Page 199 - Deception at work all chapters EBook

200 Deception at Work

Phase A: Getting the subject to attend
Wherever possible, the subject should be ambushed as part of the first step of the investigation
and we recognize that this may not be the conventional approach. However, your objective is
to find the truth and to clear the innocent as well as nail the guilty party. Experience shows
that the first step must be a surprise. This makes it less likely that subjects can prepare excuses
or interfere with the evidence.

The first step must be an ambush

The invitation for a suspect to attend an interview, or meeting, should be carefully planned
(see page [xref]) and should be made in a low key, unemotional way, ideally with the minimum
of notice (see page [xref]) The objective is to entice the suspect into accepting the challenge
of attending an interview. You can only do this if he believes he can win or has more to gain
than lose by attending.

There are cases where people have no option but to attend an interview and answer ques-
tions, including investigations by the Serious Fraud Office, some health and safety enquiries,
where employees are required to assist under the terms and conditions of their employment
and when you are summonsed by your mother-in-law. But, in most cases, the willingness of
the subject to attend depends on your persuasive skills.

A person invited to attend a tough interview will carefully assess his position. If he believes
the evidence against him is damning and that he has no chance of escape, he is likely to flee,
and refuse to attend. Thus the way you invite a subject to attend an interview is important.

THE TELEPHONE CALL I have the strongest evidence that you are
a malodorous scumbag who has ripped off
You have been investigating for months and millions from Sunshine Foods. My office is
have reached the phase at which you would jam packed with evidence that incriminates
like to interview the suspect. You telephone you and you are in deep shit with no chance
him at home on a Sunday evening: of escape. I would like to see you at 8.30
tomorrow.’ Will he come? … Would you?
‘Good evening, Mr Jones, this is Bill
Smith from Audit. As you know I have
been investigating you for six months and

You might think that conversations like this never take place, but unfortunately they do.
In one recent multimillion pound case, auditors telephoned the suspect at home on a Sunday
evening, telling him about their investigation and asking to see him in his office the follow-
ing morning adding: ‘Bring your laptop and backup files with you.’ They were amazed that
the suspect did not appear but had instead run off to Brazil. When he was eventually tracked
down, he claimed his laptop had fallen into a river.