PCI Investigative Planning & Methodology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of investigative lead refers to information that points to additional sources of evidence rather than directly proving an allegation?
- Corroborative lead
- Indirect lead
- Investigative lead (Correct answer)
- Direct lead
Correct answer: Investigative lead
An investigative lead points the investigator toward additional sources or avenues of inquiry rather than directly establishing proof of an allegation.
Question 2: In investigative methodology, 'triangulation' refers to:
- Using three witnesses in every interview
- Corroborating findings through multiple independent sources or methods (Correct answer)
- Conducting three rounds of surveillance on a suspect
- Plotting subject locations on a geographic triangle
Correct answer: Corroborating findings through multiple independent sources or methods
Triangulation means validating findings by confirming them through multiple independent sources, methods, or data types to increase reliability.
Question 3: A PCI is tasked with investigating a workers' compensation fraud claim. Which record type is MOST critical to obtain early in the planning phase?
- The subject's credit report
- Medical records and claim documentation (Correct answer)
- Social media posts from the prior year
- The subject's vehicle registration
Correct answer: Medical records and claim documentation
Medical records and claim documentation establish the baseline of what the claimant asserts, which then guides the investigator's surveillance and activity verification strategy.
Question 4: When an investigative plan identifies a 'critical path,' this refers to:
- The physical route used for mobile surveillance
- The sequence of investigative steps where delay affects the entire timeline (Correct answer)
- The fastest way to reach the investigation site
- The route taken by the subject on the day of the incident
Correct answer: The sequence of investigative steps where delay affects the entire timeline
The critical path identifies tasks that must be completed on time because any delay directly extends the overall investigation timeline.
Question 5: Which principle requires that investigative methods be proportional to the seriousness of the alleged wrongdoing?
- Due diligence principle
- Proportionality principle (Correct answer)
- Presumption of innocence
- Chain of custody principle
Correct answer: Proportionality principle
The proportionality principle requires that intrusive investigative methods be justified by the seriousness of the allegation to avoid unnecessary privacy violations.
Question 6: During planning, an investigator assesses 'investigative risk.' This assessment PRIMARILY addresses:
- Physical danger to the investigator in the field
- The probability that the investigation will fail to produce usable evidence
- The chance that a subject may file a lawsuit against the company
- The risk of evidence contamination during collection (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The risk of evidence contamination during collection
While all risks matter, planning specifically addresses the risk that improper collection methods will contaminate or invalidate evidence, undermining the case.
Question 7: An investigator receives an anonymous tip that is the sole basis for an investigation. The MOST appropriate initial planning step is to:
- Immediately interview the alleged subject
- Attempt to corroborate the tip with independently verifiable information (Correct answer)
- Discard the tip as unreliable since it is anonymous
- Forward the tip directly to law enforcement without further action
Correct answer: Attempt to corroborate the tip with independently verifiable information
Anonymous tips alone lack reliability; the investigator must seek independent corroboration before committing resources or taking intrusive action.
PCI Investigative Planning & Methodology 3
Which type of investigative lead refers to information that points to additional sources of evidence rather than directly proving an allegation?