On 16 October 2003, I sent the following  e-mail to polygrapher Ted Todd at ted.todd@sbcglobal.net:


Dear Mr. Todd:

In a current eBay offering titled "1/2 hour Phone Consult w/ A Polygraph Expert" (Item number 2957256707), you claim that a good polygraph examiner will catch attempts to beat the polygraph "every time":


Quote:

If you are looking for a way to beat a polygraph exam, please don't bid on this auction. A good Polygraphist will catch you every time.

However, there are no book chapters or articles in the polygraph literature explaining how a polygraph operator can reliably detect the kinds of countermeasures described in AntiPolygraph.org's free e-book, The Lie Behind the Lie Detector, and no polygrapher has ever demonstrated any ability to detect such countermeasures. Indeed, the available peer-reviewed research suggests that even experienced polygraphers cannot detect such countermeasures. And in its recent report, The Polygraph and Lie Detection, the National Academy of Sciences concluded (at p. 214) that "the evidence does not provide confidence that polygraph accuracy is robust against potential countermeasures."

This being the case, I challenge you to support your claim that a good polygraphist will catch someone trying to beat the polygraph "every time." Why should anyone believe you instead of the National Academy of Sciences?

If you truly believe that "a good polygraphist" will catch countermeasures "every time," then why not accept Dr. Drew C. Richardson's polygraph countermeasure challenge? Before turning down this challenge with the excuse that you cannot reveal your methodology, note that this challenge does not require that you disclose how you detect countermeasures, merely that you demonstrate your ability to detect them. This challenge has thus far gone 625 days without takers. Are you willing to be the first?

Sincerely,

George W. Maschke
AntiPolygraph.org

PS: This public challenge in response to your publicly made claim will be posted on the AntiPolygraph.org message board. You are welcome to reply there.