I had an unusual experience today with Carol Streza (512-843-7878) in Georgetown, Texas. She presented herself to be a Professional Representative from the Department of Commerce. She left two notices on my door indicating that I should contact her immediately, using what appeared to be Official Census documentation.
I contacted her around 5pm on Thursday, May 13, 2010. She answered her phone with a “hello” leaving room for speculation on the professionalism of the call/business. I could hear her shuffling through some papers as she stumbled over some words to ask me personal questions. I said that I didn’t feel comfortable providing her information about my family over the phone given all the concerns with identity theft. According to Title 13, U.S. Code Sections 9 and 214, I am protected and therefore my answers are confidential. I told her that I would be happy to go to the official office in Georgetown or Austin and deliver the information directly. I requested their business address, but she did not know the office address.
I asked for her supervisor’s name and phone number. It took her several minutes while I waited “on hold” listening to her shuffle through more papers. Eventually, she located the name and number of Andrew Brock at 806-252-6960. I asked her where the area code of 806 was located. She did not know. I asked her from where her Crew Leader came. She did not know.
After looking the 806 area code up(I did not call it), I discovered there are many scams associated with that area code. I suspect that the 512 number being used to receive the incoming calls is probably a pay by the minute phone because I was unable to find that number listed on the internet.
I had an unusual experience today with Carol Streza (512-843-7878) in Georgetown, Texas. She presented herself to be a Professional Representative from the Department of Commerce. She left two notices on my door indicating that I should contact her immediately, using what appeared to be Official Census documentation.
I contacted her around 5pm on Thursday, May 13, 2010. She answered her phone with a “hello” leaving room for speculation on the professionalism of the call/business. I could hear her shuffling through some papers as she stumbled over some words to ask me personal questions. I said that I didn’t feel comfortable providing her information about my family over the phone given all the concerns with identity theft. According to Title 13, U.S. Code Sections 9 and 214, I am protected and therefore my answers are confidential. I told her that I would be happy to go to the official office in Georgetown or Austin and deliver the information directly. I requested their business address, but she did not know the office address.
I asked for her supervisor’s name and phone number. It took her several minutes while I waited “on hold” listening to her shuffle through more papers. Eventually, she located the name and number of Andrew Brock at 806-252-6960. I asked her where the area code of 806 was located. She did not know. I asked her from where her Crew Leader came. She did not know.
After looking the 806 area code up(I did not call it), I discovered there are many scams associated with that area code. I suspect that the 512 number being used to receive the incoming calls is probably a pay by the minute phone because I was unable to find that number listed on the internet.
This number is legitimate, and belongs to a Crew Leader working for the Census, and his name indeed is Andrew Brock. He is a US Marine from Lubbock, which is the 806 area code where he bought his cell.
Tons of people pick up the phone and say "hello" LOL... remember that Census workers are mostly temporary folks, and they work out of their home in between knocking on doors. There is nothing suspicious about this. If she stumbled over words, she's probably just new at it and if she was shuffling through papers, it's because she has stacks of questionnaires for each household and she was simply trying to find the one for your address so she could match the caller to the paperwork.
That she was willing to give you a supervisor number is a clear hint she is not a "scammer" -- when's the last time a confidence-man gave you the number of their boss?? If you didn't call the number to verify, you're just kinda perpetuating unfounded paranoia. The Georgetown Census office is at 3010 Williams Drive and they work in suite 141 between the Goodwill & the dry cleaners. Their number is 512-942-6210 and they will be happy to verify the name of Andrew Brock or anyone who works for him.