» How to fool a lie detector (polygraph)

How to fool a polygraph? Countermeasures

Today, there is a widespread myth in society about the super-effectiveness of the polygraph. Annoying mistakes are attributed to the lack of qualifications of individual specialists, but the reliability of the technology itself is almost never called into question. On the pages of various publications you can often read “authoritative data” that the reliability of lie detector tests is 99 percent, or even 100 percent.

Cartoon from antipoligraph.org website

This myth is supported with all its might both by polygraph examiners themselves and by other interested structures. Firstly, for advertising purposes, in order to create commercial demand for this type of service. They are not cheap and bring specialized companies good income. Secondly, to exert psychological pressure on test takers, depriving them of the will to resist and increasing the effectiveness of tests. This approach, figuratively speaking, helps ensure victory before the battle begins.

Thirdly, there are deeper, socio-psychological reasons. Even in ancient times they knew that the fear and simultaneous admiration of the crowd for something mysterious and powerful is the basis of power over it. The myth about the power of the polygraph, which is cultivated today, is no exception. “Bosses”, the ruling class, use it to keep in fear and obedience those who are below them on the social ladder (the people, the plebs, subordinates, office plankton - call it what you want). It is not for nothing that in many fantastic dystopias the polygraph and polygraph examiners are integral part totalitarian system, tool social control and oppression of the masses by the ruling elite.

With the same manipulative purpose, the myth is being spread today that only criminals are afraid of polygraph tests, because “an honest person has nothing to hide.” And refusal to test or attempt to oppose the polygraph procedure is already a priori proof of your unreliability. This is done to in advance create in you feelings of fear and guilt for your reluctance to undergo testing and turn your soul inside out. Although an aversion to a polygraph and a refusal to test does not at all indicate that you are a complete villain. According to the legislation of most countries, a test on such devices is not direct evidence of guilt or innocence.

Each person has his own personal inner world, which he strives to protect from other people's interference. And he is not obliged to allow anyone into it. Each of us has personal motives, interests and secret desires that we do not want and are not obliged to disclose to strangers. In the Anglo-American legal system There is even a special category of privacy, meaning the right to secrets and inviolability of private life, the intimate sphere of a person. Polygraph testing is a direct invasion of your intimate territory.

In some cases, such an intervention is justified. For example, when investigating serious criminal crimes (murders, terrorist attacks, etc.), posing a threat for society and people's lives. If you have been slandered or falsely accused of committing a crime, then a polygraph test is sometimes the only chance to prove your innocence. But often coercion for testing can be called nothing more than an insult to a person, gross interference in privacy and psychological violence against an individual. These could be a complete check of staff for loyalty at the whim of a big boss who wants to know all the ins and outs about the lives of his subordinates; suspicions of adultery on the part of a jealous spouse; and other things that are widely represented today in the price lists of commercial polygraph companies.

Polygraph examiners, at the request of the customer (or even simply because of their own morbid curiosity), often commit direct violations of ethical norms and professional standards. They literally begin to turn the test taker inside out, trying to find out everything about him: from political views and religious beliefs to sexual preferences. This is especially common when hiring and checking existing personnel (so-called screening). These kinds of intimate questions may make up a large part of the questionnaire compiled for you by the polygraph operator. If it is impossible to refuse such testing (for example, due to the threat of immediate dismissal), but you also do not want to give away the secrets and nuances of your private life, then trying to fool the polygraph may be your only option.

Before starting testing, each polygraph examiner necessarily tries to instill in the “victim” the idea that there is no prospect of resisting the polygraph. During the instruction, they will explain to you in a friendly and relaxed manner that, supposedly, the lie detector “sees everything” and it will not be possible to deceive it. And all you have to do is relax and enjoy the process of turning you inside out, when other people’s insensitive fingers unceremoniously crawl into the hidden depths of your soul. Let's not blame the specialists for this professional trick - this is part of their work, prescribed in the instructions. Let's talk about whether it is really possible to fool a lie detector?

Who can fool a polygraph?

Science and technology do not stand still, but the real efficiency of the polygraph today is still far from the declared indicators. This is evidenced by large number mistakes and loud scandals, when the results of a detector test literally ruined the lives of innocent people. Even in the USA, where the tradition of active use of the polygraph goes back many decades, enormous experience has been accumulated, and the level of training and qualifications of the personnel is no match for our home-grown specialists, the reliability of assessments today is estimated by unbiased experts to be, at best, 70%. And this is the most optimistic data. Laboratory and field studies examining the accuracy of polygraph tests have shown that they are subject to significant error rates. Experiments have also been conducted to prove the possibility of learning to successfully counter a polygraph. They show that bypassing a lie detector, although difficult, is quite possible.

The lie detector can be fooled quite easily by social psychopaths. They do not have an adequate perception of social norms, ethics and public morality (what is colloquially called conscience). Accordingly, questions about violations of these norms do not cause a physiological alarm reaction. There are known cases where sexual maniacs and serial killers successfully passed the test because they were confident that there was no evidence against them and did not feel worried about what they had done.

By similar reason There are limitations when testing minors and very elderly people with “senile insanity” on a polygraph - the former are still, and the latter are no longer able to understand the meaning and social significance of the questions.

Pathological liars also easily cope with this task, because if a person sincerely believes in his lie, then to the polygraph it already looks like the truth. It is no coincidence that the instructions of polygraph examiners indicate that testing mental patients during an exacerbation manic psychosis or schizophrenia is impossible, since in this case the person being tested cannot distinguish between illusion and reality.

Another group is highly professional actors who are fluent in their craft (Stanislavsky’s system, etc.), who are able to identify themselves with a fictional character and merge with the image of their hero, right down to physiological manifestations: “laughter and tears to order, whatever you want " It is also necessary to mention intelligence officers who have received special training. Systematic “training” with the help of a detector allows them to bring the necessary states and reactions to the level of unconscious reflexes in order to more or less successfully deceive the polygraph.

For other people, this requires significant effort, and sometimes just luck. Individual geniuses who have such a gift from birth do not count, since there are very few of them. Unlike the “invisible front fighters,” you most likely will not have access to a device for preliminary training, and the time for preparation will be severely limited. But this does not deprive you of your chances of success.

The first step is to overcome the fear and “reverence” of the polygraph, which was instilled in you in advance for manipulative purposes. And also get rid of the guilt embedded in you. They block your will to resist. What helps you is calm self-confidence and an attitude of winning, not losing. Remember that the lie detector is not omnipotent. He cannot read your thoughts and thus learn anything about you. It only records the state at the time of testing. Or more precisely, changes in physiological indicators when answering questions. Based on the collected data, the computer produces a probabilistic assessment, which is then analyzed by a specialist. A polygraph, like any machine, can be bypassed, its “brains” can be jammed so that it cannot give an accurate answer.

What you need to know about the operation of a lie detector

The basic principle of the polygraph is as follows: the physiological reactions are stronger, the more important and significant the question asked is for you. As a rule, a person who is not involved in a case that interests interrogators reacts approximately the same way to all questions: those that are significant for the case and those that are not significant. And for those involved, significant questions cause uncontrollable tension.

Usually, before the actual lie detector test, all the questions that will be asked are discussed with the test taker. The topic of the test is discussed in advance to avoid an uncertain reaction to an unexpected question. If you ask a person directly without preparation something like “Did you sleep with your boss’s wife?”, he simply may not understand what is happening. He will start to get nervous or hesitate to answer, even if he has never done so. Or he will be very surprised - and the polygraph shows approximately the same reaction to lies and surprise.

During the preliminary discussion, you can already decide how you will respond. Knowing the topic and an approximate range of questions, you can take advantage of this. Banish the real picture from your consciousness and create a “legend” that is beneficial to you: a bright, emotionally charged image that will displace the real one. With developed imagination and self-hypnosis skills, this can help you outwit the polygraph. Key Point here - to force yourself to believe in this alternative reality, and not just imagine it in all details. And the main difficulty is “not to think about the white rhinoceros”, to forget for a while about how everything really happened. Otherwise, the real picture in your mind will overlap with the imagined one. Two mutually exclusive images will simultaneously cause mental tension and stress. You will begin to demonstrate delayed reactions to questions and other artifacts. They will show that you are constructing an imaginary event (or, more simply put, lying) and this will be recorded by a polygraph as evidence of your lies.

