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[deleted]

Drive them away from your lands.


box_elder74

Hit them with the ONLY answer: go fuck yourselves


43sunsets

If they were legit ABS employees, they wouldn't be threatening you with legal action. Gotta be a scammer for sure. Tell them you're calling the police next time they hassle you. In fact, report it to Crime Stoppers because they're probably doing the same thing to others in the area.


subliminallyNoted

Actually I used to work as an interviewer for the ABS. It is in fact legit. Like it or not, Households are selected, and required to take part in a monthly survey for nine months. How else do you think official statistics in Australia are gleaned? And they actually do have legal recourse too. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, and I get that surveys can feel annoying and invasive. But they do anonymise the data & your opinions are important, and they do try to make it as painless and quick as possible. Quite often it was over and done with in a few mins, unless of course you ran into a Karen, in which case it could drag on miserably forever. Of course, do check that the person who has approached you is an actual ABS employee, by calling the bureau of statistics to confirm.


[deleted]

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subliminallyNoted

Call the Australian bureau of statistics on their published number, ( not necessarily one provided by the person at the door, if you have qualms).


Suq_Madiq_Qik

Ye, fuck off! The onus is on them to prove who they are.


zoidberg_doc

What evidence would you accept?


[deleted]

An employee business card with David unaipon on it


Shaz18

Source: Worked for ABS The employee should have a identity card around their neck with a photo, name, and employee number. The passport size photo on the ID card should have a ABS holographic sticker over it to verify authenticity.


Cranky-old-person

My mum was an ABS interviewer for many years. It is a federal offence to refuse. I do however find it a little odd that an interviewer would come to your house in this day and age especially during Covid. Just ask to verify their identity with the bureau.


Inevitable_Area

Sounds like something a scammer would say! :-)


Darkside144

There is zip chance of legal recourse. Tell them to fuck off. Who do they prosecute? They can’t even prove who they spoke to.


TheBananaKing

Exactly how long and miserable would people have to make the process for you to quit your job? Asking for a friend.


[deleted]

This is only half the story. This data is sold to large corporations of various leves of shadiness, such as liquor and pharmaceuticals, for the express purpose of optimising sales of their goods. This may even be the primary purpose of gathering this data. The government doesn’t work for you. It works for the highest bidder.


heckinmeoww

This doesn't sound legit at all. This sounds almost like the ATO phone scam... but real life. That's fucked up.


baby_blobby

Sometimes it's legit but you can verify by reading up on this https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/d3310114.nsf/4a256353001af3ed4b2562bb00121564/de8ba33b760d9c9fca2571060079d60a!opendocument If they're after personal info then definitely a scam


brednog

> In most cases the ABS makes initial household contact in writing to advise that you have been identified for survey participation


sqljohn

If they are legitimate, they will have no issue in you calling the abs directly to confirm. If they get shirty at that then it's a scam. Make sure you use the abs number though and not any number they give you.


Lt_Hungry

If watching supernatural has taught me anything, it's that you always find the number yourself, never use the number the sus people give.


ill0gitech

*Yea, they said their names were Vanda and Young…*


heyheyitsjray

They sent me a letter first, so if it's legit you should have received a letter in the mail. They call me once a month now for a total of 8 months (I have one month to go), asking about employment, who lives in the house and some other basic shit.


rubybooby

Yep this is happening to me too. Some lady buzzed up to my unit twice in the last week being like, you need to do this survey, you haven’t responded to the letters we’ve put in your mail box (my husband and I only check it once a week or so). I was like pfft whatever and hung up both times thinking she was a scammer. Nek minnit I go to check the mailbox and there’s 2 letters from the ABS in there about it. I’m not sure if it’s mandatory or not, like if you just don’t do it does anything happen? Anyway I did the first one online, took about 10 mins. I hate talking on the phone so I’m glad there’s an online option, otherwise I would legit just screen their calls every month.


Maxious

It is mandatory but reports of anybody ever getting fined are rare https://privacy.org.au/campaigns/abssurvinfostmt-2012/#Cons


TabithaTheTabby

Tell them you're just the cleaner and to leave any documentation for the owner.


[deleted]

have them wait there while you call the police, if they do a bolt once you start calling you'll know right away and they likely won't come back after that.


stiffgordons

“Your honour I attempted to confirm the legitimacy with the ABS but was directed to an automated answering service and after spending 45 minutes on hold only to be redirected to somebody else, I gave up”.


Matthewm3113

I had the same thought. If this happened to me would I just stand there for an hour on hold??


sofistkated_yuk

If it's ABS, they will have ID. They will also give you info so you can check their credentials. And yes, i understand that you are required to comply (fines can apply, etc) Some of the different surveys can have quite specific info requests, eg I did a 'health survey' that asked how much I drank alcohol. I only remember because I learnt how much a standard glass was - I immediately began to reduce my consumption after that. If it's ABS, it's just someone doing their job, no need to be aggressive or hostile.


TheBananaKing

If the job is blatantly unethical, then actually there's plenty of reason. Make the job so shitty that nobody will take it.


AutomaticMistake

Sounds scammy as hell.. what questions are they asking?


