A Mysterious "Official" Visited My Home Today, Questioned Me

originally posted by: lostgirl
Definitely not census worker...

My neighbors are a couple who both work 10-12 hour days, and when the census was being taken a lady came to my door - first thing she did was show ID (actually handed me the laminated card/w photo, so I could really look at it), then she explained the difficulty of trying to catch the neighbors 'in' during the day, asked if I would mind answering her questions, explaining (and showing the stack of forms) that if I was willing, I would need to give my name and sign that the info was correct...

I knew my neighbors wouldn't care and with all of the above (and being able to see that this poor woman was just trying to get her job done), I went ahead and answered the questions, which actually turned out to be more 'confirming' the info already on record...

So, yeah OP, not a census taker...

So you assumed that your neighbors wouldn't mind if you gave a stranger personal information about them? Wow. I wouldn't want to be your neighbor.

a reply to: Aqualung2012


Lol...


You got a good handle on the accent in typing

What if it was a CDC official that was watching your neighbors because they had been on a flight with an Ebola victim? Because just a couple of weeks ago, the US government admitted that over 1,000 people were being "watched" due to Ebola.

A very similar thing happened to my friend who is quite involved in the tinfoil community.
Involved in groups and on web, always distributing chemtrail info at the farmer's market where I live.
A real warrior, older guy and fully down the rabbit hole. He told me this morning (Thurday) that yesterday someone came to his house asking about his neighbors. I think he said they said they were from the census. He was of course suspicious and figured it was a spook. It is definitely getting hot and uncomfortable in this country.

Why did you answer any questions at all without her identification?

a reply to: Aqualung2012
The government and many companies when they do something everyone has heard called "a background check" will do this, I was working at a large semiconductor company and there were several projects that you had to have a background check to work on it (nothing earth-shattering just if it was government you needed the clearance) one of the guys I worked with signed up and a few weeks later he was cleared. He told me his neighbor said someone came and asked if they knew him very well, how long, what kind of hours does he keep, does he have a lot of visitors, etc.
To me I am thinking that is exactly what she was doing and added the health statement for who knows, some of the people they use aren't the sharpest knives in the drawers!

a reply to: Aqualung2012

Went to their house twice since the OP... rang the bell... waited.... no reply either time.

I did notify the police. They took down the description of the person and of the encounter, made a report of it, but that's about all they could do.

I'll try again, but if no reply this time, I'm just going to write them a letter and put it in in their mailbox. I really do want to get to the bottom of this though, but they won't answer the door.

Perbably just one of those nasty corporate sales agent, for a drugs company...

Or a government agency.

All that matters here: you have the right to remain silent, with anyone, under any circumstances. If somebody's knocking at your door to ask questions, this person is the first to have questions to answer.

That kind of predator, aggressive behavior by people in suits should be blocked on-the-spot, because nothing else will stop them.

Of course, we tend to say a few things out of some nonsense politeness values, but let's keep in mind that whatever you tell to anyone you don't know and trust is snitching on your neighbor, and that may result in them being exploited, abused or the target of harassment.

"Support your neighbor" is a principle the despots don't like.

a reply to: Aqualung2012

What a mystery now! Of course, maybe they are just out of town visiting relatives but, have you ever noticed them being gone for long periods of time before? I'm wondering if they have pets? If so, who is watching them? Plants? Who's watering them? Do you find it odd after your visitor the other day that now you haven't seen your neighbors? Did they possibly get wind that someone was looking for them and disappear? They were elderly (70'sish) so what could they have been involved in? Just hypothesizing...love a mystery!

a reply to: TNMockingbird

I never really see much out of them aside from coming and going occasionally. I usually see lights/TV on in their house at night time, so I don't think they are away.

It's beginning to look like they are paranoid about something, but like I say, I don't know because I can't reach them.

