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CHAPTER

9 Other Applications

If two wrongs don’t make a right, try three

Background

The cunning plan can be used anytime you believe you might be told lies and it should be-
come as much a part of your life as your mobile telephone, Filofax, PDA or even your Scotty
Cameron putter. This chapter gives examples of how the plan can be applied in dealing with
the situations shown in Table 9.1.

Table 9.1 Coverage of this chapter

Types of situations and lies Examples and comments

Achievement lies and dealing Dealing with confidence tricksters or ‘conmen’, including job
with conmen (see page [xref]) candidates

Anonymous letters (see page Resolving allegations made against employees etc.
[xref])

Elimination interviews (see page Eliminating innocent people from suspicion
[xref])

Witnesses (see page [xref]) Obtaining intelligence and evidence from potential witnesses
using cognitive techniques

Achievement lies and dealing with conmen

BACKGROUND
Types of conmen and modus operandi1

The main focus of this section is on achievement lies, involving determined opponents often
with large amounts at stake. The subjects, suspects and liars are referred to as ‘suspected con-
men’ or ‘conmen’ and they come in all shapes, sizes and colours.

The difficulty arises in distinguishing conmen from people who may, or may not, fall into
that category. Obviously, once you have determined that a person is a conman, as opposed to
merely a suspect, you should have no dealings with him as you will always come out badly.

Never deal with proven conmen.
Don’t play with fire

1 Just to remind you of the dangers of Latin