# FBI agents ask me questions about a neighbor/relative/coworker without explaining. Must I answer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 7, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398 "2010-10-07T19:10:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/21 "2010-10-08T01:34:42Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I specified FBI because I knew it was a crime to to federal agents. First, it’s spelled “tutu”. And I don’t think it’s really a crime for FBI agents. After all, J. Edgar Hoover did quite well with a red chiffon evening dress and a black boa. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/22 "2010-10-08T01:34:55Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Sure then it shouldn’t be a problem for them when I stand by my legal right to remain silent and instruct them to go through my lawyer.. Exactly what you should do if they are treating you as a possible suspect (usually by reading you your rights). Per ACLU, etc. But as a _witness_ you should cooperate. ianal ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/23 "2010-10-08T02:56:18Z")
Can you answer the questions? I don’t know. Should you answer the questions? That’s up to you, but you should reserve your right to counsel. If you have a doubt, you should refuse to answer the questions and consult a lawyer. If they have a subpoena, you should politely decline to answer the questions and request a lawyer. However, I can tell you from real-world experience involving me, that I was subpoenaed by the United States and provided information to the FBI and the an Assistant Attorney General of the United States in regards to an SEC investigation. I didn’t consult a lawyer, simply because I had done nothing wrong. I answered the questions and I doubt my interview made a difference in the case. I was never called to testify in the trial, so I assume whatever I told the FBI didn’t matter. In retrospect, hiring a lawyer may have made the situation worse by implying complicity that really didn’t exist. I don’t know. Maybe I was naive, but no one has been knocking on my door since then. And the case is long since closed. So, my experience is worthless unless you may have some reason to really need a lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/24 "2010-10-08T03:09:49Z")
> [@Ex\_Chemist](#): > > If one applies for a security clearance, part of the screening process is sending someone to speak with their neighbors and coworkers and asking about them. I wouldn’t be surprised if the FBI was tasked with doing these interviews. > > Declining to speak with the agent may delay their clearance as someone may want to investigate the reluctance to speak. For normal clearances, there is a special group of contractors, not even federal employees, who do the legwork. If you are getting appointed to a cabinet position or head of the CIA, etc, as I understand it, you will get the attention of the G-men. ---
**Author:** ![AmunRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AmunRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmunRa)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/25 "2010-10-08T07:05:53Z")
When I was in the Army I interacted with an agent doing background checks for security clearances twice. I don’t really know much about her background because I just happened to be in the room once, and the other time she was asking me about a neighbor I didn’t know. I do remember that she had a badge though. I’m not sure if that means she was a federal agent or not, but that’s what she presented herself as. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/26 "2010-10-08T07:10:31Z")
> [@GiantRat](#): > > OPM (Office of Personnel Management - the “employer” of all federal employees) will give the background investigation to just about anyone. Some agencies rely on their own pool of (as mentioned) retired agents. Just did one of these interviews last week actually. It was pretty funny. I kind of expected some member of law enforcement to come knocking on my door. Instead here comes this tiny 5’2 early 50s blond woman. She herself even giggled over the “…belongs to a group determined to violently overthrow the federal government” question. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/27 "2010-10-08T08:02:32Z")
I would have thought that the first thing to do would be to dial 911 and confirm the identity of the agent. > [@Ravenman](#): > > I believe they will routinely say something vague like, “Ravenman has applied for a position of trust with the US government.” Just the sort of thing you don’t want to get back to your current employer. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/28 "2010-10-08T11:38:04Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > > [@Zsofia](#): > > > > Or they could be, you know, doing their jobs and keeping you safe from mobsters and terrorists. Whichever. > > Sure then it shouldn’t be a problem for them when I stand by my legal right to remain silent and instruct them to go through my lawyer. > > Just because they may be doing their job doesn’t mean anyone should make their job easier by becoming a sucker for them to convict. So how could they convict you of something if you weren’t actually guilty of something ? Unless of course you were. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/29 "2010-10-08T11:54:08Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I would have thought that the first thing to do would be to dial 911 and confirm the identity of the agent. You’re gonna call your county’s emergency response center to talk to the FBI? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/30 "2010-10-08T12:07:09Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > So how could they convict you of something if you weren’t actually guilty of something ? > > Unless of course you were. Because no innocent person has ever been convicted of a crime. Anyway here is the video. [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4097602514885833865&q=don't+talk+to+the+police&ei=WuM9SM6yHZP8rQL4p6iSBA#](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4097602514885833865&q=don%27t+talk+to+the+police&ei=WuM9SM6yHZP8rQL4p6iSBA#) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/31 "2010-10-08T12:08:34Z")
You realize your local FBI is in the phone book, right? They work in one of those boring concrete government buildings, not a lair with a lava moat. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/32 "2010-10-08T14:54:14Z")
> [@furt](#): > > > [@Quartz](#): > > > > I would have thought that the first thing to do would be to dial 911 and confirm the identity of the agent. > > You’re gonna call your county’s emergency response center to talk to the FBI? :dubious: Yes. Here in the U.K. it’s what you’re supposed to do if you need to confirm the identity of a policeman. And you likely don’t have the time to find the FBI’s phone number - well, you won’t if they are a bad guy. ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/33 "2010-10-08T16:05:48Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > > [@GiantRat](#): > > > > OPM (Office of Personnel Management - the “employer” of all federal employees) will give the background investigation to just about anyone. Some agencies rely on their own pool of (as mentioned) retired agents. > > I’ve had OPM, contractors, and the FBI handle the interviews for my clearance. The FBI seemed to handle the more important ones. > > I believe they will routinely say something vague like, “Ravenman has applied for a position of trust with the US government.” Yup. They never explicitly the potential employer. In my BI (which I FOIA’d - it’s a hilarious read), one of my references (a former roommate) said there’s “There’s no way GiantRat should work for the [agency]. He’s too smart. He should be a teacher or something.” That was considered derogatory information, despite the same reference attesting to my patriotism and loyalty. Go figure. Anyway, I got cleared (despite the more amusing notes made about my personnel interview with the investigator). ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/34 "2010-10-08T16:11:45Z")
> [@AmunRa](#): > > I do remember that she had a badge though. I’m not sure if that means she was a federal agent or not, but that’s what she presented herself as. Heh. Yeah, they have badges. A friend of mine where I used to work (where everyone had clearances) was a Special Agent. He was refusing to answer a personal question (and had held a clearance for many years already). The idiot investigator pulled out the badge and threatened him for impeding an official investigation. So my buddy pulled out his badge and said, “I have a badge, too. Federal fucking agent. I wear a gun. Go fuck yourself.” End of interview. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/35 "2010-10-08T16:16:14Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > You realize your local FBI is in the phone book, right? They work in one of those boring concrete government buildings, not a lair with a lava moat. In NJ, they kind of have a moat. Without going into detail, it’s a big building along the river. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/36 "2010-10-08T17:30:27Z")
I was once interviewed by an RCMP officer. I had agreed to be interviewed, but I certainly could have refused. But the person in question had already been deported (he was a Cuban grad student who was alleged–he didn’t deny–having been used as mule to transmit info from a real spy to the local consul). It was a pretty funny interview; I came away with the strong impression that these guys were pretty stupid. I assume that once I agreed to the interview, I was under some obligation to answer. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/37 "2010-10-08T17:38:29Z")
> [@](#): > > I didn’t consult a lawyer, simply because I had done nothing wrong. That’s what a neighbor of ours said once to a cop at the door. He said enough to make himself appear guilty, even though he wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/38 "2010-10-08T17:54:27Z")
> [@AmunRa](#): > > When I was in the Army I interacted with an agent doing background checks for security clearances twice. I don’t really know much about her background because I just happened to be in the room once, and the other time she was asking me about a neighbor I didn’t know. I do remember that she had a badge though. I’m not sure if that means she was a federal agent or not, but that’s what she presented herself as. The contractors had ‘badges’, little metal things that looked like law enforcement badges. Now, as I remember the last time I was interviewed (happens to me a couple of times a year. about other people), it is just an ID card. For years, they have made it clear to me that they are contractors working for OMB. ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/39 "2010-10-08T18:43:31Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I’ve had OPM, contractors, and the FBI handle the interviews for my clearance. The FBI seemed to handle the more important ones. Yup. I was interviewed about out next door neighbor, and the person doing the interview was a current FBI agent. Not sure what position the neighbor had, but I know he worked at Los Alamos. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398/40 "2010-10-08T18:55:07Z")
> [@GiantRat](#): > > > [@Zsofia](#): > > > > You realize your local FBI is in the phone book, right? They work in one of those boring concrete government buildings, not a lair with a lava moat. > > In NJ, they kind of have a moat. Without going into detail, it’s a big building along the river. The rivers in New Jersey probably are indeed lava. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-agents-ask-me-questions-about-a-neighbor-relative-coworker-without-explaining-must-i-answer/556398.md?page=3)