Before the main test, the so-called tuning (pre-test) interview to “calibrate” your answers. Your psychophysiological indicators in a normal state are studied. Sensors record upper (chest) and lower (abdominal) breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure, tremor (shaking) and electrical reaction of the skin. Next, the tests find out how the indicators “jump” when the test taker is asked questions that are significant to him. Usually they are quite simple: “Is your name so-and-so?”, “Do you have a family?”, “Do you intend to deceive the polygraph?”

Your reaction to a deliberate lie is also studied. The polygraph examiner calls several names, including yours. You must lie, that is, say that the name being spoken is not yours. This way it checks how you react to a lie and how the detector records it. For a similar purpose, you may be asked to write down a number from several suggested ones, choose a playing card, put some kind of figure in your pocket, etc. The polygraph operator then “guesses” the subject by analyzing your reactions.

A funny detail: in many instructions for polygraph operators, when “guessing” they advise not to limit themselves to the analysis of psychophysiological reactions, but to be safe, to resort to cheating techniques - marked cards, hidden video cameras... Such petty cheating is considered acceptable. After all, among other things, the preparatory stage should break the test taker’s will to resist and convince him of the futility of trying to deceive the polygraph. Therefore, during the preliminary demonstration, they strive to completely eliminate the possibility of a “puncture”.

The main test can take several hours. The questions are read out, you are asked to listen carefully and answer honestly “yes” or “no.” After each question there is a pause (15-20 seconds) during which the psychophysiological reaction to it is recorded. The polygraph records when your “heart skipped a beat,” where you held your breath, what question was followed by a “sigh of relief,” and where your hands trembled and your knees vibrated. Here are some signs emotional stress in response to a significant question. They may not be in your favor:

• the magnitude of the skin reaction increases;
• the pulse slows down, followed by a compensatory increase in heart rate;
• holding the breath and slowing down its rhythm, followed by a compensatory increase in the rhythm and depth of breathing;
• changes in inhalation/exhalation time, inhalation pause and exhalation pause;
• increased muscle tremors

To disorient the interviewee and break down his protective barriers, conditions and wording may change. The same question may be presented many times. Questions on the same topic can be formulated differently. You may be asked to answer “yes” to all questions, even if you have previously answered “no” to them, to see how they will react if they answer yes. Or vice versa - give only negative answers. There is also a “silent answer” - the test taker is asked only to think about the answer to the question, but not to say it out loud.

During the survey, “filler questions” are used on neutral topics that, in theory, should not cause excitement (“Is it Monday?” “Are you sitting on a chair?”). Experts suggest including more questions in the test that require a known truthful answer. After them, it will be more difficult for a person to lie, and the corresponding physiological manifestations will become more noticeable.

There are also trap questions regarding the details of what happened (for example, theft). They are unknown to the innocent, but will cause a strong reaction to those involved in the crime. Often the question lists key words and facts. “What did you take from the safe? Mobile phone? Gun? A pack of condoms? A bunch of keys? “How long has it been since you last used drugs? Week? Month? Year? Five years? “Do you like to drink alone? In the company? In the morning? In the evenings? For days on end? “What bribe did you receive? One hundred? Two hundred? Three hundred? Five hundred thousand? As you approach the correct answer, signs of anxiety increase, and then relax as you move away from it. Although outwardly it may not be noticeable to a person.

To distract the test taker's attention, significant questions are made more difficult. The unknown is presented to the test taker as the known: “Did you hide the package you stole there?” A person, by inertia, can “get carried away” and answer “yes” or “no”. And any unambiguous answer to such questions already contains indirect recognition.

There are also security questions that should excite even the innocent (“Have you ever taken something that didn’t belong to you?”). Everyone has committed such acts at least once in their lives, so it is assumed that for innocent people, control questions should cause more excitement than questions directly related to the essence of the case. A negative answer to a control test question indicates that the person being tested is lying.

Ways to deceive the polygraph

How to reset the “calibration” of a polygraph and make it work incorrectly? The first answer that comes to mind is to give deliberately false, random, unsystematic and “idiotic” answers to all questions without exception during the preliminary interview and further during the testing process. Try your best to mix up the tracks, not allowing the polygraph to see what you can be like when you tell the truth. It is clear that such demonstrative opposition to the polygraph will 100% likely arouse suspicion of your guilt. Therefore, it is usually chosen by those who have nothing to lose, and all that remains is to have fun and enjoy themselves. These could be ideological opponents of polygraphs or criminals caught red-handed who go into “complete ignorance.” There is no longer any need to prove their involvement in the crime. But figuring out the details (“Who are your accomplices and where are the stolen diamonds hidden?”) will be difficult because there is no basic calibration scale against which physiological responses are compared.

Such provocative moves look impressive. However, more often than not, test takers want the examiners not to suspect anything. How to fool a lie detector without being noticed?

There are three main ways to counter a polygraph. Their detailed description you can easily find it on the Internet. Remember that all methods require preliminary training and careful practice. Any attempt to fool a polygraph without preparation will most likely end in failure for you.

The first way to fool a lie detector- try to reduce the sensitivity of your own touch analyzers. To do this, it will be enough to drink some alcohol the day before. The next day, the person becomes weakly sensitive, his reactions are, so to speak, “inhibited” and he will not be able to react objectively to the presented stimuli. A lie detector will not be able to draw clear conclusions.

Specially selected medical supplies- another remedy. These may be medications for hypertension that lower blood pressure and at the same time block the production of adrenaline (beta blockers). Using them, you must know and understand your body’s reaction to “chemistry”. Thus, for persons with low blood pressure, the use of adrenergic blockers is strictly contraindicated. You also need to be able to calculate the duration of action of pharmacological agents. For everything to look natural, the concentration of the drug in the blood should reach its maximum 40-50 minutes after the start of the polygraph test. In this case, as the effects appear, you can refer to accumulating fatigue and feeling unwell, if suddenly the operator suspects an attempt to deceive the polygraph.

If the person being tested has taken psychotropic substances for the first time, he will be in a new mental state and, “out of habit,” may begin to behave inappropriately, which will be instantly noticed. There are also standard questions for testing (“Have you taken medications/alcohol/drugs today?”) and if you lie during testing that you didn’t drink or use, this can be recorded by a polygraph. Although you can swallow something like an aspirin tablet before starting the procedure and then answer “yes” with a clear conscience. In this case, your honest answer overlaps with and masks your emotional reaction about the other substance. The task of such “disguise” is greatly simplified for people with chronic diseases who are forced to constantly take medications.

However, for serious cases, the “chemical-pharmacological” method is not applicable. For example, if the results of a lie detector examination are planned to be used as evidence in court, then a blood test for the presence of various drugs is mandatory.

Chemical methods also include treating the surface of the skin with various substances so that the electrical conductivity becomes constant for some time. Then the sensors attached to your fingers will not detect changes in reaction to significant questions. You will have a chance to outsmart the lie detector. The most basic remedy is wiping with regular medical alcohol, which narrows the sweat glands. The galvanic skin reaction is “evened out” by various medicinal and cosmetic products that greatly reduce sweating: talcs and anti-sweating ointments, foot deodorants, etc. Conditions for their successful use:

• the applied product should be invisible, colorless and odorless;
• its effect must be long-lasting, since a polygraph test lasts several hours;
• the product must be stable and preserved after hand washing (this is a common procedure before testing);

Salicylic-zinc ointment, which is sold in pharmacies, gives good results. It should be applied to hands well heated in boiling water so that it is deeply absorbed into the skin. It should be remembered that the polygraph records not only GSR. Even if the skin is treated, you will have to control your breathing yourself.

Non-chemical methods also give results. For example, lack of sleep for several days. Due to constant lack of sleep, a person falls into a state close to a trance, between sleep and wakefulness - his physiological reaction to all questions will be equally insignificant. Severe fatigue (after hard sports training), exhaustion (due to prolonged fasting) also dull physiological reactions to questions, “smoothing out” the lie detector indicators. The polygrams will turn out “smooth”, unsuitable for decoding. Moreover, it will not be possible to say with certainty that this is a conscious resistance or that a person simply has such a physiological constitution (in polygraph jargon - “a body unsuitable for research”).

When reducing the sensitivity of sensory analyzers, it is important not to overdo it. Don't bring yourself to a very deep blackout. Almost all polygraphs measure the electrical resistance of the skin (galvanic skin response). It is directly related to the functioning of the brain. The more relaxed a person is, the higher the level of skin resistance. If the device records extreme resistance values, suspicions will arise about the reliability of the results. In addition, the polygraph examiner analyzes the magnitude of reactions to control questions unknown to the test taker. If the reaction to them does not differ from the “general background”, the polygraph operator may stop the test, or reschedule it for another time. However, sometimes even such a delay plays into the hands of the test taker.

