By impersonating interviewers, they try to obtain citizens’ valuable personal information by presenting themselves as people verifying census data. The police warn against such scam attempts and appeal to the public to report them.

How can you recognize a genuine GUS interviewer?

Every interviewer conducting surveys commissioned by GUS is required, at the respondent’s request, to provide their first name, surname and official ID number. Statistical surveys carried out by GUS cover various fields, including social, agricultural and price surveys, and the list of current projects is available on the office’s website under the “Statistical Surveys” tab.

What should you do when you receive a call from an interviewer?

Anyone who receives a call from someone claiming to be a GUS interviewer can verify the authenticity of the survey being conducted. To do so, you can:

  • Check on the GUS website whether the survey is currently being conducted,
  • Verify the interviewer’s identity using the application available under the “Check the interviewer’s identity” tab on the GUS website,
  • Call the statistical office directly or the Statistical Helpline (tel. 22 279 99 99, open Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.),
  • Arrange a different survey date or request that the interview be conducted in person at your own home,
  • Thanks to these steps, every respondent can make sure they are speaking with a genuine interviewer.

How should you report suspected attempts to obtain data fraudulently?

If you receive a suspicious phone call or SMS, it is worth reporting the incident to CSIRT NASK—the computer security incident response team operating under the auspices of the Research and Academic Computer Network (NASK). CSIRT NASK monitors and analyzes cybersecurity incidents, and a suspicious contact can be reported via the “Report an incident” website.

Let’s stay vigilant

Our personal data is a valuable resource increasingly targeted by scammers. Therefore, it is worth remaining vigilant and taking verification steps when someone tries to obtain information from us while claiming to represent an institution. If in doubt, do not hesitate to contact the police or use the available verification tools.