CFA HUMINT Collection Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During elicitation, a field agent uses flattery to encourage a target to share information by appealing to their expertise. This technique is known as:
- Bracketing
- Appeal to ego (Correct answer)
- False flag
- Deliberate error
Correct answer: Appeal to ego
Appeal to ego exploits a target's vanity or pride by praising their knowledge to encourage them to share more information.
Question 2: A HUMINT source consistently provides accurate information but suddenly begins reporting data that contradicts known facts. The first investigative step should be to:
- Immediately terminate the source relationship
- Assess whether the source has been compromised or doubled (Correct answer)
- Increase payment to motivate better performance
- Report the discrepancy without further analysis
Correct answer: Assess whether the source has been compromised or doubled
A sudden shift to inaccurate reporting is a classic indicator that a source may have been compromised or turned into a double agent by an adversary.
Question 3: Which debriefing approach is most effective when a recently returned asset has been under prolonged operational stress?
- Immediate rapid-fire questioning to capture fresh memories
- A phased debrief beginning with rapport-building and rest before detailed questioning (Correct answer)
- Written questionnaire completed independently by the asset
- Polygraph examination conducted before any verbal debrief
Correct answer: A phased debrief beginning with rapport-building and rest before detailed questioning
A phased approach that allows recovery time improves recall accuracy and builds the trust necessary to elicit complete reporting from a stressed source.
Question 4: The 'deliberate error' elicitation technique involves the collector:
- Pretending to misunderstand the target's statement to prompt clarification
- Intentionally stating an incorrect fact to provoke the target into providing the correct information (Correct answer)
- Fabricating a scenario to test the source's reaction
- Misrepresenting the collector's true identity
Correct answer: Intentionally stating an incorrect fact to provoke the target into providing the correct information
By stating something factually wrong, a collector can trigger a knowledgeable target's impulse to correct the error, revealing accurate information.
Question 5: When conducting a clandestine meeting in a denied area, the primary purpose of a 'cover stop' is to:
- Verify the meeting site is free of surveillance
- Provide a plausible reason for the collector's presence in the area (Correct answer)
- Allow the source to confirm they are not under surveillance
- Transfer materials between the collector and the source
Correct answer: Provide a plausible reason for the collector's presence in the area
A cover stop provides a legitimate pretext for the agent's presence in the area, reducing suspicion if observed by hostile surveillance.
Question 6: In HUMINT operations, 'spotting' refers to the process of:
- Identifying and observing potential individuals who may be recruited as sources (Correct answer)
- Detecting surveillance on a planned operational route
- Marking a dead drop site for a clandestine exchange
- Confirming an asset's identity at a covert meeting
Correct answer: Identifying and observing potential individuals who may be recruited as sources
Spotting is the first phase of the recruitment cycle, involving identification of individuals with access to required intelligence and potential for recruitment.
Question 7: Which factor is LEAST important when evaluating the reliability of a HUMINT source's reporting?
- The source's demonstrated access to the reported information
- The source's physical appearance and manner of dress (Correct answer)
- The internal consistency of the source's accounts over time
- Corroboration from independent collection methods
Correct answer: The source's physical appearance and manner of dress
Physical appearance is irrelevant to reliability assessment; access, consistency, and corroboration are the substantive indicators of source credibility.
CFA HUMINT Collection Techniques 2
During elicitation, a field agent uses flattery to encourage a target to share information by appealing to their expertise.
This technique is known as: