CFS Witness Interviewing Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which interview technique involves asking a witness to mentally reinstate the context of an event before recalling details?
- Cognitive Interview (Correct answer)
- Structured Interview
- Motivational Interviewing
- Behavioral Analysis Interview
Correct answer: Cognitive Interview
The Cognitive Interview uses mental reinstatement of context as one of its core mnemonics to enhance witness recall.
Question 2: During a fraud investigation interview, a witness suddenly crosses their arms and averts their gaze when asked about a specific transaction. How should the interviewer interpret this?
- The witness is definitely lying about the transaction
- The behavior is a potential deception cue requiring follow-up probing (Correct answer)
- The interview should be terminated immediately
- The witness should be accused of involvement in the fraud
Correct answer: The behavior is a potential deception cue requiring follow-up probing
Behavioral changes are potential deception cues, not proof of lying, and should prompt further non-accusatory probing.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of using a 'timeline' technique during witness interviews in fraud cases?
- To confuse the witness into making contradictions
- To establish a chronological sequence of events that can be verified (Correct answer)
- To intimidate the witness with documented evidence
- To shorten the overall interview duration
Correct answer: To establish a chronological sequence of events that can be verified
Timelines help organize witness accounts chronologically, making inconsistencies easier to identify and verify against records.
Question 4: A CFS examiner wants to interview a reluctant cooperative witness who fears retaliation. Which approach is MOST appropriate?
- Subpoena the witness immediately
- Build rapport and explain confidentiality protections before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Interview the witness without their knowledge
- Threaten legal consequences if they refuse to cooperate
Correct answer: Build rapport and explain confidentiality protections before proceeding
Building rapport and explaining confidentiality protections encourages reluctant witnesses to share information voluntarily.
Question 5: In the PEACE model of interviewing, what does the letter 'E' (second E) stand for?
- Evidence
- Evaluation (Correct answer)
- Engagement
- Explanation
Correct answer: Evaluation
In the PEACE model, the second E stands for Evaluation, where the interviewer assesses the account obtained against known facts.
Question 6: Which of the following question types is MOST likely to elicit a detailed narrative account from a witness?
- Leading questions
- Closed-ended questions
- Open-ended questions (Correct answer)
- Hypothetical questions
Correct answer: Open-ended questions
Open-ended questions invite witnesses to provide detailed, unguided narrative responses rather than simple yes/no answers.
Question 7: A fraud investigator interviews a witness who is an accountant and speaks using highly technical jargon. What is the BEST strategy?
- Use equally technical language to establish credibility
- Ask the witness to simplify all terminology used
- Match the witness's communication style while ensuring clarity (Correct answer)
- Redirect the witness to speak in layman's terms only
Correct answer: Match the witness's communication style while ensuring clarity
Matching the witness's communication style builds rapport while ensuring the interviewer understands all technical details accurately.
CFS Witness Interviewing Techniques 2
Which interview technique involves asking a witness to mentally reinstate the context of an event before recalling details?