Page 271 - Deception at work all chapters EBook

272 Deception at Work

THE ULTIMATE STATEMENT

If you believe the liar has no intention of telling the truth, you may seriously excite the sub-
conscious monkey by making a statement along the lines:

Example: ‘Bill, you have told me x and I have explained to you that I do not believe you. I want
you to confirm that there can be no misunderstanding about this. If what you have told me is
untrue, it must be a barefaced lie, mustn’t it? You can have no excuse whatsoever, can you?’

Experience shows that liars hate this question because it commits them to a barefaced lie
(Table 7.36):

Table 7.36 Most likely reactions to the ultimate statement

Reactions indicating innocence Reactions indicating guilt

A direct, short and committed answer The liar will try to reduce the anxiety within his response by

such as ‘no’ softening the ‘no’ with additional and unnecessary words

Becomes angry Becomes cautious

Asks for clarification

Questions of this nature can be asked at any point in an interview, but are particularly rele-
vant in Phases C and D (probing and raising the pavement). In over 40 years of dealing with liars,
we have never once known a person whose guilt was subsequently proven to simply say ‘no’.

RIDICULOUS LIES

If the suspect is totally determined not to tell the truth, no matter what, ask detailed questions
then explain how his answers can be disproved. If the suspect continues to deceive, he should
be asked to sign a witness statement containing all of his lies in the finest detail. Subsequently,
these will act against him. After the statement has been completed, you may point out that it
is obviously untrue, makes the suspect look foolish and ask him if he wishes to change it. If
he does, keep the original.

Accusatory questions and statements – Phase C

INTRODUCTION

It is critical in all interviews with people suspected of deception that you tell them precisely
what you believe to be the truth based on your deception theory, i.e. that they did it. However,
a statement such as: ‘I know you stole the cash, you cheating ratbag,’ is likely to result in a denial,
stalemate or worse. You must always treat even the nastiest villain with respect and carefully
plan the way in which you make the first accusation:

• a suitable war story, or drawing a parallel in a current news event;
• assumptive questions;
• hypothetical questions;
• a direct accusation prefaced or followed immediately by a rationalization statement.