opinions its sound like i was probaly right.

[Geek King]

When I went to UMaine we had the 1992 elections and they told us that we could use our dorm addresses to vote - even if we were from out of state.

That would be illegal for U.S. federal elections, unless your dorm was listed as your primary residence. Voting twice on a federal issue is verboten in any case. Check local listings for state and local laws. Some states/locals allow part-time residents to vote.