Kroll is a private investigation and risk management firm, not a government agency
Kroll is a for-profit company that conducts investigations, background checks, and risk assessments for other businesses and organizations. You may encounter Kroll because your employer, insurance company, lender, or legal opponent hired them to investigate something about you — not because a government agency sent them. Kroll does not work for the IRS, Social Security, or any federal or state benefit program, though they may be hired by those agencies in specific cases.
Kroll operates in more than 30 countries and handles everything from employment screening to fraud investigation to due diligence for large acquisitions. When you receive a letter, phone call, or visit from someone claiming to represent Kroll, they are working on behalf of whoever hired them. That client — your employer, an insurance company, a bank, or a law firm — is the party actually seeking information about you.
Understanding who hired Kroll and why matters because it changes what you owe them, what you can refuse to answer, and what your next step should be. A Kroll investigator has no legal authority to compel you to speak with them, sign documents, or provide records, even if they imply otherwise.
Key Takeaways
- Kroll is a private company hired by employers, insurers, lenders, and lawyers — not a government agency — and has no legal power to force you to cooperate.
- You can decline to speak with a Kroll investigator, and doing so does not automatically harm you, though the hiring party may draw conclusions from your silence.
- If Kroll contacts you about a workers' compensation claim, employment matter, or insurance dispute, the outcome of their investigation may affect your benefits or job, so understanding the context matters.
- Kroll may obtain records about you through legal channels (subpoenas, public records, prior consent) without your permission, but they cannot access sealed records or private information without proper legal process.
- If you are unsure why Kroll is investigating you, you can ask them directly, and they are required to tell you who hired them and the general reason for the investigation.
Why employers and insurers hire Kroll
Employers hire Kroll most often to investigate workers' compensation claims, suspected theft or fraud by employees, or background checks before hiring. If you filed a workers' comp claim and Kroll shows up, your employer's insurance carrier likely hired them to verify that your injury is real and that you are not working while claiming disability benefits. Kroll may follow you, review your social media, interview neighbors, or request medical records — all legal if done within the bounds of privacy law.
Insurance companies hire Kroll to investigate claims they suspect are fraudulent. If you filed a homeowners, auto, or disability insurance claim and Kroll contacts you, the insurer is trying to confirm the claim is legitimate. They may investigate whether the damage or injury you reported actually occurred, whether you caused it intentionally, or whether you misrepresented facts on your process.
Lenders and credit companies hire Kroll to verify information on loan applications or to locate borrowers who have defaulted. Lawyers hire Kroll to gather evidence for litigation — either to support their client's case or to investigate the other side. In each case, Kroll's findings can directly affect whether you receive a benefit, keep a job, or face legal consequences.
What Kroll can and cannot do legally
Kroll can obtain information about you through legal channels: public records (court filings, property records, business registrations), prior written consent you gave (like when you signed an employment process authorizing background checks), subpoenas issued by a court, and Freedom of Information Act requests to government agencies. They can interview people who know you, observe you in public, and review information you posted on social media or published online.
Kroll cannot access sealed court records, medical records without your consent or a court order, private financial records without legal process, or information obtained through deception or trespass. They cannot impersonate law enforcement, threaten you, or contact you in ways that violate state debt collection or harassment laws. They cannot hack into your email, phone, or computer accounts. If they do any of these things, they have broken the law, and you may have grounds to sue.
The line between legal investigation and illegal surveillance is state-specific. Some states restrict how closely investigators can follow you or photograph you. Some require investigators to identify themselves if you ask directly. If you believe Kroll has broken the law — by trespassing, impersonating an officer, or accessing private information illegally — you can report it to your state's attorney general or consult a lawyer about a civil claim.
How to respond if Kroll contacts you
Your first step is to ask who hired them and why. Kroll is required to tell you the name of the party that hired them and the general subject of the investigation. Write down the investigator's name, the date and time of contact, and exactly what they said. If they called, ask for a callback number and the company's main office number so you can verify they actually work for Kroll.
You can tell Kroll you will not speak with them without a lawyer present. You can refuse to answer questions, refuse to sign documents, and refuse to let them into your home. Refusing to cooperate does not automatically hurt you — the hiring party may draw negative conclusions from your silence, but that is different from legal consequences. However, if the investigation is related to a workers' compensation claim, insurance claim, or employment matter, refusing to cooperate may result in denial of benefits or termination of employment, depending on your contract and state law.
If you have a lawyer — because you are in litigation, facing a workers' comp dispute, or dealing with an employment issue — contact them when ready and let them handle communication with Kroll. If you do not have a lawyer but believe the investigation could harm you, consider consulting one before responding. Many lawyers offer a brief initial consultation for free or low cost.
