Is this legit?

2have2hold

A small form was left at our door step from "U.S Office of Personnel Management Federal Investigative Services". It says to contact an investigator "regarding an individual who is being considered for a position with the U.S government" She left her name and (out of state) phone number

I'm assuming someone we know applied for a government job and listed us as references(?)  ANy ideas?

KathrynMD

I got that once - I thought it was shady too, but it was legit.

An ex-boyfriend/roommate had applied for an FBI/DOJ job and he had listed my (our) address as his previous residence and so I called and the guy came to my work and interviewed me about the ex - basically if he was criminal, did he do anything illegal, have anything against the government, or was he a terrorist, use drugs, etc.

Matildasun

We get these every once in a while when one of my husband's friends and/or co-workers is getting a clearance for work. They are legit.

LoveLossHopeRepeat

It's legit. And it may not be someone you know. Depending on the clearance level, it may be a neighbor of yours and the investigation extends to neighbors regardless of whether they've been listed as a reference or not.

MrsAmber

LoveLossHopeRepeat:

It's legit. And it may not be someone you know. Depending on the clearance level, it may be a neighbor of yours and the investigation extends to neighbors regardless of whether they've been listed as a reference or not.

This.  I was offered a job with NSA after I graduated and for my clearance they talked to my professors, neighbors, friends, etc.  At the time they visited my  neighbors at college and back at home.

Ragdolls

MrsAmber:

LoveLossHopeRepeat:

It's legit. And it may not be someone you know. Depending on the clearance level, it may be a neighbor of yours and the investigation extends to neighbors regardless of whether they've been listed as a reference or not.

This.  I was offered a job with NSA after I graduated and for my clearance they talked to my professors, neighbors, friends, etc.  At the time they visited my  neighbors at college and back at home.

Another ditto.  When my dad hit a certain level with Social Security everyone under the sun got a visit, from the neighbors to old teachers and high school friends.  

2have2hold

Ok this makes sense. Because they did not put our names on the card, just "residents of (our address)"

thanks ladies.

Cooper81

I was actually a former investigator and one of the things we had to do for a BI was to talk to neighbors. SO you do a knock and talk and leave those type of things at homes where no one was home.  So the investigator doesn't necessarily know the people that they are trying to talk to, it's called developing your own sources (meaning not only talking to the neighbors that the individual having the BI provided) Was it a small rectangle that was kind of sealed? 

2have2hold

Cooper81:

Was it a small rectangle that was kind of sealed? 

Yep!

linzee

It's legit.

It's possible it could even be one of your neighbors up for a clearance.  They are pretty thorough.

smange10.10

just to echo everyone else - it's legit.  DH does background investigations and is contracted by the office of personnel management so we have those door tags all over the house (his car...etc).

Cooper81

smange10.10:

just to echo everyone else - it's legit.  DH does background investigations and is contracted by the office of personnel management so we have those door tags all over the house (his car...etc).

smange, USIS?

mrs. remy

This happened to us once....they wanted to ask us about one of our neighbors. I dont think he put us a reference though, they just went around and asked his neighbors about him as some sort of high level background check. Or something.

linzee

DH is up for reinvestigation this year, I wonder if they will contact our neighbors. Hmmmm.

smange10.10

Cooper81:

smange10.10:

just to echo everyone else - it's legit.  DH does background investigations and is contracted by the office of personnel management so we have those door tags all over the house (his car...etc).

smange, USIS?

yup!  how'd you guess?

Cooper81

linzee:

DH is up for reinvestigation this year, I wonder if they will contact our neighbors. Hmmmm.

It depends on the type, there are a range of different types of investigations that have different requirements, based on the level of clearance.  If he has to be interviewed as part of the investigation, they will be interviewing at least 2 of your neighbors.