Deception at Work

'Michael Comer's book is a reminder that all fraud is down to at least one person telling lies to another and being believed. Or, as he puts it, "for every credibility gap there is a gullibility fill." Starting with a look at how the human mind works when it is telling lies, Comer examines the ways in which liars and fraudsters try to hide their actions. Using examples of famous lies and half truths (such as Clinton's "I did not have sex with that woman, Monica Lewinsky") he reviews the signs of deception and how they can be spotted by someone with a keen eye. Comer even includes a look at recognising deception in writing. His tips are useful for both fraud investigators and AFN members who are responsible for monitoring employee activity. Most usefully, Comer gives clear advice for conducting interviews to get the best possible results and outcome. Working overtime to get background information on the interviewee and preparing avidly in advance give you a good start. But you can help by ensuring that the layout of the room, the dynamic of the relationship between you and the interviewee, and the non-verbal signals you give all conspire to draw "deep truth" from the suspect.' AFN Newsletter Book Review 'For those working in the external environment with the authority for tough questioning, such as auditors, the information and guidance will be invaluable. And readers who work internally will find there are many lessons to be learned; for example, what to do with incriminating evidence.' Accounting Technician 'Their book is packed with tips on how people behave when they're lying, the warning phrases that you may not be hearing the whole truth, and rates danger signs on a rising one-10 scale.' Supply Management 'To sum up, this is another Comer masterpiece worth studying deeply by anyone whose job means facing tricky, deceitful or plain lying people.' Professional Security '...discover the horrifying personal and financial cost of lying and learn how to detect