How do I know if it's REALLY Department of Defense?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- my DH has has had to have security clearance as well. But I can't imagine they would ask me about our neighbor ?? That doesn't make sense.

Why? It does. Just after we moved into our current apartment, a woman knocked on my door, showed me some kind of a badge and asked me if I knew so-and-so who was our neighbor down the hall at the time. She was doing a background check on that person. I said we were new to the building and that I couldn't help her.

So I find your situation perfectly legit.

[Anonymous]

Okay read the follow up post from OP and that is really weird. I would feel strange giving any information as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- I've never heard of a Dept of Defense employee come to someone's home. They were conducting a background investigation on this neighbor for some very serious crimes and it scared the bejesus out of me! Luckily, we won't be living in this space much longer-but can't help but wonder if they were scammers just snooping for info. or if it was "actually" DOD.

First poster here. That's why I asked. I've never heard of them conducting face to face interviews at someone's house. I've given references via the phone, mail and face to face where I had to go onsite (like a deposition I guess), but didn't know they did drop in visits/interviews.

Strange.

I have been interviewed by a random drop by. It was a legit interview, so not out of the ordinary.

[Anonymous]

When I was having my security clearance done, the FBI agent told me he was going to drive over to my neighborhood and ask around about me. I told him good luck - hardly anyone ever home and we had just moved in 4 months prior right before snowmageddon! He confirmed later that he had driven out there, seen my son's toys out front, and that he struck out as all the neighbors were not home.

They do this! It sounds insane, but they do!

[Anonymous]

We've had this kind of visit as well, about a neighbor we didn't know very well at the time.

[Anonymous]

OP here, am I missing something here? Why would the person conducting the interview then tell me "your neighbor is under investigation for xyz crime" Have you ever seen this, ect? I know neighbor's are interviewed for clearance. As I said, DH has been through this. This sounds very different.

The badge was in a clear plastic and it said Department of Defense on the top half and his photo and signature on bottom left. Anyone could type that in, print and put in a plastic lanyard....just weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- my DH has has had to have security clearance as well. But I can't imagine they would ask me about our neighbor ?? That doesn't make sense.

Why? It does. Just after we moved into our current apartment, a woman knocked on my door, showed me some kind of a badge and asked me if I knew so-and-so who was our neighbor down the hall at the time. She was doing a background check on that person. I said we were new to the building and that I couldn't help her.

So I find your situation perfectly legit.

No, I meant if they are indeed investigating MY DH, why would they come to the door to ask ME about our neighbor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- my DH has has had to have security clearance as well. But I can't imagine they would ask me about our neighbor ?? That doesn't make sense.

This happened to me some years ago for a neighbor who was going into like the FBI or something. I think it's quite common in this area. It was legit, btw, even though it caught me by surprise like the OP.

[Anonymous]

OP, the replies that don't answer your question are your own fault for not being specific in your original post as to what the investigator was there about. As a person who not only holds a clearance, but has been interviewed countless times on behalf of friends, I can tell you that the original situation you describe is completely ordinary. I also don't find too much out of the ordinary given your clarification, either. I was once interviewed about a former colleague who was under investigation, although the investigator was not clear on the specifics of the case. This colleague ultimately lost their clearance. The investigator showed thei their badge and did what they normally do during an interview, which is tell you that your comments can be requested via FOIA and that they ask you not disclose the contents of the conversation to the person under investigation. This is standard practice, both for security and other similar investigations. You can always refuse to be interviewed if this seemingly random practice makes you uncomfortable, as this is not like being subpoenaed in court.

[Anonymous]

OP again- Did anyone read my follow up post? Im talking about an interview that started out asking about an "alleged crime". How does that become a clearance interview? Do agents really tell neighbors it's a for "xyz" crime and follow up with questions?? Maybe I am asking the wrong questions here.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's not uncommon. I had people from (think it was DOD but not positive) come to inquire about neighbors several times, that was years ago, more than 10 years ago. Had something to do w/govt security clearance. One neighbor was in the military and another worked for a govt agency, don't recall which.

[Anonymous]

Totally happened to us when a young man who'd lived next door a few years prior had applied to the Secret Service. Two "Men in Black" showed up and were really nice about asking some pretty routine questions.

[Anonymous]

No OP, you should have included the crime detail in your original post and refrained from stating it was a clearance issue.

It is possible it is legit but it is unusual.

Is it DEA or DOD? You sound kinda flaky. Next time get the guys card and state you will call to set up an interview. You will have his name, agency, job title... you will be able to check him out.

[Anonymous]

This is advice given to me by my DH who is federal law enforcement.
If someone shows up at your door and flashes a badge, you ask them to wait outside while you call to confirm they are legit. If they are legit they will give you the telephone number to call and their name/badge number. We have window and I'd never even open the door for someone who had a badge until I'd called to confirm the legitimacy of their whole operation.

[Anonymous]

You give them the names and contact info of your neighbors, usually. We normally give people notice that someone will be coming.