POLICE are warning residents to watch out for scams amid National Census Day on Sunday (March 21).

People across Romsey and the UK are now filling out surveys to inform the Office for National Statistics of everyone and all households in England and Wales.

As part of the survey, which happens every 10 years, the public receives letters with a unique 16-digit code to access the census online.

Hampshire police have stressed criminals could use this opportunity to send out phishing emails or texts.

The force has included advice from the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, Action Fraud.

The advice states:

  • You will only be contacted about the census via letter - never email, text or phone
  • When filling out the census you will be asked for personal details such as your date of birth, your occupation and where you live
  • You will never be asked to provide your national insurance numbers or financial details

For more information about the census, visit https://census.gov.uk/.

Advice on keeping yourself safe from scams can be found here: http://bit.ly/2OZKYO6.