With millions of Australians set to share personal information as part of the upcoming Census, the Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) is urging consumers to stay alert to scams impersonating the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
This year, Census night will take place on Tuesday, 11 August 2026. Many households will have already received a paper letter with instructions to complete the form online, or through paper forms if preferred.
“If you’re contacted about the Census, take a moment to verify the email, phone call, text, or form before responding with your personal details. Scammers often take advantage of major events and impersonate government organisations to target unsuspecting Australians. A few extra seconds of caution can make all the difference,” advised COBA’s Head of Financial Crimes and Cyber Resilience Martin Latimer.
What is the Census?
Conducted every five years, the Census provides a snapshot of Australia’s population and housing by counting every person and household across the country. This data is used to inform policy on important issues including business, infrastructure, transport, schooling, and healthcare.
The Census form asks questions such as age, cultural background, work, country of birth, and education. Importantly, it does not ask for bank account or credit card details, tax file numbers, passwords, or identity documents such as passports or driver’s licences.
Australians will never be offered prizes, rewards or incentives for completing the Census. Any such offer should be treated as a potential scam.
Under the Census and Statistics Act 1905, completing the Census is compulsory.
What are signs of genuine Census communications?
A common tactic used by scammers is to impersonate reputable government agencies to create a false sense of legitimacy and trust.
If consumers are approached by anyone claiming to be from the ABS, remember that genuine staff must carry an ABS identification card while undertaking Census work. They also wear a bright yellow satchel.
Genuine Census letters will display the ABS logo in the top-left corner. Paper forms will include a Reply Paid envelope with the address: Reply Paid 93909, DANDENONG VIC 3175.
Census-related emails, including Census login details and security codes, will only be sent from official email addresses ending in @abs.gov.au. Generally, they will only be sent to people who have provided their details online and requested a response.
Similarly, the ABS will only send an SMS message if someone has requested Census login details or security codes. They will come from the sender ID ‘CENSUS’. Any messages from sender IDs that display ‘Unverified’ or other names is likely to be a scam.
Unsure if this is a Census-related scam?
If in doubt, consumers are urged not to click any unsolicited links regarding the Census or the ABS. Instead, visit the official ABS website in a new browser to contact them directly.
Consumers can report any suspicious emails, phone calls, or messages via Scamwatch or by contacting the ABS Support Line on 1300 100 557.
To help yourself and others stay scam-safe, keep in mind the simple, three-step “Stop. Check. Protect” method – take a moment before giving your money or personal information to anyone, make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real, and act quickly if something feels wrong.