Courtesy of Florence Klein, Founder, SilverPlanet.com

We’ve had a lull since U.S. census takers took to the streets in spring 2009 to update the nation’s enormous address list. Warnings were issued at the time about not giving away personal information to just anyone who showed up at your door, because scammers had found a new cloak to hide behind. Indeed, law enforcement in several states reported instances of scammers posing as census officials and asking for donations and Social Security numbers. In some cases, the elderly were targeted.

The presence of census workers slowed in the summer, but another massive round of work by the Census Bureau is about to start up, bringing with it the potential for a visit by a census worker—or a scammer. Because that time is approaching, we thought it would be good to remind you of what’s still to come with the 2010 Census and what you want to be aware of to protect yourself from scammers.

Starting in mid-March 2010, census forms will be mailed or delivered to households across the country. April 1 is National Census Day, a good day to plan on completing and sending in the forms. You’re required by law to respond, and you can’t do it online.

The form has 10 questions asking for the number of people staying at your home; each person’s name, age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, date of birth, and household relationship; and if the home is owned or rented. You can see the list of questions at the 2010 Census site. You won’t be asked anything other than that. It doesn’t ask about the legal status of respondents, and you won’t be asked for your Social Security number.

If you return your form right away, no census taker will need to come to your home. If you don’t send it back, then sometime between April and July 2010, a census worker will knock on your door. That person is required to try three times to reach you, each time leaving a door hanger with a phone number you can call to schedule a visit.

If a census taker visits you, ask to see some ID. All workers carry official government badges marked with their name. They may also have a “U.S. Census Bureau” bag. If you’re still not certain about a census taker’s identity, call the bureau’s regional office closest to you (find the number by visiting the 2010 Census Regional Offices page) to confirm that the person is employed by the Census Bureau. The worker will never ask to enter your home; you can answer the questions at the door.

If you sent your form back and are still visited by a “census worker,” that person is likely scamming you. Also, if you get an email that purports to be part of the 2010 Census, it’s a scam, too, because the Census Bureau doesn’t use email to gather information. Some organizations targeting the elderly have been sending mail noting a “census” of their own. That’s a whole other subject, but just know it’s not related to the official U.S. 2010 Census.

The data gathered will be used to allocate more than $400 billion in federal funds for things like hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, public works projects, and emergency services. The information also helps determine the number of seats your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The population information will be delivered to the president in December 2010; in March 2011, the redistricting data will be given to the states.