3 ms·

Here's the next step in this arms race: cold-call people who know the candidate and then lie about why you're asking. Then you don't necessarily get "caught",

Here's the next step in this arms race: cold-call people who know the candidate and then lie about why you're asking. Then you don't necessarily get "caught", and you don't say where you're calling from. Lies that will potentially work here: "I'm doing a background check for a security clearance". "I'm a private investigator checking out (some other person or company)." "(Person) was supplied as a reference and I'm checking their quality to see how seriously I should take it." It may be a tough time to be a (real, actual) security clearance background checker in a few years.

ktsmith 15y ago
I've received a few calls asking for information to be confirmed during a security clearance background check and each time I knew before hand that I might receive the call. I would be highly suspicious of any call claiming to be on that subject without the person in question notifying me before. edit - I should also note that I don't give out information about anyone I know without their prior consent so this wouldn't work anyway. I would also notify the person about the snooping.