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

[Anonymous]

Let's say... a person comes to your door for an interview asking questions about your neighbor. When they flash that badge...how do I know it's real? What do you look for? TIA!

[Anonymous]

Did this actually happen or is this a paranoid what if question?

[Anonymous]

This actually happened.

[Anonymous]

I wonder about this too because people came to our neighbors' doors to ask about my husband when he was getting his clearance.

[Anonymous]

I've given (and have been the subject of) interviews like this for security clearances. Make sure you see the badge. Ask them to make an appt if you want to check with your neighbor first to see if it is legit.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

I meant that people asked our neighbors about my DH when he was applying...part of the background check, I guess. They just went door to door. One neighbor actually refused outright. She didn't know us at all, though.

[Anonymous]

Usually it is an opm badge

[Anonymous]

It was DOD who interviewed the neighbors for my clearance. Scared the heck out of them.

[Anonymous]

I get these all the time for neighbors. Since I had to do the same thing for my dad growing up I am just used to it. It isn't just when hired but every so ofter after that as well.

[Anonymous]

I don't think I was very clear in my original post. This is not what I would consider a security clearance interview. My DH has had to go through that process. This was an interview I was part of for "a neighbor under investigation" next door. The gentlemen then went on to describe what he is under investigation for (involving the DEA) and asked me questions regarding his family, problems, ect. I wonder if it was legit. How do I know his badge wasn't fake?

[Anonymous]

I've had someone come to my door when doing a background investigation of a neighbor. They sometimes try to get information from people that were not put down as references.

[Anonymous]

Well, what kind of badge did he have?

[Anonymous]

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.