Population Census: A Message to Everyone - Act Now

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) is warning consumers about an email allegedly from National Statistician Jill Matheson entitled "Population Census: A Message to Everyone - Act Now"

This email demands individuals provide further personal information, supposedly for the Census and threatens fines for non-compliance. This is a scam and hoax email, it has no connection with the national statistician or ONS.

The ONS believes the email may download malware on to your PC if you click onto the link within the email, which could put financial/personal information at risk.

ONS takes the protection of personal census information extremely seriously. Collection of census data was completed last year and no further requests will be forthcoming from the Office for National Statistics relating to the 2011 Census.

Anyone receiving this, or similar emails, should delete them, not open any links and certainly not provide any information.

For more information on how to protect yourself from this type of threat, can be found by visiting www.getsafeonline.org.

Any suspicious emails can also be reported to www.actionfraud.org.uk