Accused of FBI Pre-Employment Polygraph Countermeasures:

Please pardon my lengthy post. Although I made every attempt to keep this as short as possible; it still turned out to be book. Short of leaving out important aspects of the experience and process, I included what I thought should be told.

My story: 

The following is a true story (my personal experience) of how the FBI went to great lengths to seek me out, recruit me; only to be failed by the system itself, not the polygraph machine. I can only hope this travesty does not happen to anyone else; but regrettably, until we can put a stop to pre-employment polygraph screening it most certainly will.  I hope my personal experience will be testimony for others to "beware" of a failed system. It can and will happen to you, as well as many inocent others. This is a true injustice.

The FBI recruited me back in December 2001. I promptly completed the application process (FD-140) and submitted my package within a couple of weeks. On 7/1/02, I received an official letter "conditional appointment" informing me that I had been selected for the position previously applied for. 

From that point, things moved very quickly. I was almost immediately scheduled for my medical exam, physical fitness test, fingerprinting, drug test, polygraph and background investigation. 
Due to the nature of my present job; I currently have a DoD (Red Badge) TS/SAR/4, DISCO/DSS issued Security Clearance with Nuclear Weapons Generation Area access, w/escort authorization. With that being said, I simply assumed the background investigation would be nothing much more than formality, wrong!

Following the drug test and finger printing process, I was then scheduled for my polygraph exam. The polygrapher administering my exam was known as “an old hat”, meaning that he had been around the bureau for a long time. 

The polygrapher knew that the bureau was aggressively recruiting me. I was not your typical applicant hoping for a job with the FBI. I already knew exactly which field office I would be assigned, knew exactly what I was going to be doing, and knew actually "why" they were recruiting me. I tell you all this because I was naive enough to believe it all meant something. Didn't mean squat!

Once we started the first poly, the polygrapher did not administer any “stem-test”. He quickly reviewed the questions that he was going to ask; and he further remarked that this would be very quick, and very easy. The polygraph exam itself was a very simple “CQT” question test. He asked me three (3) sets of questions on two (2) different series of questions. One set of questions was about drug use, stealing, etc., and the second set of questions was regarding being a spy, selling secrets, etc. Keep in mind that both sets of questions was blatantly obvious CQT in nature. Again, he asked me the same 10 – 12 questions three times in a mixed random order. At the end of the test, he told me that he did not see any problems anywhere in either set of questions. He ran six (6) charts total on me. There was no “post-test” interrogation, and he (polygrapher) quickly told me that I did fine. He then walked me back to my applicant processor's desk, and informed him/her that I did fine. He openly gave them all a “thumbs-up”, and remarked to everyone in the room that I did fine, no problems noted. 
He then turned to me and told me; “I’m not suppose to tell you this, but you did perfectly fine”, no problems on either set of charts. However, he further informed me “the charts had to be sent to the DC lab for a final QC check”. Then he said, “this is just a formality”, and “not to worry, you passed”. 

I left on a natural high. Knowing that I was merely a couple of weeks from receiving an official start date. For all practical purposes, I was an employee with the FBI. I couldn’t wait to get home and tell my wife that I had completed my FBI applicant process, and would soon be starting to work for the bureau. 
I even called the FBI field office that was recruiting me and told them that I had taken and passed the poly. They were all very happy, and all of the SA's congratulated me. I was finally in; or at least, so I thought!

Later in the following week, I received a phone call from the FBI field office applicant coordinator, informing me that my polygraph result had came back from the DC lab as “inconclusive”. I was then told the FBI wanted to re-test me. When I questioned as to why the inconclusive result, I was told not to worry. I was told the problem seemed to be some type of "glitch" with the polygraph machine. 

I was told that this time there would be a different polygrapher to administer the exam. I thought nothing further of it, and confirmed I would return for the re-test.

The second test was then scheduled for the following week. (Approximately one week between the first and second polygraph exam) Upon reporting for the re-test, I was again greeted by the "same" polygrapher, thinking I was going to have a different polygraphist. However, this time, he was not such a nice guy. I could immediately tell something was not right. He made no effort to shake my hand as before, and did not entertain any “chit-chat”. He also acted as though he was very angry and upset about having to administer a re-test. I could sense something was seriously wrong.  

