3 ms·

I had a background check company that a previous employer used email me to say: "I just wanted to verify that this is the correct email address for you, and th

I had a background check company that a previous employer used email me to say: "I just wanted to verify that this is the correct email address for you, and that the following info is correct:" and proceeded to list my full name including middle initial, name, phone number, date of birth and full SSN." Mind blown on a couple of levels. Was tempted to reply back "I have no idea who this is - this isn't the correct email". They also found my girlfriend on social media, got her phone number and called her to "verify my identity". To be clear, this was a run of the mill SRE position, not any type of background check for a clearance. Instead, I told my new employer, and they were as livid as I was, profusely apologetic to me, and fired that background check company that day.

jacquesm 4y ago
If they are Dutch that would be illegal under Dutch law. We have very strict laws around private investigation and anybody doing that without the proper license would be in a lot of trouble.
- aerostable_slug 4y ago
  The United States has similar laws, where licensed Private Investigators have to at least supervise investigations (it's a bit like having a licensed pharmacist on duty while less-trained people actually hand out the meds, or having a medical doctor supervise the work of a group of physician's assistants). There are some exceptions, but most of the time you need a license to go snooping around. These PI licenses are also a major perk of law enforcement careers, as it's sometimes difficult to get the required work experience without time in law enforcement (unless you don't mind working for nearly-nothing under a PI taking photos of insurance & workers compensation cheats, unfaithful spouses, etc. for years). That background check company was almost certainly operating within the bounds of the law. They were just doing it Really Poorly.

jacquesm 4y ago

If they are Dutch that would be illegal under Dutch law. We have very strict laws around private investigation and anybody doing that without the proper license would be in a lot of trouble.

aerostable_slug 4y ago
The United States has similar laws, where licensed Private Investigators have to at least supervise investigations (it's a bit like having a licensed pharmacist on duty while less-trained people actually hand out the meds, or having a medical doctor supervise the work of a group of physician's assistants). There are some exceptions, but most of the time you need a license to go snooping around. These PI licenses are also a major perk of law enforcement careers, as it's sometimes difficult to get the required work experience without time in law enforcement (unless you don't mind working for nearly-nothing under a PI taking photos of insurance & workers compensation cheats, unfaithful spouses, etc. for years). That background check company was almost certainly operating within the bounds of the law. They were just doing it Really Poorly.