Interviewing and Interrogation Flashcards
7 cards from real CFE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Interviewing and Interrogation flashcards as text
Which interview technique involves asking about hypothetical third parties to reduce a suspect's embarrassment and encourage admission?
Answer: Third-party projection
Third-party projection uses statements like 'some people in similar situations have done X' to distance the suspect from shame and open dialogue.
A fraud examiner is interviewing a witness who suddenly becomes evasive when asked about expense reports. What should the examiner do?
Answer: Make a note and return to the topic later with a different approach
Returning to sensitive topics later with a different framing can yield information once the witness is more comfortable or off-guard.
Which of the following is a characteristic of a truthful denial during an interrogation?
Answer: Immediate, direct, and specific denial
Truthful denials tend to be spontaneous, direct, and unqualified, whereas deceptive denials are often hedged or delayed.
What is the purpose of 'minimization' in an interrogation context?
Answer: Offering moral justifications or excuses to make admitting easier for the suspect
Minimization offers the subject face-saving rationalizations, lowering psychological barriers to confession.
During an interview, the subject says 'To be honest with you...' before answering a key question. How should this qualifier be interpreted?
Answer: As a potential verbal indicator that the subject may be less than fully honest otherwise
Qualifiers like 'to be honest' can signal that the subject's default is not full honesty, though they are not conclusive proof of deception.
What is the recommended seating arrangement for a private investigative interview to minimize the subject's anxiety?
Answer: Side-by-side at a 90-degree angle with no barrier between them
A side-by-side or 90-degree arrangement without a physical barrier reduces confrontational dynamics and promotes open communication.
Which of the following best describes a 'bait question' used in fraud interviews?
Answer: A question implying the examiner has evidence they may or may not actually possess
Bait questions suggest evidence exists to test the subject's reaction, which can reveal consciousness of guilt even if the examiner lacks that specific evidence.