Immediately upon entering the polygraph examination room, he informed me the reason for my re-test was due to the Washington DC unit “suspecting” countermeasures on the first polygraph test. He told me, and this is a quote;  “you did too good to be true" on the first test. He then launched into this accusatory speech about countermeasures. He was relentless and insisting that I tell him what I had read, bought, and/or who had coached me on polygraph countermeasures. 

I steadfastly held to my denials, and admitted to nothing. He then instructed me to write a statement explaining that I had not used any polygraph countermeasures. After I wrote the statement, he then began the pre-test interview, and reviewed the questions he would be asking me on the 2nd test. 

This time, he repeated the exact same two (2) question series as before, except that ALL “CQT” questions had been obviously removed. There were absolutely no control questions at all, this time the question's were all relevant/irrelevant. Also, he asked me the same questions three (3) times in random order on each chart. The big difference this time was the addition of an entire set of 10/12 questions on countermeasures. The first two sets of questions were exactly the same questions as I was asked on the first polygraph exam; with the exception of the removal of all CQT questions. On the third set of countermeasure questions, he asked me another 10/12 relevant/irrelevant questions strictly related to the use of countermeasures. 

All throughout the countermeasure questions, he would ask me what was I thinking about on that particular question, this was obviously a ploy to make me nervous, as I was thinking nothing about the question. He would also tell me (during the “in-test” phase) that something obviously bothered me on certain countermeasure questions. Again, this was his ploy to make me think I was responding to certain questions he was asking me. 

Following the third series of questions, (the countermeasure questions) I was subjected to a very hostile “post-test” interrogation where I was accused of lying on the 2nd test. He also accused me of employing countermeasures on the first polygraph exam. He even tore the chart from the polygraph machine and confronted me with the charts. My response was; if you can see all these obvious signs of deception and countermeasures on this test, then why didn’t you detect them on the first polygraph? I asked him why it took the FBI DC polygraph unit to recognize and point-out any “suspected” countermeasures used during my first test? Of course, he had no good response to my question. 

He then left the examination room for about 45 minutes to fax my charts to DC, and left me in the room alone to contemplate my fate. When he returned, he continued to interrogate me about the use of countermeasures, and I persistently stuck to my denials. 

At the conclusion of the interrogation, he told me I had failed the second polygraph test on the countermeasure questions only. And also, he told me the only way he “could help me” was for me to admit to him what I had read, or who had coached me on how to use countermeasures. I did not admit to anything unethical, and/or to the use of any polygraph countermeasures during the first test, or the second test.

The funny thing about my entire FBI pre-employment polygraph experience is: although I was “suspected” of using countermeasures, the polygrapher or the DC unit never could or would tell me precisely what method of countermeasures they suspected me of employing. In fact, the polygrapher initially told me that I had passed the first polygraph. Meaning, he did not see or detect any signs of deception and/or countermeasures. 

Although the DC unit suspected that I had used countermeasures, I still passed the polygraph exam itself. In fact, the polygrapher personally told me that I “did too good to be true”. My response to this; have you stopped for a second to consider, I was simply telling the truth? He then replied; “no one does that good”. 

I was recently told by a “FBI source” that works in/around the Washington DC polygraph unit that I clearly passed both polygraph exams; although, they told me that I had failed. The reason they failed me was due to their “suspicion” of countermeasure use, "not actual proof".  Although there is not a single thread of evidence that I used polygraph countermeasures, they can still “deem” the final results as “not within acceptable parameters” if they do not believe the actual charts of their own polygraph instrument. 

Just recently, I was again told that I actually passed both polygraph exams with an excellent score. Although, DC steadfastly holds to their suspicion that I employed polygraph countermeasures, they actually failed me due to nothing more than mere suspicion. I later received another letter telling me that my polygraph results were “not within acceptable parameters”, and thus, I was disqualified from further consideration for FBI employment. 

As of this posting, (10/16/02) the status of my "failed" polygraph results, and rejected FBI application are under protest. 

I have written several Senators, Congressmen, sent a letter of protest to the Director of the FBI; and filed a FOIA requesting any/all related information with regard to my two-polygraph test's. 