It's interesting to say the least... I will definitely update if/when I'm able to talk to them myself.

a reply to: Aqualung2012

Went and tried knocking again (maybe the bell doesn't work?) Still no answer. I'm leaving a letter with my phone number.

a reply to: Aqualung2012


This simple little event certainly is intriguing, although I am not sure why!

I hope they are ok. Maybe the health thing was a "wellness" check. Perhaps an out-of-town family member asked to have them checked on if they have been out of touch.

I am sure it could be many things, including that they just won't answer the door.

But, if you do not see them in a few days, I highly recommend being a good neighbor, and inquiring about their welfare.

Many years ago one of our neighbors died, and no one knew it for weeks. When they finally found him, he had been long dead, and they came in haz mat suits to remove him. The smell was bad from outside. It was very sad that none of the neighbors knew him well enough to even notice that he had not been seen.

originally posted by: Aqualung2012
a reply to: Aqualung2012

Went to their house twice since the OP... rang the bell... waited.... no reply either time.

I did notify the police. They took down the description of the person and of the encounter, made a report of it, but that's about all they could do.

I'll try again, but if no reply this time, I'm just going to write them a letter and put it in in their mailbox. I really do want to get to the bottom of this though, but they won't answer the door.

Did you call the Health Dept? Did you talk to other neighbors who may have experienced the same thing? One of them might have taken the time to read what was on the lanyard, note the person's name, or get the person's license plate or have other insights.

It wasn't "personal" information, as I said, it was just confirming the info that the census bureau already had on file, i.e. "Yes, Jane and John Smith, no children, no other adults in residence there..."

Nothing the average person couldn't find out with 'google'...nothing I would mind my neighbors confirming to an 'ID carrying census taker' about me...

And I neglected to say, it was at the time the national census was being taken - we had received notification by mail that people would be going door to door, and what their ID should say and look like, as well as the nature of the questions they would be asking, etc..There really was no doubt that the woman was legitimate...

The point of my post was to contrast that a person who is knocking on your door asking for info (whether about you or your neighbors) should not 'merely' be wearing ID on a lanyard - but should be presenting it for your inspection without your even having to ask...

I promise, if I were your neighbor, I would never reveal the color underwear hanging on your line when I peak thru the little gap in the privacy fence as I water my bougainvillea...

originally posted by: lostgirl
It wasn't "personal" information, as I said, it was just confirming the info that the census bureau already had on file, i.e. "Yes, Jane and John Smith, no children, no other adults in residence there..."

Nothing the average person couldn't find out with 'google'...nothing I would mind my neighbors confirming to an 'ID carrying census taker' about me...

And I neglected to say, it was at the time the national census was being taken - we had received notification by mail that people would be going door to door, and what their ID should say and look like, as well as the nature of the questions they would be asking, etc..There really was no doubt that the woman was legitimate...

The point of my post was to contrast that a person who is knocking on your door asking for info (whether about you or your neighbors) should not 'merely' be wearing ID on a lanyard - but should be presenting it for your inspection without your even having to ask...

I promise, if I were your neighbor, I would never reveal the color underwear hanging on your line when I peak thru the little gap in the privacy fence as I water my bougainvillea...

That is very personal information and you had no right to confirm it or reveal it. The fact that you don't get that is troubling but not surprising because it's the opinion of many people who are oblivious to the deterioration of our right to privacy.

a reply to: Aqualung2012

You didn't ask for any compensation in exchange for money?!

I would have said, "Yes, I know about my neighbors. Information doesn't come cheap these days, throw me a number".

a reply to: Tangerine
Well, apparently the info is not too "personal" for them to have put out a decorative sign 'revealing' themselves as, "The Smiths - John, Jane, & Judy", last year when they had their baby...

You know, I did say that I 'know' my neighbors - I knew the woman was a legitimate census taker - and the point of my (original) post was the immediate presentation of ID by an 'official' knocking at the door.