Another way to fool a polygraph- this is the suppression of all emotions so that not a single stimulus causes a significant response. There are two ways to manage your condition that disrupt habitual reactions: a) general deconcentration; b) attention control (concentration on some object). The basic principle is that a person tries to answer all questions automatically, without paying serious attention to them. He should focus on the picture of the wall that is in front of him, or on some other neutral object. You can concentrate on a part of your body, the rhythm of your breathing, or a memory from your life experience. Ideally, you should completely forget about the existence of a polygraph near you and exclude the perception of the content of the questions being asked. In this state, you hear sounds and words confirming that you are being asked a question, but its content and social significance do not reach you. This method requires the ability to self-regulate; long-term training is needed to master it, but its effectiveness is also quite high.

It is important that the interviewer does not notice your inner detachment. External signs of trance that can be detected by him:

• monotonous and unnatural voice without emotional coloring;
• the face resembles a stone statue;
• the gaze is directed to one point;
• the answer is given even before the tester has time to ask the question.

If the operator notices all this, he will try to get you out of this state. For example, in the following way, described in textbooks for polygraph examiners:

If during testing you have a suspicion, try to immediately change the question and put it in such a form that the subject is forced to say “yes” if he previously answered “no”. For example, asking a question like this: “Your name is...?” call his name. If the suspect has entered a state of detachment from the content of the questions, he will automatically answer “no.” Then, in a gentle form, you should express your bewilderment: “How is it, Semyon Semenovich, that you have already changed your name?” or “You’ve never been called that, is this information on the application form incorrect?” These questions will bring him out of the state in which he entered, and for some time will force him to perceive the content of your questions. Usually, after a pause, a neutral question is given, followed by a “meaningful” one.

Third approach states: “What is important is not the absence of a reaction as such (which is quite easily detected control questions and may arouse suspicion), but the ability to give the desired reaction.” Your reaction should seem natural. Feigned emotional reactions to insignificant stimuli are effective. If you want to provoke a response to a question, try simply multiplying a few multi-digit numbers in your head or thinking about something that evokes rage or sexual emotion.

So, if you do not want to be caught in homosexuality, you need to multiply the numbers in your head when you are asked “do you prefer women.” But if the problem is the opposite, i.e. you must pretend to be a homosexual, which you are not, then you need to multiply after hearing the question “Do you prefer to have sex with people of the same sex,” etc. Alternatively, when asked about women, at that moment you imagine or remember sex scenes with men (or vice versa). Thus, the sexual reaction to the pictures from your imagination is “superimposed” on the question being asked and it seems that it was the question that caused such a reaction. With the right impressionability, willpower and well-practiced skill, this method works.

You can also achieve results if you start reading poetry. About myself, of course. Something long, like Eugene Onegin. Worrying about the main character and answering questions casually.

There are many different ways to create fake reactions. The most famous of them is “mechanical”, a tension in some muscle groups that is invisible to an expert. Typically, the toes are pressed to the floor, the eyes are drawn toward the nose, or the tongue is pressed against the hard palate.

Pain also causes physiological reactions characteristic of psychological stress. Some people, in an attempt to fool the polygraph, put a button in their shoe under their thumb and press it with each negative (or positive) answer. The body begins to react to the expectation of pain, and not to lies or truth. Therefore, the polygraph readings will be the same in the case of a truthful answer and vice versa.

The difficulty is to hide these movements from the interrogator, since such attempts to deceive a lie detector are now known even to amateur polygraph examiners. The test taker is filmed with video cameras, which record close-up any movements and changes in facial expression. Therefore, this matter should be handled very carefully. Remember: any suspicious or ambiguous behavior will definitely be interpreted NOT in your favor.

If you don’t alternate methods, but always press the button for each answer “no” (“didn’t participate...”, “didn’t see...”, “didn’t belong...”, “didn’t steal...”) - then the polygraph operator will see a pattern in the manifestation of the same type of reaction and suspect something is wrong. In addition, sensors may be attached to your calf muscles that will record finger movements. The proverbial “nail in the shoe” should be long and sharp enough to cause pain even when pressed lightly, and your movements should be subtle, with minimal involvement of other muscles of the body. Then there will be a chance that the motion sensors will not notice the counter signal against the background of the general tremor of the body (caused by heart contractions, breathing, etc.).

It is believed that the most difficult thing in detecting mechanical counteractions to the polygraph is the tongue. After answering the question “yes” or “no”, the tongue can be imperceptibly pressed against the teeth or “turned” towards the larynx, or pressed against the palate with a force that causes pain. However, this method of deceiving a lie detector can also be determined using special sensors installed in the area of ​​the chin or larynx. You should also remember about breathing - you need to “work” with your tongue without disturbing the rhythm and depth of breathing, because it will be instantly recorded by a polygraph.

The common disadvantage of all mechanical methods is that they are difficult to hide and take time to complete, which means they cause a delay in reaction. If the reaction occurs a few seconds after answering the question, the polygraph examiner will notice that the button or tongue is “turned on” to create a false signal. The graph will show the delay in the physiological reaction to the response, its magnitude and duration. Through training, reaction time should be minimized.

As an alternative to a needle in your pants, you can recommend techniques from the NLP arsenal - learn to put a “psychological anchor” (for tension and relaxation), using it at the right moment. After all, it is the internal, mental techniques that are most difficult to expose. If used at the right moments, it is quite possible to fool the polygraph and lead the expert to erroneous conclusions. Remember: even the absence of a reliable result can sometimes benefit you.

An example for understanding the principle of working with tension/relaxation can be gleaned from fiction:

We are conducting an intensive search for this spy. Since you, gentlemen, were in close proximity to the scene of the incident, I intend to interview you one by one to find out what you may know. I may also discover... Which one of you is this missing spy?

This last arrow brought only shocked silence. Now that he had brought us all into a depressed state suitable for cross-examination, the gray man began to call the officers one by one. I was doubly grateful for my foresight, which had the foresight to drop my head on the ground in front of everyone.

It was no coincidence that I was called third. On what basis? General similarity in physique to the spy Paz Ratunkov? Bandage? There must have been some basis for suspicion. I trudged forward, barely moving my feet like the others before me. I saluted and he pointed to a chair next to the desk.

Why don't you hold this while we talk? - he said judiciously, handing me a silver lie detector egg.

The real Vaska wouldn’t have recognized him, so I didn’t recognize him either. I just looked at him with mild interest - as if I didn't know that he was transmitting vital information to the lie detector in front of him, and squeezed it in my hands. My thoughts were not so calm.

I'm caught! He revealed me! He knows who I am and plays with me.

He looked deep into my bloodshot eyes and I noticed his mouth curl slightly in disgust.

Did you still have that night, Lieutenant? - he asked me, looking at the piece of paper and the lie detector readings.

Yes, sir, you know... I had a few drinks with the guys. This is exactly what I said out loud. And I thought to myself this: now they will shoot me to death, right in the heart! I imagined how this vital organ was splashing my living blood into the mud.

I see you were recently demoted in rank... Where are your fuses, Pas Ratunkov?

“I’m tired... how I wish I was in bed,” I thought.

Fuses? - I blinked my red peepers and, raising my hand to scratch my head, touched the bandage and thought that it was better not to. His eyes glared into mine gray eyes, almost the same color as his uniform, and for a moment I sensed strength and anger behind his calm manners.

And your head wound, where did you get it? Our spy was hit on the side of the head.

I fell, sir, someone must have pushed me from the van. The soldiers bandaged it, ask them...

Already asked. They got drunk, fell down, and disgraced the officer corps. Get out and clean yourself up, you disgust me! Next!

I unsteadily rose to my feet, not looking into the piercing gimlets of those cold eyes, and walked away, as if I had forgotten about the device in my hands, and then came back and dropped it on the table, but he bent over his documents, ignoring me. I saw a faint scar underneath sparse hair on his bald top and left.

