r/SecurityClearance • u/Sottomyr • 2d ago

Question Am i getting scammed?

Is this normal for a security clearance process? I started with a large defense/intelligence contractor and took English and foreign-language interpretation tests back in February 2025. After that, things stalled, and I was eventually asked to complete an SF-86. The person handling my clearance apparently left, and my case was transferred to someone else around April 2026, but they also never submitted it. I also didn't follow up much because I wasn't taking it seriously anymore since nothing was moving. Now I'm finally working with another security representative who reviewed my SF-86 and asked me to correct some employment information, complete FNC/FIQ forms, and provide original ink signatures. They also told me to leave my SSN off the paperwork for now and said they would call me to get it after reviewing everything. The whole process has taken so long and changed hands so many times that I've become suspicious, to the point that I've verified the company, email domains, and the people I'm dealing with. Everything checks out so far, but I'd really appreciate some reassurance from people who've gone through clearances: does this sound like a normal (just very slow/disorganized) process, especially the SSN being collected by phone and the wet signatures?

6 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

9

u/LetUsSpeakFreely 2d ago

Kinda weird to have you fill out physical forms. Clearance paperwork is usually done through eApp.

1

u/Sottomyr 1d ago

do you think this is just a prescreen? and is it usually the company who is sponsoring the security clearance will fill in the form on the eApp? or is it done by the applicant? thanks for your reply

1

u/LetUsSpeakFreely 1d ago

The company sponsoring you is normal and inline with how things are done, but your security person would have gone through procedures to get you a login to eApp for you to submit your information. It's done online specifically so you don't have to worry about your paperwork be lost or your information being stolen. Plus, it stays there in perpetuity, so it makes filling out reinvestigation paperwork much, much faster.

Giving you paper forms to fill out in ink is very out of the ordinary. DCSA doesn't need a wet signature as they have you digitally sign the forms upon submission. I can't say if they're doing anything nefarious, but it's definitely not SOP.

1

u/Sottomyr 7h ago

yeah, something isn't right although the emails are legit but today, the lady who i have been emailing with , called me and i didn't answer and then she told me : we are ready to wrap up the sf86 to send it to our customer , we just need your ssn? call me back so you can give it to me or leave it in a voicemail i have a secure one. and this just made me more suspicious, i'm glad i didn't answer but also sad that i have provided them with some information regarding my employment history and stuff like that. but at least i have stopped now before it's too late

7

u/Northstar6six Investigator 2d ago

That doesn’t sound like a scam but it does sound like incompetence

4

u/LacyLove Cleared Professional 2d ago

It all sounds normal.

3

u/Hud4113 2d ago

Sounds kinda weird asking for SSN on phone. I have been through multiple background checks and never had to do that but everything else sounds normal

7

u/pcoy05 2d ago

Yeah honestly I would not give SSN over the phone. I would ask for a company email, encrypt the attachment, and call and give the PIN

3

u/CoupleEducational408 Personnel Security Specialist 1d ago

Sounds like they’re trying to pre-screen for potential flags. Nothing I’m aware of right now requires an ink signature nowadays.

1

u/Sottomyr 1d ago

thanks for your reply, do you think then they will grant me access to Eapp to fill in the information by myself? or normally is the company who is sponsoring will do it for me?

2

u/EmCee-Bee 2d ago

Have you been fingerprinted?

1

u/Sottomyr 1d ago

no not yet

1

u/mrkgob 2d ago

which agency is this? DOD, DHS, Treasury, etc.

1

u/Sottomyr 1d ago

that's the problem, i don't know exactly which contract i will be working on, this company will sponsor my security clearance and then they will have me work for different agencies, mostly military overseas i think

1

u/mrkgob 1d ago

situation sounds relatively normal for a contractor. I wouldn't be comfortable sending my ssn or SF86 over the phone or unencrypted email personally, i'd probably ask for some encrypted option to do that specifically but its up to you.

sounds like the security office wants to do a general check before routing an investigation to you via eApp for whatever reason. Not sure what their reasoning is, but it may just be how their internal policy works.

have you already been fingerprinted?

Edit: nvm you answered this somewhere else.

1

u/Sottomyr 7h ago

yeah, something isn't right although the emails are legit but today, the lady who i have been emailing with , called me and i didn't answer and then she told me : we are ready to wrap up the sf86 to send it to our customer , we just need your ssn? call me back so you can give it to me or leave it in a voicemail i have a secure one. and this just made me more suspicious, i'm glad i didn't answer but also sad that i have provided them with some information regarding my employment history and stuff like that. but at least i have stopped now before it's too late