Australian Bureau of Statistics Form in Letter Box

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Australian Bureau of Statistics Form in Letter Box

Whenarewethere · Guru

I just looked at the ABS website, they are running a survey, but there are always people running copies to get your ID.

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Hi,

Yes well, No prior News that this is on the way. We have been selected at random.

Grey

Tony Bev · Guru

I would not be giving any personal details, just in case it is a scam

Always better to be safe than sorry

The Government will already have your personal details

STRETCH ARMSTRONG · Senior Member

When in doubt look up their number yourself and ring them. Scamwatch website is also useful.

Santa · Guru

According to the ABS website its an ongoing thing, a monthly survey over eight months.

"How long will I be in the survey for?
You will be included in the survey once a month for eight months."

More information here. smile https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/home/Survey+Participant+Information+-+Australia%27s+Wellbeing+and+Lifestyle+Survey+-+FAQs

Jaahn · Guru

Hi smile

Quite some years back I was asked to do a similar survey. I forget the details exactly, but I did it when they sent the questionaires, on and off for quite a while. Then they zoomed in for more questions of less people and after a while I was dropped off and thanked for my participation. The sky did not fall in and nobody asked me for my bank accounts or the like. aww

Jaahn

Mobi Condo · Guru

Sorry to be gloomy here, but my experience is that any time the ABS contacts one for a survey one is bound by law to participate or face a fine/court appearance etc. I feel that because it is in hard copy (that is a letter) it is genuine, and of course that can be easily checked by a phone call. I did just that to a phone request about 8 years back and was told I had to co-operate or else.

Since then of course scam calls have made life difficult and I can only assume that Aust. Post Mail is the only safe way for them to go due to suspicion etc. on our behalf and who can blame us? after all I am old enough to be a GOM (Grumpy Old Man)

I get great joy from ascertaining an I.D. "assurity" if you like from any call from a Govt office these days, and sure enough when the letter to back up comes I then phone them back to continue the discussion.

Cheers - Ian

Whenarewethere · Guru

You could ask them to email you a copy so you can compare the one you received in the mail that it is legitimate. With all the scams going on I don't think that is unreasonable. We are constantly told to cross check things so our identity is not stolen.

Also write in a diary all correspondence with the ABS to cover your back side.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Over the years I have had hard copy invoices in the mail for services I have never had. Also some quite threatening physical letters to pay things. The things scammers try, nothing surprises me.

A further problem is if you ever fall for one scam, you will end up on a list as an easy target & then it will never stop.

Kebbin · Guru

Initially you are requested to fill in the survey, ABS do more then the Census. If the request to fill in the survey is ignored they will send a final letter, then
you are legally obliged to fill it in with penalties if you ignore it again.

Meredith · Senior Member

We have been doing the ABS Population Survey for several months now. We originally got a letter in the mail but it had our name on it as well as a number and details. I looked into it very carefully before logging into their website and completing it. If it doesn't have your name and you have any doubts about it look up the ABS phone number (not from the letter of course) and ring them and talk to somebody. You are legally obligated to fill in the real ABS surveys in the same way as you are the Census.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I couldn't do the last Census (besides other Census issues) as my computer's OS was too old. Still using the same computer with same OS as it does everything I need it to do.

Possum3 · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
I couldn't do the last Census (besides other Census issues) as my computer's OS was too old.

Download Microsoft Edge https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge Free.

Santa · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:
I couldn't do the last Census (besides other Census issues) as my computer's OS was too old.
Download Microsoft Edge https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge Free.

Microsoft Edge is the browser for Windows 10, not the operating system.

Whenarewethere · Guru

It needs OS 10.12 I'm running OS 10.6.8

PeterX · Senior Member

RE No name on letterhead

I rent a house to group of students.
They got such a letter .
It was genuine .
So just because it has no name on does not mean it is fake,

I would ring ABS up and verify it,
It should have a contact number on .

Whenarewethere · Guru

Don't ring the number on the letter. Find a phone number independently.