CFE Meeting Design & Planning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When planning a forensic interview meeting, what is the primary purpose of a pre-meeting briefing with the investigative team?
- To assign blame for the incident
- To align on objectives, roles, and anticipated defenses before the interview (Correct answer)
- To rehearse scripted answers for the subject
- To finalize disciplinary actions prior to the interview
Correct answer: To align on objectives, roles, and anticipated defenses before the interview
A pre-meeting briefing ensures all team members share the same objectives, understand their roles, and anticipate how the subject may respond.
Question 2: Which room configuration is generally LEAST appropriate for a formal forensic interview intended to elicit cooperation?
- A small, private room with neutral furnishings
- A large conference room with many empty seats (Correct answer)
- A room free from external noise and distractions
- A room where the interviewer sits at the same level as the subject
Correct answer: A large conference room with many empty seats
Large conference rooms with empty seats can make the subject feel outnumbered and defensive, reducing cooperative disclosure.
Question 3: A CFE schedules a meeting with a key witness but later discovers that witness also has potential liability. The BEST course of action is to:
- Proceed with the original meeting plan without changes
- Cancel the meeting and exclude the witness from the investigation
- Consult with legal counsel and possibly restructure the meeting approach (Correct answer)
- Confront the witness about their liability at the start of the meeting
Correct answer: Consult with legal counsel and possibly restructure the meeting approach
When a witness has potential liability, legal counsel should guide whether the meeting approach, scope, or the witness's status must be adjusted.
Question 4: In meeting design, 'sequencing' of interviews refers to:
- Recording interviews in the order they occur
- Strategically ordering who is interviewed first to maximize information flow (Correct answer)
- Conducting all interviews simultaneously to prevent collusion
- Alternating between suspect and witness interviews randomly
Correct answer: Strategically ordering who is interviewed first to maximize information flow
Interview sequencing is a strategic decision about the order of interviews to gather foundational facts before confronting primary suspects.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the 'cognitive interview' technique applicable to meeting planning?
- A confrontational approach that presents evidence early to force admissions
- A technique that helps witnesses mentally reinstate the context of an event to improve recall (Correct answer)
- A method of administering polygraph questions in a structured format
- A rapid-fire questioning style designed to catch inconsistencies
Correct answer: A technique that helps witnesses mentally reinstate the context of an event to improve recall
The cognitive interview uses mental context reinstatement and other memory-enhancing strategies to improve the accuracy and completeness of witness recall.
Question 6: When determining the number of interviewers for a fraud investigation meeting, a CFE should consider:
- Using as many interviewers as possible to intimidate the subject
- Balancing the need for a witness/note-taker with the risk of making the subject feel overwhelmed (Correct answer)
- Always conducting interviews alone to build rapport
- Assigning interviewers based solely on seniority regardless of skill
Correct answer: Balancing the need for a witness/note-taker with the risk of making the subject feel overwhelmed
Typically two interviewers are optimal — one to lead and one to take notes — while avoiding a large group that may intimidate the subject into silence.
Question 7: A meeting agenda prepared in advance of a fraud investigation interview primarily helps the CFE to:
- Legally bind the subject to answer all listed questions
- Maintain structured focus and ensure all critical topics are addressed (Correct answer)
- Publicize the investigation's findings to stakeholders
- Replace the need for follow-up meetings entirely
Correct answer: Maintain structured focus and ensure all critical topics are addressed
A pre-planned agenda keeps the interview organized, reduces omissions, and allows the CFE to steer conversations back on track efficiently.
CFE Meeting Design & Planning 2
When planning a forensic interview meeting, what is the primary purpose of a pre-meeting briefing with the investigative team?