Fooling a lie detector takes skill, practice and training. I had all this. This can only be done under certain circumstances, and the current ones were ideal. Sudden interrogation, at night, without testing the subject's normal reactions. Thus I had to express a beautiful peak on his recorder. I was afraid: of him, of something else, of anything. But when he asked catch questions designed to expose the spy, I relaxed because I was waiting for them, and the device showed it. The question was meaningless to anyone except the spy. Once he saw this, the interrogation was over, he still had a lot of work to do. ( Harry Harrison, Revenge of the Steel Rat)

The psychological relaxation technique has its pitfalls. Polygraph examiners know well that every “normal” person experiences worries, fears, and apprehensions in an uncomfortable testing situation. Therefore, relaxation should not fall below a certain general background of anxiety. In a person who is good at self-regulation, relaxation in response to the presentation of a significant question leads to a sharp activation of inhibitory processes. The activity of recorded physiological manifestations is significantly reduced. As a result, the response can be paradoxically low - less response to any neutral question. Such an unusual result will attract attention. By relaxing too much, you risk arousing suspicion.

English speakers are advised to visit the website of staunch polygraph fighters Antipolygraph.org. The credo of this site is very impressive to many. Loosely translated into Russian, it sounds something like this: “Their right is to try to find out all the ins and outs about us, our right is to send them all to hell... This is what democracy is all about.” This site presents an interesting work, “The Lie Behind the Lie Detector.” In it, opponents of detectors offer their own methods of combating “unscientific methods of testifying, designed for idiots and working only in a non-legal country.”

These recommendations apply to a classic lie detector, which records pressure fluctuations, breathing rate, blinking, heart muscle contractions, electrical activity skin, brain activity, involuntary movements of arms and legs.

When the device is connected to the body, the first thing we recommend is to pay attention to even breathing. Its frequency can range from 15 to 30 breaths per minute (this is approximately 2-4 seconds). Rapid or slow breathing indicates that a person is lying. In addition, it is known that after a “dangerous” question there is a “sigh of relief”, so you should control the rhythm of your breathing until you are completely “disconnected” from the wires with which you are entangled.

Breathing is directly related to pulse, heart rate, which is also recorded by sensors. When you inhale, the pulse speeds up, when you exhale, it slows down. This is well known to Indian yogis who use a certain type of breathing to meditate and slow down the heart. By exhaling long and inhaling quickly, you can “hold” your pulse while answering questions, preventing it from increasing too much. If you take a short forced breath before each answer to a question, then the reactions to all questions will be equally heightened, without sudden jumps. Of course, such an inhalation/exhalation should look natural, be as invisible and silent as possible - which can only be achieved through training. If you are accused of doing this on purpose, you can always answer that this is a natural and habitual way for you to breathe. Or simply the result of general nervousness and fear of the polygraph.

To fool the sensors blood pressure Enthusiasts advise squeezing the anal sphincter muscles and biting the tip of the tongue in between questions from a polygraph examiner. Instead of the notorious “button in the shoe” to cause pain, women and men are advised to place “prickly objects” in more intimate parts, where inspectors usually don’t look. You need to squeeze your muscles so that your legs and buttocks do not move, as in modern models detectors are connected to the seats, indicating the slightest fidgeting in the chair and swaying of the ankles.

Remember: testing continues as long as the sensors are connected and the conversation continues. Don't be fooled. It happens that the operator puts sensors on the respondent and says that he will not turn on the polygraph for now so that you get used to the sensors. And he begins to discuss issues with you. In fact, the detector is in operating mode and records all your indicators, as well as the moment of transition to direct testing. If at the moment of transition the respondent changes his breathing pattern, begins to move, strain various parts of the body, etc. - this may indicate his attempt to deceive the polygraph. The same trick can be done after the survey is completed. The operator says that testing is completed, but does not disconnect the sensors. In fact, the polygraph continues to work.

Finally, we present an original method of dealing with the polygraph, sent by our reader.

After thinking a little, I decided to write a few words about the polygraph... If I may... I don’t think that in connection with my problem I will have to undergo such a test... But still...

The fact is that you can deceive a polygraph using the methods you suggest... But for this you need to be a very prepared person. The committee prepared people for this mmm... well, very for a long time. After the failure of the Stasi agents, if my sclerosis serves me correctly in ’60 or ’61. I mean methods of replacing questions or (even more so!!!) suppressing emotions. The button method is good, but... In modern testing, sensors are placed under the legs of a chair. And any movement will be instantly detected and will be interpreted not in your favor. As well as muscle contraction. Pressing the tongue to the palate, biting the tongue is quickly determined by its appearance by anyone, even a not very experienced expert, who during testing will not look at the tape at all - why, it is still recorded automatically, or on the monitor screen , but will look you in the face, revealing additional, NOT psychophysiological reactions, especially eye movements. Coming from a hangover is good. It's also good to come JUST after drinking some alcohol. Maybe NOT alcohol. You can have 7-10 cups of coffee. You can also use other drugs, such as tranquilizers. But again, with SERIOUS testing, you will definitely get a blood and/or urine test. What all your tricks will be figured out. Which again will be interpreted NOT in your favor. Not to mention that testing may simply be postponed. In addition, all this affects the heart rate. And it is ALWAYS measured during polygraph testing. And an increased number of heart beats per minute can also be interpreted AGAINST you. And absolutely all these methods are not applicable if you are being tested FROM THE CHAMBER. But the method that I allow myself to offer you is largely free from all these shortcomings, has been tested (don’t ask where!) and has shown good results. With this method you also need to drink. But only water. And in large quantities. Everyone knows approximately how much they need to drink in order to go to the toilet... well, REALLY want to. How to drink for a long time... You can try to calculate it so that during the preliminary, “sighting” questions, you still don’t want too much. And this is about the first 10-30 minutes. But even if you haven’t calculated it, it’s still possible to force don’t think about yourself that you want to go to the toilet, relax as much as possible... Well, in general, everyone has their own ways of dealing with themselves in such cases. But then... Focus as much as possible on your bladder, which is swelling, swelling, which is about to burst, think only about the fact that you unbearably want to go to the toilet, you no longer have the strength to endure, you no longer have the strength to think about anything except that, what do you want pee-pee!!!

Techniques similar to those listed above can be used not only during a lie detector test, but also during any interview or interrogation with bias: with an investigator, psychologist or HR specialist when applying for a job. After all, an experienced psychological expert will also very carefully monitor your reaction to his questions to find out whether you are telling the truth.

Well, that's it now! Good luck!

As the saying goes, “life experience is a matter of education, and common sense in dealing with people is based on machinations.” Our time proclaims itself to be civilized. But the more civilized a society is, the greater the place in it that lies and deceit occupy. Harro von Senger

There is also deception in the animal world. Animals disguise themselves, take on other guises and are cunning. They do this for the purpose of survival and it is genetically embedded in them. Modern man also wants to live. To live well and happily, and for this sometimes you need to lie.

People have been lying since ancient times. “The Tale of Truth and Falsehood” was found on an old, torn scroll. The tale was written more than 3 thousand years ago during the era of the pharaohs Ancient Egypt. On a papyrus scroll we can read about the treachery, revenge and confrontation between the two brothers Pravda and Krivda. Thus, the history of deception, beginning in time immemorial, has passed through all of history.

Do only bad and worthless people lie? Come on! Even in literature, the most positive characters deceived and fooled around. Shakespeare's Hamlet deceives his relatives with madness that he does not have. Juliet - imaginary death.

But the most clever schemers and masters of flattery were the adventurers. Take, for example, the legendary Count Alessandro Cagliostro. He owed his success precisely to the skill of the great deceiver.

Almost everything famous people We owe success precisely to the ability to cunning and deceiving. It's time for you to learn a thing or two from the great deceivers. The principles that great adventurers use can be useful to you in everyday life. Most likely you will not pull off scams like Count Cagliostro. But with their help you will learn to deceive. This is necessary for a successful life! This is the art of great deceivers!

Two little mice fell into a bucket of milk. The first mouse raised its paws and drowned. The second mouse did not think about accepting it. She was fighting for her life. She whipped butter out of the milk and finally got out. Gentlemen, I am the second mouse! Film "Catch Me If You Can"

Deceive correctly and efficiently!! Almost all famous people owe their success precisely to the ability to cunning and deceiving. It's time for you to learn something from the great deceivers, crooks and swindlers.

1. The simpleton principle

The cunning is not the one who is considered cunning, but the one who is taken for a simpleton. P. S. Taranov

Create a reputation as a simpleton. Be simpler, clearer, seem a little stupid and naive.
Develop an image of a truthful, honest, but down-to-earth person. A charming smile, positive behavior, kindness and a confidential tone of conversation are your weapons. Create an intellectual superiority over you. As long as people think they are smarter than you, they will be easy to deceive.

This method is often used by pretty girls. They are ready to appear like a “silly blonde” in order to live a quiet life and bring their plans to life.

2. Information flow principle

Our mind contains both those truths that should be spoken about and those that should be kept silent. A. Rivarol

It is not necessary to lie, but you can change the information flow in conditions favorable to you. You can hide information, distort it, use your chosen method, distort it, and focus on advantageous facts. Such deception is more believable and easier to control. If your deception is discovered, you will not suffer as much as if you were directly deceived.

3. The principle of parallel reality

Create the necessary “smoke screen”. Distract the victim from the most important thing and create the background you need. Against the background of a parallel reality, deception looks more natural. Use more color in your lies. Create a situation, circumstances that confirm your words and honesty.

This method, for example, is used by broke people. They waste money and lead a luxurious lifestyle, misleading others. (see Confidence Rules)

4. Principle of manipulation

Create conditions where the enemy acts according to your plan. Push him to form certain conclusions that are beneficial to you. You are not deceiving, the person himself came to this conclusion.

Tell the truth under the guise of deception. As Otto von Bismarck said: “If you want to fool the world, tell it the truth.” This technique works well in personal relationships.

5. The principle of open lies and treachery

It is not necessary to cover up lies or falsehoods with facts. You can lie openly. You can be treacherous by saying one thing and doing something completely different. This type of deception requires good memory and caution.

6. The principle of red herring

Hiding a lie or deception, distract with another bright fact. Let your interlocutor take the bait, distract attention. Do it as magicians and cheaters do. They perform tricks, distracting with conversations and manipulations with their hands. So you throw in distracting facts that disguise deception.

7. The principle of masking deception

Hide the deception under the guise of care and kindness. Even great deception can be hidden under noble intentions. (cm. How to lie correctly or the school of little liars)

8. The principle of tossing thoughts

A person believes more in those thoughts that arose in his own head. Do not speak directly, but act with hints, indirectly influencing the person. People will believe what they themselves have come up with. The sprout you planted will give you the desired thought. The fact that you planted an idea, no one will remember.

9. The principle of using human desires

Give the man what he wants. Promise to help him with his problems or hint at a successful outcome. When desires become more real, a person forgets about everything. A person who helps cannot lie. Later you can stab him in the back and easily deceive him.

10. Principle weak points

“Pick up a master key for everyone. This is the art of managing people. It requires not courage, but dexterity, the ability to find an approach to a person.” Baltasar Gracian

Every person has a key. This will most likely be not the noble, but the base side of a person. Play on self-interest, envy, jealousy, ambition, pleasure, greed, stupidity or lust. Use the basest and darkest instincts of man. You can easily deceive him or be able to manipulate him.

11. The principle of using lies and deception

If you love, then the queen, if you steal, then a million!

The French philosopher and writer Luc de Clapier de Vauvenargues said: “The limit of cunning is the ability to control without using force.” Use the art of the great deceivers only in extreme cases. Don't waste it on small things. If you love, then the queen, if you steal, then a million!

A polygraph (lie detector) is a hardware and software complex that makes it possible to interview a subject in real time and simultaneously record changes in his physiological parameters. Based on the analysis of the information received, conclusions can be drawn about whether the subject is telling a lie. The reliability of such data depends on the personality type and can range from 70-98%.

Got something to hide

How to fool a lie detector? This question is usually asked by people who want to hide certain information. As long as this device has existed, people have been trying to find ways to outwit it. Let's look at the most common of them.

Alcohol to the rescue

In an effort to fool a lie detector, one can try to minimize variations in the physiological parameters being analyzed. A small amount of any alcoholic drink will help with this. You should drink the day before the test. The result is a significant decrease in sensitivity, inhibition and distortion of reactions. Due to this, it will be difficult to draw unambiguous conclusions about the information obtained using a polygraph.

Let's go to the pharmacy

How to fool a lie detector? Some medications will come to the rescue. In this case, it is very important to take into account that the body’s reaction to unknown drugs can be unpredictable. For example, some psychotropic substances, when overdosed, provoke inappropriate behavior, which, of course, is immediately noticed by others.

We do without “chemistry”

Is it possible to fool a polygraph without taking either alcohol or medications? If you do not want to use tranquilizers on your body, try not sleeping for two days. Temporary exclusion of this natural physiological process leads to the development of a trance-like state. In this case, the reaction to all questions asked will remain equally insignificant. However, it is important to take into account the fact that your condition will be clearly visible to an experienced polygraph examiner.

The specialist analyzes the magnitude of reactions to special control questions, the purpose of which the subject does not know. If the information received raises doubts in the polygraph examiner, he will stop the interview and reschedule it for another day. However, such a delay is sometimes very beneficial to the subject.

Emotions - into a fist

Let's consider another approach. How to fool a lie detector without changing your usual lifestyle? For these purposes, you should learn to suppress your own emotions. In this case, no stimulus will cause a reaction. The main recommendation is to answer the questions asked automatically, without giving them serious importance. To do this, you should concentrate, for example, on a picture of a wall in front of your eyes, or on any other object. The main thing is that it is neutral. An alternative is to immerse yourself in an event that happened in the past and live it again. To achieve positive results, it is important to develop the ability to concentrate through constant long-term training.

Wishful instead of actual

In an effort to achieve a lack of reaction as such, keep in mind an important point: a specialist can identify deception by using special control questions. It’s better to learn not to hold back and wishful thinking. Taking a polygraph will give the desired result if you show feigned reactions to unimportant stimuli. So, when answering a question, think about something that makes you angry, or try to multiply two three-digit numbers in your head. Another option is to cause pain. It triggers physiological reactions similar to psychological stress. To do this, there are various tricks, such as pressing the tongue against the hard palate or the toes against the floor. However, even inexperienced polygraph examiners know all these techniques and are able to detect deception. In addition, several video cameras are often directed at the person being tested, which record any changes in facial expression and involuntary movements in close-up.

Let's go to the bottom

Another option is to use a so-called psychological anchor. People experienced in this regard can relax or tense up at the right time. Uncovering deception is always difficult because mental tricks are not easy to identify. If you drop such a life-saving “anchor” at the right time, it is likely that you will be able to answer the questions asked on the polygraph the way you need.

Competent opinion

According to most experts, it is impossible to fool a lie detector. They note that this device reads information received from the body. These are motor and vocal activity, heart rate and breathing, electrical impulsivity of the skin, the process of filling capillaries with blood. All of the above processes are controlled by consciousness, but not by the subconscious. The latter acts as a repository of memories of what happened.

According to polygraph examiners, you can think about anything, but the lie detector will communicate with your body, which will not deceive it. An attempt to lie will be instantly reflected on the screen.

If there is the slightest smell of alcohol, the test will be rescheduled. What about taking all kinds of psychotropic drugs? Polygraph questions also cover this. If you lie that you didn’t influence your body in any way, the survey will also be rescheduled.

In an effort to induce pain to simulate a reaction, some people put a button in their shoe. However, it will not be difficult for any experienced operator to identify a suspicious pattern. If he discovers your trick, he will ask you to take off your shoes.

Polygraph examiners themselves note that such tricks only make them laugh. Needless to say that all possible tricks have long been known to them? However, foreign intelligence officers on missions abroad are trained to fool lie detectors.

Manufacturer's assurance

There are companies in Russia that produce polygraphs and perform testing on these devices. One of them is the “Polygraph Test”. The company's official website claims that all attempts to deceive the lie detector are futile. With almost one hundred percent probability, this device will reveal the desire to distort information. In addition, the polygraph is equipped additional accessories, allowing you to record all the tricks of the person being interviewed.

Alternative point of view

Some believe that assurances of the high efficiency of a lie detector are a kind of advertising for the device and an integral part of psychological preparation subjects. Thus, before starting a survey, any polygraph examiner convinces a person that it is impossible to deceive a “smart” device. In a casual, friendly tone, he says that the lie detector will reveal all attempts to hide the truth. You should not blame the specialist for carrying out such a psychological game, because this is part of his work, which is prescribed in the job description.

In addition, this peculiar show of dust has deeper socio-psychological reasons. Many centuries ago it was known that the reverence and fear of the crowd before something mysterious is one of the factors in maintaining power. Currently, little has changed.

From the very beginning, it is important to try to overcome the fear of such an “omniscient” device as a polygraph (lie detector). The suggestion that it is 100% effective should not have any effect on you. Remember that this device does not know anything about you personally and is not able to read your thoughts. It records the status only at the time of verification. More precisely, those physiological reactions that develop when answering a particular question. Based on the data received, the computer provides a tentative estimate, which is then analyzed by a specialist.

Is it possible to fool a polygraph? Yes, like any other car. Even the notorious lie detector can get confused when recording the reactions of a pathological liar. Everything is explained simply: if a person is really sure that he is telling the truth, then no device will record the opposite.

Another group of those who can cope with the polygraph are professional actors who are fluent in the Stanislavsky system and have the ability to 100% get used to the image of a certain character. This, of course, requires long training.

Social psychopaths can also deceive a “smart” device, since they are simply unable to adequately perceive social norms. Accordingly, questions about actions that go beyond the law and morality will not cause the expected reaction. For the same reason, it is not recommended for older people and minors to take a lie detector test.

Although science does not stand still, the actual performance of a lie detector is still far from what is stated. This is confirmed by a large number of mistakes, as a result of which people were sent to prison or even sentenced to death. As practical and laboratory studies show, the accuracy of the information provided by a polygraph is at the level of seventy percent, no more. In addition, it has been proven that teaching a person to successfully resist a polygraph is quite possible, although quite difficult.

Controversial issue

Is it morally and ethically acceptable to test an individual with a lie detector? After all, each of us has a personal world, the invasion of which causes a natural desire to defend ourselves. It is not necessary for outsiders to know our personal motives, secret desires and interests. Let us turn to the Anglo-American legal system. It has a separate category called privacy. It means the right to privacy and the inadmissibility of intrusion into the intimate sphere of an individual.

Of course, in some situations, the use of a polygraph is more than justified, for example, when investigating serious crimes such as terrorist attacks, murder, rape, etc. If a person is falsely accused of something, then a lie detector test is sometimes the only way prove the suspect's innocence.

It happens that the use of a polygraph is nothing more than an insult to a person, psychological violence and gross violation his personal space. For example, the now popular employee security check initiated by the boss, etc.

At the request of customers, some polygraph examiners agree to directly violate professional standards and basic ethical norms. Such unscrupulous specialists are literally engaged in turning subjects inside out. They ask questions about everything from political views to intimate experiences. This can be observed especially often when applying for a job and scheduled inspection employees (so-called screening).

Personal questions may make up a large part of the questionnaire. The only way not allowing strangers into your personal space - trying to fool the lie detector, because refusing such a humiliating test can lead to dismissal.

Conclusion

The polygraph in forensic science is one of the main tools for investigating serious crimes. Thanks to this device, a certain psychological pressure can be exerted on the criminal. However, there is no clear answer yet to the question of whether it is possible to fool a lie detector.

The elderly are especially susceptible to deception, statistics say. Firstly, they tend to have more savings than young people, which attracts swindlers; and secondly, with age we become more trusting - contrary to the belief that life teaches us something.

But this does not mean that if you are not yet retired, you can relax and not be afraid of scammers - anyone can become a victim of deception, especially now, when the path to every home is literally open for deceivers. Mobile phones, email, ICQ - more and more new means of communication make us more and more vulnerable to deception. So you must always be on your guard. Here are the 10 most common fraudulent schemes, time-tested and operating wherever there are people and money.

1. Work from home. The salary is high!

The wave of unemployment that swept the entire civilized world could not help but become a reason for the development of new “wiring schemes”. More precisely, the scheme itself is as old as the hills, but interest in it has flared up in a new way. And all because of the crisis.

“Work from home. Secondary education, high salary” - such advertisements can be seen in dozens on the street, in the subway, on the Internet, even in newspapers. It would seem worth being wary: why will they pay this very “high salary” to a person without education and special skills? But people believe: they believe and call the numbers provided. Next, they are asked to pay, say, 1,000 rubles, and in return they are offered a training kit for a new employee. In fact, this set turns out to be a stack of papers (at best, a disk), with instructions on how to “dissolve” a couple more fellow sufferers.

Or this option: you are offered a job of proofreading or layout of text. To get permanent job, you need to complete a trial task, which (attention!) will be sent to you for a symbolic amount - 300 rubles. Like, “Sorry, we have often been deceived and have not completed any tasks, so we ask you to leave such a deposit.” Well, what could be more touching than deceivers who justify themselves by their hard lives? This is how they make money.

2. You became the 1000th visitor

You receive a letter, for example, from Spain - or any other distant country - but it must be in English. It congratulates you on the fact that one day, having visited such and such a site, you automatically became a participant in a prize draw - and won! The prize is a large sum of money or a car. To receive it, you just need to transfer a certain amount of money to a certain account to pay for the delivery of the prize to Russia. Naturally, the money goes away irrevocably and without a trace. There are cases when people lost several thousand dollars in the hope that now their winnings will finally be sent to them.

3. Become a landowner

The scam begins with the deceiver buying some overgrown field and cutting it into small sections. Each piece is sold to an individual victim for exorbitant amounts of money. The talent and charm of the deceiver himself plays a role here: his task is to convince the victim that soon a highway will be laid here or an amusement park will be built here and the land will rise in price tenfold. Fake ones are used construction plans and documents. Naturally, no construction is actually planned, and the scammers disappear, leaving their victims on a worthless piece of land.

4. Pyramids

A classic financial pyramid involves from hundreds to several thousand “investors”, each of whom contributes a relatively small amount of money. The promised gigantic dividends are paid at the expense of newly arrived victims.

According to a more advanced scheme, participants in the pyramid are encouraged to independently involve their friends and acquaintances in the “business.” For each convert, a certain fee is paid (and it is collected from the same converts). Your friends are asked to do the same - and so on ad infinitum, until the pyramid is exposed or its creators decide to close up shop.

5. Innovative business

This layout is designed for people with money and free views. Fraudsters are looking for those who are willing to take risks and dream of own business, and ask to invest in their business. As a business plan, a potential investor is offered some “super idea,” most often using revolutionary technologies or some personal invention. The victim is promised mountains of gold and returns in the first six months after the investment, but as soon as the so-called businessman receives the money, he naturally evaporates.

6. Working on the phone

Another “work from home” scam. The most attractive is the promise that “you will be able to earn money without interrupting your usual activities.” Allegedly, one hour a day is enough to earn back your weekly earnings at your main job. Naturally, again, no special skills are required. You only need to pay for an employee certificate and a special phone number. The ending of this story is predictable.

7. Goodbye car

The main victims of such scams are private car sellers. During a crisis period, when prices began to fall by leaps and bounds, people do not care much about the profitability of the sale and try to quickly get rid of the property - before its price drops to zero. This is what pseudo-buyers take advantage of, offering the seller a higher price, but... on the condition that payment will be in the form of a bank check or receipt payable to a third party. By the time the seller discovers that the check is counterfeit and the receipt is issued in the name of a “dead soul,” the buyer has already managed to drive the car abroad or resell it.

8. Time to invest in stocks

Since the onset of the crisis, the share price of many super companies has fallen by 50 or even 80%. Therefore, many analysts began to urge the general public to buy securities while they are so cheap. They say that in 3 years, when the crisis is over, the shares will rise in price several times and their holders will be able to earn a lot of money.

The flurry of such recommendations could not help but play into the hands of the scammers. Pseudo-brokers call novice or potential investors and offer to buy so many shares of a certain company. It supposedly should soon rise due to a change in management or a transition to new efficient production. Moreover, the employees of this company themselves have already begun to buy its own securities, which is direct evidence of its rapid growth. Just hurry - there are very few stocks left.

Having spent about 20 thousand dollars, investors soon discover that they have invested in a shell company. As a rule, this is some kind of one-day scam, registered a few days before the start of the scam and existing only on paper. Or a company with a long, but not the most successful history. Of course, it is impossible to sell such shares.

9. You have a letter

This scheme is called phishing. To organize such an operation, a fraudster needs a computer and the client base of a bank. Fortunately for lovers of easy money, these bases can be purchased at any radio market.

So, you receive an email claiming to be from the security department of your bank. You are notified that your savings may have been attacked by fraudsters, so the bank needs to conduct a complete audit of your financial transactions. To do this, you only need a little - your passport data and access codes to your bank account. Once scammers have this data, they can do whatever they want with your money. Remember: no bank will ever ask you for personal data, much less your card PIN code.

10. Let's place our bets, gentlemen.

Another category of the most common victims of scammers is gamblers. Moreover, we are not talking about casino regulars and slot machine fans, who, in fact, are deceiving themselves. Scammers profit from fans of horse racing and other sporting events.

For example, you want to bet on a horse or a wrestler, and some helpful and knowledgeable person offers to sell you the “secret” - who is better prepared for the competition, who is lame on one leg, etc. Experienced players don’t get caught doing this, but newbies do it all the time.

