COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
ANSWER KEY
How to Catch a Spy
Should you suspect a spy? 1. Yes. According to the FBI, this spy is using the age-old technique of flattery . The spy uses praise to coax a person into providing confidential information or access to restricted areas. 2. Yes. According to the FBI, this spy is using a technique called confidential bait , pretend to divulge confidential information in hopes of receiving confidential information in return. 3. Yes. According to the FBI, this spy is a using the Good Listener technique. By befriending you and listening patiently to your problems you feel you have someone to confide in. The spy has built up your trust, but may be seeking out information about weakness in your building’s security, or wants access to client files. 4. Yes. According to the FBI, this spy is using the technique of criticism of your company in the hopes you will disclose information in its defense. She is also phishing for confidential information about pricing ranges which is a technique called bracketing . 5. Yes. Seemingly benign questionnaires and surveys are standard spy techniques, according to the FBI. Spies surround a few questions they want answered with other logical survey type questions. They also use a survey to get people to agree to talk with them about a particular subject. This is also an example of a macro-micro technique , where the spy starts a conversation on the big topic level, and then gradually guides the person toward the specific area of interest. 6. Yes. According to the FBI, this spy is using a technique called the ruse interview . Someone pretending to be a headhunter calls and asks about your experience, qualifications, recent projects, and references in the hope of obtaining confidential information about projects, names of clients, etc. She is also using a technique called the provocative statement . By telling you that you are “substantially underpaid” you are enticed to stay in the conversation potentially divulging confidential information. What are other elicitation techniques used by industrial spies that the FBI warns workers to be sensitive to? • Assumed Knowledge: Pretend to have knowledge or associations in common with a person. • Can you top this? Tell an extreme story in hopes the person will want to top it by testing them in a story about their company. • Feigned Ignorance: Pretend to be ignorant of a topic in order to exploit the person’s tendency to educate. PRODUCT PREVIEW
209 THE 21st CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO FINANCIAL LITERACY
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker