A Toronto resident was left concerned after they gave their name and number to a person who said they were conducting a survey on behalf of Statistics Canada.
Following the visit, the local took to a Toronto subreddit to ask for advice
“Was this a “Statistics Canada” scam?,” they wrote.
Fellow users were quick to assure the person that Statistics Canada is known for conducting door-to-door surveys, and that it was likely a legitimate visit.
“This has happened to me, but it was legit. The way I confirmed it was by calling Stats Canada directly to make sure they were a real employee, and the person on the other end confirmed it,” one person wrote.
Should this happen to you, here’s some information on the agency’s data collection methods and a few tips on how to verify a Statistics Canada employee’s identity.
The national agency is responsible for ensuring Canadians have access to key information on the country’s economy and environment.
In order to collect the necessary information Statistics Canada carries out surveys and data collection programs, the results of which it makes publicly available.
As part of the process staff gather information by telephone, online and by going door-to-door and as a general rule, a staff member will not show up to your home without prior warning.
“Typically, Statistics Canada does first send an invitation letter to participate, which includes information about the survey itself and that an interviewer will be reaching out,” Carter Mann, a spokesperson for Statistics Canada, told Now Toronto in a statement.
However if you don’t receive a letter, Statistics Canada suggests utilizing the following resources to verify the identity of the surveyor:
- Look up the name of the survey using our list of surveys in collection
- Verify the interviewer is carrying their photo identification card, issued by Statistics Canada
- Call or email them at:
- Toll-free number (general enquiries): 1-877-949-9492
- National TTY line: 1-800-363-7629*
- Email: infostats@statcan.gc.ca
Statistics Canada staff work at different times of the day, seven days per week, and occasionally on holidays and visits may occur at any time.