Another scheme: you are asked to bet money on such and such a horse. They say she will win, the scammer knows this for sure. In return, he asks for 50% of the winnings, and in case of failure, promises to compensate for the damage. Of course, the bet does not win, and the scammer disappears immediately after making the payment.

Based on materials from The Guardian

Good afternoon, dear readers! Today we have a very important topic that receives undeservedly little attention on the Internet. We'll talk about online fraud! The relevance of the topic is due to the fact that the Internet has firmly entered our lives. Everyone uses it, from children to the elderly.

Some are simply looking for information, others are more active users who use the capabilities of the global network to purchase goods, pay utility bills, check the status of a bank account, replenish mobile phone etc. That is, they carry out transactions with funds via the Internet. In addition, many people create accounts in social networks, enter personal data during registration. And this is the norm of our life.

But what has become the norm for some, for the more “enterprising” is an opportunity to make money. If you are an active user of the World Wide Web, we recommend that you read this article very carefully. We have collected extremely useful information about how people cheat on the Internet, how to avoid falling for scammers, and what to do if you fall for a scam!

What is fraud? 5 main excuses for cheating!

Fraud means the fact of taking property (various valuables) from one person in favor of another (fraudster) by fraudulent means. That is, the criminal gains the trust of the victim and, under a “weighty” pretext, lures out money or other valuables. Such activities are punishable by law. In a “virtual” environment, this rule works exactly the same. You can’t trick a person out of money and disappear! This is also a crime!

On the Internet, fraud occurs most often under the following pretexts:

1. Earnings.
2. Help those suffering.
3. Unlocking program options and applications.
4. Profitable purchase of goods.
5. Drawing of valuable prizes.

Fraudsters are looking for more and more ways to make money. We will describe the most common of them, but readers should understand that only attention to detail and a responsible attitude towards money can truly protect against the tricks of dishonest people. So, let's begin a detailed study of the question of what online fraud is and how it happens!

Methods of fraud on the Internet: TOP 10 most common methods of fraud!

It is unlikely that it will be possible to list all the types and methods, they are so diverse. However, we will try to protect our readers from the most common fraud schemes, after familiarizing yourself with which, you will begin to be wary of “profitable” offers on the Internet. In addition, for convenience, we have compiled a rating of methods of fraud on the Internet. Let's start looking at it from the last place (the method that is used least often), and then we will determine the leader.

10th PLACE. How people deceive on the Internet: the story of a runaway bride!

The advent of the Internet has greatly facilitated and reduced the cost of communication between people located in different parts of the world. globe. Now you can contact a resident of any country almost free of charge. On this basis, dating sites began to actively develop, the activity of which is to create international couples. Unfortunately, it happens that uniting hearts is their mission only in words. Often the essence of the activities of such resources is the banal luring of money from foreigners. There are two options for the development of events.

Option one

The site administration really provides the opportunity for foreigners to communicate with girls using emails or video chat. The first method is free, the second is paid. With the help of letters, the client’s interest in the girl is fueled, and both the “brides” and the site owner make money from paid video chats. In addition, grooms have the opportunity to buy a gift certificate for their chosen one. The idea is this: the girl receives a certificate, which she must spend on a specific purpose - SPA, a bouquet of flowers, jewelry etc.

The deception lies in the fact that beauty certificates are usually taken with money, and for reporting purposes they are simply photographed with a borrowed bouquet of flowers, for example. Most often, hired workers communicate through letters, not the girls themselves. They go to chat for money, and not out of a sincere desire to communicate with a foreigner. Therefore, the money that a man spends is a pleasant part-time job for attractive girls and a decent income for the site owner. And that's all!

Option two

But there are also sites that are built on the principle of a social network only with a “marriage” bias. Communication is completely free. Foreigners can choose a girl, view her profile and start a conversation. What is online fraud in this case? And the fact is that “brides” (behind the photo, which even a man can hide) simply find a foreigner, start communicating, and then beg for money under various pretexts. Naturally, after this the profile disappears without a trace.

Such pseudo-brides ask for money for tickets to see their chosen one, to help suddenly ill relatives, to pay off a loan, and so on. Typically, such requests begin after several months of romantic communication. After the transfer, the girls stop communicating and disappear.

9th PLACE. Fraud on the Internet for the sale of goods!

The attractiveness of online stores is difficult to overestimate: wide selection, affordable prices, delivery to your door. In modern virtual stores you can find everything your heart desires at a price lower than in regular stores. We are so used to buying online that we often become inattentive, which is what scammers take advantage of. By inertia, we trust all stores, regardless of their recognition and the presence of reviews.

Usually the scheme is as follows: a one-page website is created, on which products of the same product category are laid out. For example, children's shoes of a certain brand. The price of the goods offered is usually very “tasty”, that is, below the market average. This site has neither reviews nor an attractive interface. Only minimal information and perhaps a filter for easy searching. The contact information is also very sparse. For example, only one landline phone number is indicated and nothing else at all.

Such online stores most often operate on a 100% prepayment basis. The buyer selects the product and then pays for it. After which, within the specified period, it awaits the shipment of the goods. Naturally, no one will send the order anywhere. Having called the specified phone number, the buyer will find that either it is not serviced or they simply do not answer the phone.

It happens that the conditions provide for the possibility of payment upon receipt of the goods. In this case, after placing an order, the buyer receives a message via contact e-mail or telephone that if prepayment is made, delivery is free (or information about other benefits). At the same time, it is often not discounted for payment. bank details, and the e-wallet number! Naturally, the pseudo seller disappears after receiving the money!

8TH PLACE. It’s a pity, it’s a pity, but there’s nothing to help!

Just as there is “black” humor, there are also “black” types of fraud, the essence of which is that they have a powerful effect on the human psyche. What exactly is happening? People are told the story of a little man's heroic struggle for life! The main obstacle on the way to a bright future for the child is the financial abyss in which the parents of the unfortunate child find themselves. It is to help bridge this gap that dishonest people ask all concerned people. Often, in the hope of helping the little one, people fall into the trap of scammers.

We don't mean everyone who asks for help. Among them there are those for whom the mercy and generosity of those who care is a matter of life and death. But you need to pay attention to the details so as not to add to the account of a resourceful, but at the same time completely unscrupulous person. Before transferring money to the specified details, check whether there is information for contacting the child’s parents or relatives. Don't be lazy to call and chat with them. Look for their social media pages. Usually, if there is nothing to pick, the information is duplicated. Pay attention to the posts, how long ago the first of them appeared. This way you can find out whether this page is real or created solely to raise money.

Of course, these recommendations will not protect you 100% from dishonest people, but they will help weed out outright scammers. Sometimes the preparation for such a “case” is very serious, and it is difficult to detect deception. If you want to help children, pay attention to requests that are broadcast on national television, or make contributions to specialized funds whose activities are always visible.

7TH PLACE. Phishing: catch fish big and small!

Phishing is an extremely dangerous method of online fraud. Its essence is to lure secret data from the victim: passwords, PIN codes, numbers and CVV2 codes. There are a lot of schemes that help to obtain the necessary data.

For example, they may call you supposedly from the bank and inform you that you urgently need to change your password for your online banking account because the time of use has expired. To do this, you are asked to provide your old password and confirm the action by dictating the code from the SMS you received on your phone. This should not be done under any circumstances! You are simply being robbed. In fact, nothing needs to be changed. This is simply how the scammers learned how to log into their account and confirmed their login.

How to avoid becoming a victim of scammers? Remember: there can be a lot of pretexts under which people are asked to provide personal data. They sound very real! However, do not forget to carefully read what comes in SMS! And what exact code are you going to tell a stranger. If you are asked to change your password, unlock your account, etc., first make sure that the problem really exists. Even if the card, account, or account is blocked, the client can always remove the blocking during a personal visit to the bank branch! There is no urgency!

There is another option for deception. The fraudster calls a person who is a client of a bank and reports that he has a loan debt and penalties have begun to accrue. To which he hears the answer that there is no loan and, apparently, an error has occurred. Then a very polite “bank employee” asks you to clarify your personal information in order to check the existence of a debt. And a person frightened by an erroneous debt, without hesitation, reports everything that is asked of him. After which all the money disappears from his account!

It is worth noting that online fraud is an activity that is often carried out by people with certain skills. For example, talented programmers, hackers, former bank employees. That is, they need to receive a minimum of information to withdraw money. Therefore, you should not particularly rely on the fact that your login, password, phone confirmation or PIN code will truly protect you. They save you from amateur scammers, and only attentiveness will save you from the pros!

