From
February 3 until March, Census 2022 fieldworkers will be descending on suburbs
to collect population and housing data.
This is South Africa’s fourth
population count post-democracy and the country’s first digital census where at
least 165 000 fieldworkers will be deployed to count everyone within our
borders.
The
conducting of the census can open up opportunities for criminals, which is why
Fidelity ADT says residents must remain vigilant regardless of how they plan to
provide their information to Stats SA.
Charnel
Hattingh, Head of Marketing and Communications at Fidelity ADT, says one of the
most common ways criminals gain entry to properties is to pose as municipal or
other service providers.
“While
Census 2022 is a digital population count giving respondents the option to
complete the census questionnaire with or without the assistance of a
fieldworker, many people will experience a fieldworker arriving at their gate.
“Verification
is vital, as is the case with any other person claiming to be a service
provider or council worker,” she says.
This
year, the official website, statssa.gov.za, provides a list of fieldworkers by province so homeowners can easily verify
their identification online before allowing them in. Should you not find the
person on the website, there are further steps you can take to verify their
identification.
The census
process also opens up opportunities for telephone scammers who can use
technology to make you believe they are actually calling from Stats SA.
Hattingh
says there are a few red flags that give fraudsters away.
“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.”
Everyone
who lives on the property and staff who are there during the day need to be
aware of the census and, more importantly, reminded of the household security
protocols.
“If the
rule is you don’t open the gate for strangers no matter what their story is,
stick to this – at least until you are satisfied the person is a legitimate
census fieldworker,” says Hattingh.
“And if
you have registered and completed the questionnaire online then someone wanting
to redo the process at your gate should be a red flag.
“There is
always a risk associated with opening your gate to strangers and even more so
when you let them into your home.
“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.”
In
closing, Hattingh reminds residents of the importance of reporting criminal
incidents to the police and your local security company.
