Citizens are urged to be vigilant and stay safe during the nationwide census currently under way.
This is because the conducting of data collection can create an opportunity for criminal activity.
The census began on 3 February and will be carried out until March.
Fieldworkers totalling 165 000 will be visiting suburbs and communities across the country, as Census 2022 implements door-to-door and digital data collection methods.
Fidelity ADT says residents must be watchful and attentive at all times, and ensure they provide their personal information to only Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the official undertakers of the census.
The official website, wwww.statssa.gov.za, contains a list of fieldworkers per province to which homeowners can refer for fieldworkers’ identification verification.
Fidelity ADT head of marketing and communications Charnel Hattingh said it is common for criminals to pose as municipal workers or other service providers.
‘Verification is vital, as is the case with any person claiming to be a service provider or council worker, ‘said Hattignh.
‘If verification on the website fails, residents are urged to explore other means to verify fieldworkers.’
Hattignh says there are a few giveaways that residents can be mindful of when coming across a criminal posing as a census fieldworker.
‘The most suspicious behaviour a fake census worker can exhibit is asking intrusive and inappropriate questions. Avoid revealing personal information to a scam artist by knowing what questions census workers are allowed to ask – in person or over the phone,’ she says.
This year the census conducted a self-enabled questionnaire that residents had to complete by 5 February.
The digital collection of data will only require the residents to verify their participation, not go through the process with the fieldworker manually.
‘And if you have registered, and completed the questionnaire online, someone wanting to redo the process at your gate should be a red flag,’ she said.
‘Personal and home security must be kept top of mind at all times, and even more so during times you are urged to open your home to strangers for the purposes of the census’, she adds.
Residents are reminded to always report criminal activities to law enforcement officials.