Kroll in workers' compensation investigations
Workers' compensation insurers use Kroll frequently to investigate whether claimants are truly disabled. The investigator may watch you leave your home, follow you to see what activities you do, review your social media for photos or videos that contradict your claimed injury, or interview your neighbors about what they have seen you doing. All of this is legal in most states, even though it may feel invasive.
If you are receiving workers' compensation benefits and Kroll is investigating you, the insurer is trying to build a case that you are not as injured as you claimed, that you caused the injury intentionally, or that you are committing fraud by working while on benefits. If Kroll's investigation finds evidence against you, the insurer may deny your claim, demand repayment of benefits you already received, or refer the case to law enforcement for criminal investigation.
The best protection is to be honest in your original claim and consistent in how you present yourself. If your doctor says you cannot lift more than 10 pounds, do not post videos of yourself moving furniture. If you claimed a back injury prevents you from sitting for long periods, do not let an investigator photograph you sitting at a desk for hours. Kroll's job is to find inconsistencies, and those inconsistencies can be used against you in a hearing or lawsuit.
Kroll in employment and background check matters
Employers hire Kroll to conduct background checks before hiring, to investigate suspected employee misconduct, or to verify information on job applications. If Kroll contacts you about a job you applied for, your employer likely authorized a background check as part of the hiring process. If you already work somewhere and Kroll shows up, your employer may be investigating a specific allegation — theft, harassment, falsified credentials, or violation of company policy.
In hiring situations, you have limited leverage. If you refuse to cooperate with a background check you authorized when you applied, the employer can withdraw the job offer. If you already work there and refuse to cooperate with an internal investigation, you can be fired, depending on your employment contract and state law. However, you still have the right to have a lawyer present during any formal investigative interview, and you can refuse to sign statements you do not agree with.
If Kroll is investigating you for a specific incident at work — a safety violation, a conflict with a coworker, or suspected theft — the investigation may lead to discipline, demotion, or termination. You have the right to know what you are being investigated for, to respond to the allegations, and in some cases (depending on union membership or employment contract) to have representation present during questioning.
What to do if you believe Kroll has acted illegally
If you believe Kroll has broken the law — by trespassing on your property, impersonating a law enforcement officer, accessing your private records without legal authority, or harassing you — document everything. Write down dates, times, what was said, and what happened. Save any letters, emails, or voicemails from Kroll. Take photographs if they trespassed or if you have visible evidence of their presence.
Report the conduct to your state's attorney general, the state licensing board that oversees private investigators (most states require investigators to be licensed), and the Federal Trade Commission if the conduct relates to debt collection or consumer fraud. You can also consult a lawyer about filing a civil lawsuit against Kroll for invasion of privacy, trespass, or intentional infliction of emotional distress. Some lawyers handle these cases on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront and they take a percentage of any settlement or judgment.
If Kroll obtained information about you illegally and used it to harm you — for example, if they hacked into your email to find evidence used against you in a lawsuit — that evidence may be inadmissible in court, and you may have grounds to sue both Kroll and the party that hired them. A lawyer can advise you on whether you have a case and what your options are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Kroll access my medical records without my permission?
No, not without a court order or your written consent. However, if you filed an insurance claim or workers' compensation claim, you may have signed an authorization allowing the insurer to obtain medical records. If you did, Kroll can request those records on the insurer's behalf. If you did not sign such an authorization, Kroll cannot legally access your medical records.
What happens if I refuse to talk to a Kroll investigator?
You have the right to refuse. Kroll cannot force you to speak with them or sign anything. However, the party that hired Kroll may draw negative conclusions from your refusal, which could affect a workers' compensation claim, insurance claim, or employment decision. If you are in litigation or facing a formal hearing, consult a lawyer before deciding whether to cooperate.
Is Kroll affiliated with the government or any benefit program?
No. Kroll is a private company. It is not part of the IRS, Social Security Administration, state unemployment office, or any other government agency. If someone claiming to represent a government agency contacts you, they are not from Kroll. If you are unsure whether a contact is legitimate, hang up and call the government agency directly using a number from their official website.
Can Kroll follow me or take photographs of me?
In most states, yes, as long as they are in public spaces. Kroll can follow you on the street, photograph you in public, and observe your activities. However, some states restrict how closely investigators can follow you or require them to identify themselves if you ask. If you believe Kroll is harassing you or violating state surveillance laws, consult a lawyer or report it to your state attorney general.
What should I do if Kroll shows up at my door?
You can ask them to leave your property. You do not have to let them inside, answer questions, or sign anything. Ask for their name, the company they work for, who hired them, and why. If they refuse to leave after you ask them to, they may be trespassing. You can call the police. If you want to cooperate but are unsure whether you should, tell them you will contact them after consulting a lawyer.