See, I do "get" what you're saying about privacy, but I have to wonder if the people who are the most 'touchy' about it, are the ones who've got a 'private' meth lab or something in the garage -

- and I don't think anyone would give a rat's hiney about "right to privacy", if they knew a neighbor was 'privately' committing a crime involving endangering the whole neighborhood with toxic chemical by-products plus the possibility of blasting 'your' privacy to kingdom come...

Oh and don't worry, if we're ever neighbors, I will absolutely respect your privacy if a panel truck is ever backed up to your front door for several hours while you're at work one day - I promise, I won't even consider whether I should "reveal" that "personal information" to the neighborhood watch....

....Oh also, if your newspapers pile up for several days - I swear to respect your "right to privacy" instead of knocking on your door to check if you might've had a heart attack or been murdered in your sleep or something..

originally posted by: lostgirl
a reply to: Tangerine
Well, apparently the info is not too "personal" for them to have put out a decorative sign 'revealing' themselves as, "The Smiths - John, Jane, & Judy", last year when they had their baby...

You know, I did say that I 'know' my neighbors - I knew the woman was a legitimate census taker - and the point of my (original) post was the immediate presentation of ID by an 'official' knocking at the door.

See, I do "get" what you're saying about privacy, but I have to wonder if the people who are the most 'touchy' about it, are the ones who've got a 'private' meth lab or something in the garage -

- and I don't think anyone would give a rat's hiney about "right to privacy", if they knew a neighbor was 'privately' committing a crime involving endangering the whole neighborhood with toxic chemical by-products plus the possibility of blasting 'your' privacy to kingdom come...

Oh and don't worry, if we're ever neighbors, I will absolutely respect your privacy if a panel truck is ever backed up to your front door for several hours while you're at work one day - I promise, I won't even consider whether I should "reveal" that "personal information" to the neighborhood watch....

....Oh also, if your newspapers pile up for several days - I swear to respect your "right to privacy" instead of knocking on your door to check if you might've had a heart attack or been murdered in your sleep or something..

Yes, let's not worry about drones hovering outside our windows and the government reading our emails on the off-chance that we might be dead and about to stink up the neighborhood and fired off a last email alerting the NSA. I've noticed that the neighbors who always know the other neighbors' business are the first to gossip about them and the last to take appropriate action in an emergency. "And then the medics carried Ethel out of the house and she was wearing that dreadful dress with roses on it. You know the one, Shirley. I told Fred the other day that anyone who dresses like that likely has a meth lab in their garage. In fact, I've noticed that Ethel has the lights on in the garage well after 10PM several nights a week..."

a reply to: Aqualung2012

I like you..

few people these days would have notified the cops
or even made the efforts you have


When you create a new thread email it to me so I can read it

We may disagree on some things down the line
You pass the smell test on honesty it seems

Rare these days

a reply to: Tangerine
I truly feel sorry for you, if those are the sorts of neighbors you have...and gee, how could you have "noticed" what your neighbors are gossiping about, unless you were part of the gossip 'circle'?

My experience (literally) has been that caring enough about my neighbors to notice when something doesn't seem 'right' (i.e. the examples at the bottom of my last post), has in fact saved a life - and prevented a major theft...

I'm no gossip.
I am a thoughtful, caring person who was doing what seemed a genuine act of kindness - allowing an exhausted census taker (she'd been walking door to door in a neighborhood with over a hundred houses) to 'finish' her day, instead of having to return after working hours to complete her assigned list...

....while at the same time, saving my neighbor (or his wife) having to deal with standing at their door answering questions after a long day's work - when they're tired and hungry, and just want to put some dinner together so they can relax and eat before having to get started on all the 'home' chores that sit waiting to be done at the end of every 10 to 12 hour work day.

And now, I am going to do the 'thoughtful' thing and finish my part of this conversation by saying -

OP, I apologize for accidentally starting an argument in your thread...I hope the situation with your neighbors turns out to be no big deal and I commend your kindness for caring enough about them to be concerned and to do something about it, instead of leaving them alone (and uninformed) with their "right to privacy"...