Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

Clearances for friends has only happened over the phone for me.

They come to your home?

I have done some by phone, some at home, some at my office, and some that are door-to-door for neighbors. It varies.

Having dealt with numerous investigators (DoD, FBI, OPM, you name it), both for myself and colleagues, I have to say that not all of the investigators have the best professional manner. It's entirely possible the visit was legit, and the guy said more than he was supposed to, or was just really unprofessional. Just remember that you are not required to speak to them - if you have any question about their legitimacy, just politely decline.

And not to the OP's original question, but in terms of the background checks, I've had investigators scare my neighbors (one lurked in the shadows until the person came home), berate me for not knowing my neighbors (at the time I lived in a DC apt building that had a lot of turnover), and tell me that they couldn't find one of my references (who happened to be my roommate at the time). I've become a skeptic about the process over the years.

Also, I always try to give the people I'd listed as references a heads up that investigators would be coming around (either for in-person or phone interviews), but part of the investigation process is looking beyond your listed references. The investigators will ask them for additional names - they know you're only going to provide people who will speak positively about you, and they're looking for the person down the line that might actually have dirt on you. And they talk to neighbors to see what you're like in your daily non-work life.

Anonymous wrote: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.

I don't think calling the number the person with the badge gives you will confirm the interview is legit. As another poster mentioned, you need to call the main number. If you call the number the "interviewer" gives you, it could just be a friend of his answering the phone as part of a scam.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

OP to answer your actual question -- I don't think there is any way for you to tell a counterfeit badge from a real one.

Ok, thanks. The guy never gave me his card, just flashed his badge. I asked his name again and he kindly showed me his badge again. We just live in an area with many, many federal workers apparently!

Anonymous wrote: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.

I don't think calling the number the person with the badge gives you will confirm the interview is legit. As another poster mentioned, you need to call the main number. If you call the number the "interviewer" gives you, it could just be a friend of his answering the phone as part of a scam.

Anonymous wrote:Several years ago a neighbor of ours was getting a security clearance, and I someone called me on the phone to set up a time for an interview. It didn't even occur to me to question whether or not it was legit--some of our neighbors told us that they had been questioned about my husband for his security clearance a few months before.

Anyway, when the guy came he mostly asked me questions that would relate to crime--he asked if I had any reason to believe this neighbor may be involved in crime. Asked if i saw an unusual number of cars approaching the residence. Asked if I noticed unusual people hanging around, etc.

That is the standard set of questions for security clearances.

Anonymous wrote: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!

You should write down their name. Go google the main number call tell them you need to verify a person.
If its a really background person they will think you are odd but understand.

For FBI just call the local office

Anonymous wrote: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!

OP to answer your actual question -- I don't think there is any way for you to tell a counterfeit badge from a real one.

Several years ago a neighbor of ours was getting a security clearance, and I someone called me on the phone to set up a time for an interview. It didn't even occur to me to question whether or not it was legit--some of our neighbors told us that they had been questioned about my husband for his security clearance a few months before.

Anyway, when the guy came he mostly asked me questions that would relate to crime--he asked if I had any reason to believe this neighbor may be involved in crime. Asked if i saw an unusual number of cars approaching the residence. Asked if I noticed unusual people hanging around, etc.

In response to PP- yes, sometimes they do come to your home. It all depends. It also depends on what type of security clearance.

Anonymous wrote: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!

Clearances for friends has only happened over the phone for me.

They come to your home?

Anonymous wrote:

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

OP here- That's what I thought. In the past, my DH was given a heads up interviews were happening for his own clearance.

This is not always the case. Yes, you give them names, but they will often ask those people for additional references if you're not able to satisfactorily answer their questions. I also has an investigator call me during one of my background investigations as, unknown to me, he went knocking on doors in my neighborhood earlier that day and couldn't find anyone who knew me well enough to answer his questions (we don't know most of our neighbors well). So there are some contacts you give them and some they just find via other means. It's very much standard practice. You don't have to comply, though, if you're uncomfortable.

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

OP here- That's what I thought. In the past, my DH was given a heads up interviews were happening for his own clearance.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Thank you! This is what I was looking for. His badge did not look legit to me. I will do this next time. I asked for his credentials, btw.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Oh, geez. Thanks. You are oh so helpful. In my original post I never stated it was a clearance issue.