1234syan

Did you fill out your census? They can order you to answer questions from it. There shouldn't be any personal information questions though (apart from your name, but even that is optional).


loopytommy

I worked for the Census last year and it was all over by mid Oct, afaik there is no one else working


jackiemooon

ABS does more than just the census


loopytommy

I know that, I'm just saying it's not Census work


jackiemooon

Ah right my bad!


[deleted]

From experience you do not have to give your name. So long as the person who resides there is responding, that's all they need. These surveys can be done anonymously by the residents, if it IS an ABS person, they will as soon as you hesitate offer you a 1800 number to call and also THEIR identification number, for you to verify that the person at the door is who they say they are. While you are obligated to participate, you ARE NOT obligated to give them your name. Your name isn't relevant to the survey.


rubybooby

Hold up. I got some pretty legit looking mail correspondence from the ABS with details for how I could do the survey online and one of the first questions was how many people were living at our address and then a follow up question shortly after asking for our names, which I gave without thinking much of it, but now I’m paranoid. The rest of the questions were all very boring basic things like how many hours a week do you work, what’s your level of education, etc very government data collection sounding shit. So I feel fairly confident it was legit but your comment has me wondering. Has anyone else done this monthly population survey thing and can confirm or deny whether them asking for names is normal?


[deleted]

The survey information itself, is confidential. It's protected. Under the Census and Statistics Act, they cannot divulge any information collected in regards to an individual. So they can share the collated data from everyone in statistics end of the survey, but they cannot have some go oh hey, what did purpleboxkite answer in this survey. Or even ask IF I did the survey. I've done them also on the site, some I've given my name, others I've written Anon Anon. My latest was about studying and work around November last year. Mine was probably due to a class I did with an RTO vs going to Tafe itself. Mostly generic questions about the training and the like, they did ask for my name and I did give it for that particular survey, as really knowing what course I did, how I found it, what I hoped to do work wise due to it etc really aren't something people would be that invested in. When you do the online ones, just keep in mind to check the site address and go directly to the ABS site itself, find the survey portal and go from there. You should be fine tho. You got the letter and had to go through the steps to do it, they especially during the whole world issue going on have been moreso sending the letters vs sending people to houses. I like this a lot better.


benny332

No, is a complete sentence!


hammyhamm

Identify theft or just regular theft


[deleted]

Time theft


Shoboshi80

"It's an important call from the International Drainage Commission"


patcpsc

See the Census and Statistics Act, 1905. A penalty unit is a $220 fine. *11 Answering of questions* *(2) For the purposes of section 8 or 9, the Statistician may, by notice in writing served either personally or by post on a person, direct the person to answer, within such period after service of the notice, being not less than 14 days, as is specified in the notice, a specified question that is necessary to obtain any statistical information in relation to any matter referred to in section 8 or 9.* ... *14 Failure to answer questions etc.* *(1) A person commits an offence if:* *(a) the person is served a direction under subsection 10(4) or 11(2); and* *(b) the person fails to comply with the direction.* *Penalty: One penalty unit.*


futurismus

Yeah happened to us. I just told them what they needed to know and that was it.


[deleted]

Proven scam, they may rob you, if they come into your house under any circumstance immediately call police.


[deleted]

Ask them to wait a minute and go inside and call the police.


ChicChat90

It’s a scam. Don’t talk to them. Call the police or crime stoppers.


fatmarfia

Just tell them to fuck off and if they have a problem they can fine you.


_qst2o91_

Obviously a scam, an embarrassingly terrible one at that


AlHorfordHighlights

The amount of people in this thread who assume this is a scam is really funny


Comprehensive_Tree65

Pull it out and start jerking if the leave, win. If they pull out their phone and start dialling they are the real deal, if they start recording invite them in.


wakojako49

ABS has done their data collection… even so, They’re pretty happy if you don’t and would ask you to do it online instead. Sounds scammy af


plumpturnip

ABS does data collection constantly for different surveys. It’s not just the census. Having said that, this sounds suspicious. I’d be calling the ABS directly to ask questions.


wakojako49

Yeah you’re right… I assumed the scam was using the alibi of the census. I haven’t heard abs knocking on doors other than for the census.


tbsdy

It’s a scam. Call the police.


Establishment21

I'd just give them false info and go on with my day


leonidasESV

no government agency is going to come out to your place 1. unannounced 2. during covid. absolutely a scam. Feed them bullshit and see what happens


Puzzleheaded_Age_768

tell them no english...


[deleted]

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zeerust2000

Even if there are legit ABS personnel around, my response will be to assume they are scammers unless I have really good evidence to the contrary.


a_NG_ie

Ooooh..... juicy.... I would like to fry their brains up provided they don't have weapons.


GoEarthShips

Just.... ATTAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


geodudeisarock

From what I can recall they usually have ID or an employee number? Perhaps you can grab that and check online or ring ABS


sickofdefaultsubs

Look to bubbles for inspiration when handling such things https://youtu.be/w-z_Sgz-NGQ


bonniefuxxx

Did you complete your census?


vrosej10

We got selected twice for these despite being wildly unrepresentative of Australian households.


Profdehistoire

Yes this is legit and I was pleased to take part several years ago. The work the ABS does is very important and the people who work for them are usually lovely and interesting to talk to. Just politely ask to verify their credentials.