6TH PLACE. Victory does not fall ready from the sky!

Each of us has at least once received a message that we have become the winner of some promotion or competition. This good news can come via SMS, to email, on social networks, via Viber, WhatsApp and other messengers. In order to receive the winnings, the “winner” is asked to follow a link, send an SMS to the specified number or transfer a small amount of money to the specified details to pay for delivery. Of course, there is no competition, and even less a winner! By reacting to the message, the “winner” automatically becomes the loser.

If you follow the link, a virus will be downloaded to the phone without the owner’s knowledge. And money will start to disappear from the account. For some time, a person will be surprised at how much is spent on communications, then he will start calling the operator and order detailed expenses. As a result of all these actions, he will find out that lately he has been frequently communicating with subscribers from China, Japan, Europe, America, and so on. The only salvation from this virus is to restore the phone settings to factory settings, which often leads to the loss of important personal data. If you send an SMS to the specified number, all the money will be debited from your account. And having made the translation, you with my own hands give the scammer money.

Just ask yourself: have you participated in any competitions? If not, then you couldn't win! For gambling readers, we invite you to take part in the lottery. This is a real way to earn a lot of money with minimum investment, and the article will help you win!

5th PLACE. Join the Anti-Virus Society!

Computer viruses are one of the most amazing phenomena of our time. It would seem, why create programs that spoil other programs? The answer is banal: to create a huge variety of useful software to combat malicious software. And any good software costs money. That is, bad programs are written so that good ones can be sold! This is such a legal scam.

But there are also programmers who are not interested in making money from software medicines for operating systems. They operate more simply: they create a virus that, when it gets onto your computer, asks for money in order to unlock the device. A striking example such a program is Trojan.Encoder.20.

This virus is extremely dangerous because it is automatically downloaded onto a network user’s computer when visiting certain sites. The program encrypts all data on the PC and then self-destructs. When you try to open any file, a request appears on the screen to pay an amount from $10 to $90 via SMS to gain access.

Naturally, you can’t pay anything. The problem will not go away. It is best to try to eliminate the consequences of the virus using antivirus software. If it doesn’t work out, then contact a specialist. As a last resort, they will reinstall your operating system.

4TH PLACE. Domain substitution: the main content, not the wrapper!

Another popular method of online fraud lately is domain spoofing. To explain it as simply as possible, a domain is a website address. The substitution of this address is carried out using a virus that has been “infected” operating system computer. By entering the address of the site, the victim is taken to a copy site. Then enters registration information. At this moment, a message appears on the screen asking you to confirm your login via SMS to a short number. Can you guess how it will all end? Naturally, all the money disappears from the phone. In addition to the obvious monetary reward, scammers obtain the user’s personal data.

Often, fake sites are impossible to distinguish. If you see such a message on your screen for the first time, try logging into the same account from another device. Check whether you will be asked for SMS confirmation or not. If not, then don't send the message because it's an internet scam! Your computer needs to be scanned by an antivirus, and your account needs to change its password.

Most often, copies are made on social networks. Having gained access to the data, scammers use your accounts to send various messages on your behalf to other network users. The content may be different, but the message will definitely contain a link to a “useful” program. By clicking on the link, the recipient will make a big mistake, because a virus will also be downloaded to his computer, the main task of which is to spoof the domain.

3rd PLACE. Internet scam: romantic deception!

Not long ago, resourceful programmers “delighted” all mobile network users with a new virus! This time the idea turned out to be very intriguing! SMS messages began to arrive on subscribers’ phones: “I look at the photo, I remember us.” Tex was supplemented by a link. After clicking on it, the subscriber began to lose money from his mobile phone account.

On July 27, 2016, a resident of the city of Serpukhov wrote a statement to the police. The 32-year-old claims that after clicking on the link, her phone went offline. After rebooting the system, she saw that an SMS had arrived from her bank, informing her that 5,000 rubles had been debited from her account! In addition to SMS, she discovered several new programs on her mobile device, which were loaded without her knowledge.

How to avoid becoming a victim of scammers? Do not click on links sent from unknown numbers. Ignore the intriguing signatures. Fraudsters are people who are excellent at manipulating their victims. If you receive such an SMS message, simply delete it! If you accidentally clicked on the link, save the necessary data from your phone and reset the settings to factory settings. This measure will help erase viruses from your phone, because antiviruses for Android or iOS usually don’t see them!

2nd PLACE. Financial pyramids: old things in a new way!

What is a financial pyramid? This is a special organization that offers to invest a little money and after a while receive a large amount. This is achieved through the arrival of new investors, part of whose contribution goes to your account. The more participants there are after you, the more you will earn. The most famous at the moment is the MMM financial pyramid.

It would seem that you invested little bad here and got a lot. The fact is that no one knows when this organization will stop accepting contributions. The last investors are losing their money. Only those who joined the “construction” at the beginning and in the middle really earn money.

On at the moment There are a large number of sites on the Internet that offer to invest in pyramid schemes and earn thousands of dollars by making a contribution not exceeding $10. This is a scam! You will spend money, and after a while the resource will simply disappear from the Internet, leaving you with your nose! Many scammers create pseudo-official websites of Sergei Mavrodi (creator of MMM). Don’t believe it, the last MMM pyramid ceased its activities in 2012 and has not resumed since then.

Another special type of financial pyramid is network marketing. Not all of them, of course! But only MLM companies that offer to buy others a product that is essentially garbage. However, they often require payment of entry fees!

1st PLACE. Remote work: don’t trust words, but believe deeds!

The winner of our rating is an unemployment scam on the Internet! The fact is that people often become blind in their quest to find a job! Working via the Internet is still a fairly young industry, so it’s easy to deceive a person who doesn’t know how everything works.

How do people cheat on the Internet about jobs? Lots of options! The most common are:

1. They offer to do the work. For example, write text, create a picture, edit a video. They get the result and don’t pay for it.
2. Offer high stable income with minimal costs time. For example, advertising. After weeks of hard work, the worker receives several thousand rubles instead of the promised “mountains of gold.” This is explained to him in different ways: he has just started, there will be more to come, some condition has not been met, there are few clicks on links, and so on. This continues for a long time until the person realizes that he is being deceived.
3. They offer a job with good pay, but first you need to make an insurance contribution! This often happens with typist jobs. They offer to type text from photographs. For one page it’s 100 rubles, but you need to make a contribution in case you don’t complete the work on time and the customer doesn’t receive the result! This is deception. Make a contribution and your very sociable and friendly employer will disappear in no time! The same thing happens with collecting pens at home. You need to pay for the pens that will be sent to you at the specified address. Of course, no one will send anything!

Therefore, be careful! Do not trust those who offer big money for minimal investment of work - this is a scam. Never agree to pay for anything when applying for a job! The money should be paid to you, not you! This is an immutable rule! If you are trying to find a job, then this article will help you in this difficult matter!

Now we present to your attention several useful tips, which will help you not to fall for the bait of dishonest people and avoid fraud.

Tip 1. Do not take any information received as the ultimate truth.

Before you react, think about whether this is true. Question even social media messages you receive from friends. Their account could have been hacked.

Tip 2. Don’t believe promises of huge benefits!

This applies to offers to earn millions by paying a couple of thousand rubles and sensational discounts! If someone came up with a working scheme for making big money with minimal investment, why would he share it with you? All discounts are a well-thought-out marketing ploy. No seller will sell goods below cost!

Tip 3. Take care of your personal data!

You should not disclose personal information unless there is a real need. If you are asked to enter data on dubious resources, do not agree! Experienced scammers can turn even a minimum of information into their own benefit.

Tip 4. Do not respond to messages and calls from unfamiliar numbers!

If you receive a message asking you to send money, follow the link and call back. Don't react! Even if the message is intriguing, scary or funny! This is a scam! Fraudsters evoke strong emotions in you in order to make it easier to lure out the coveted money.

Tip 5. Be vigilant!

It’s unlikely that anyone will be able to list all the ways people cheat on the Internet! Only attentiveness and distrust of those who ask, convince and offer can truly protect you from scammers!

Conclusion

Now you know that online fraud comes in many forms. Only prudence and attentiveness can protect against it. If you have been deceived, be sure to contact law enforcement agencies. In the structure of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs there is a special department “K”, which deals with crimes on the Internet! Write a statement and include all known information. Over the relatively short history of the department’s existence, its specialists have learned to quickly identify cases of fraud and hold those involved accountable.