There are certain aspects of my personal experience that I cannot openly discuss here on this website or message board. However, at such a time when I can openly discuss all sensitive aspects of my experience, I will share all details openly on this message board. 

For obvious reasons, I cannot identify the actual field office, polygrapher that tested me, or my real name. This bad experience could potentially compromise my current career, as I have now been accused of using polygraph countermeasures. That's not something anyone would want to flaunt to his or her current employer. Thanks FBI, what an incentive... recruit me, then accuse me of countermeasures, then throw me back to the wolves... 

This goes to show that there is no “sure method” of detecting what is, and what is not, polygraph countermeasures. They (the FBI) never even slightly attempted to hint at what they thought I might have done to “beat the polygraph”. 

You would think they could at least say; AH HA!!!!! Right there… “Pointing at the polygraph charts”… you squeezed your anal sphincter right there… see it… But not so!

If you are simply “suspected” of employing polygraph countermeasures, even if they cannot prove their suspicions, they will rule your polygraph results as “not within acceptable parameters”, and that’s the end of your FBI application process. Case closed… end of story. 

I will continue to post any additional news as it relates to my personal experience. 

Good luck to all.

Respectfully,
Triple x

x_X_x,

I'm sorry to hear of what you apparently endured and now suffer the consequences of, but I believe your detailed and well-documented account will be very useful for others to read and to learn from.  Assuming your account to be accurate you have given very good indirect evidence of what has been suggested on this board and site for some time.  There are NO counter-countermeasures for suspected manipulations of CQT polygraph examinations.  As you have well described the only counter-countermeasure is the run and bluster technique.  If polygraphers are forced to abandon their bread and butter for an RI exam whenever they are in a guess mode regarding countermeasures is it any wonder the NAS panel declared this exam to be a danger to national security.  Thank you for this valuable insight.


Again, as beech trees has suggested, I hope all readers will take the time to read x_X_x's original post and story.

Quote:


Anonymous makes an excellent point.  And although XXX did not explicitly deny using countermeasures in his account, it is important to note that, aside from the well-known bias against truthful persons already known, polygraphs evidently now include another one:  panicking polygraphers desperate to catch easy-to-do countermeasures.  I would imagine the problem is even worse with R/I testing.

So the key to passing a polygraph and gaining a position of trust and integrity in the law-enforcement/intelligence community appears to be: don't be too truthful or too fallacious; be just right (you get to figure out where that point is).  And, of course, pray that nothing makes you nervous or upset at the wrong time.

Aw, heck, if they're going to accuse you of countermeasures, anyway, why not learn and employ them?

Skeptic

Marty,

With regard to your first question: 
"How many distinct control questions were asked"?

Each of the two sets (1st test) of CQT questions contained about 6 to 8 actual control questions such as; have you ever stolen anything during your entire life, have you ever said anything rude about someone, have you ever told a lie to a loved one, etc, etc... 

On the 2nd polygraph, (R/I) there were absolutely no controls at all. However, the polygrapher did try to "slip-in" a control stimuli effect when the test started by saying: "the test has now began" and again at the end by saying; "the test is now complete". The "control stimuli" concept/idea long believed by most polygraphers is that the stimuli will have basically the same effect as your basic control questions. They are hoping that you will respond to the control stimuli, so they will have something to compare against all the relevant questions.


With regard to your thoughts on my responses possibly being too strong as well as consistent: I'm hesitant to respond, as I acted as any normal individual and/or bureau candidate would. Simply meaning, I didn't discuss polygraph theory, the concept of CQT verses R/I, compare it to tarot card reading, crystal balls, voodoo, etc.. I'm not sure here what the DC polygraph lab "thinks" they detected as possible countermeasures. For the record, they (FBI) never officially told me via any letter that I failed due to countermeasures. One thing for certain, the actual polygrapher that administered the exam didn't detect anything. He actually told me I did fine, and went so far as to say; "I didn't see any problems at all on any of the questions". He thought (as did I) that I did perfectly fine. 

Regarding the Internet resources and researching countermeasures:
The polygrapher definitely asked me all about that exact issue on the 2nd (retest) polygraph. He wanted to know what I had read about countermeasures, who I had talked to about countermeasures, who had coached me on countermeasure use, etc., etc... He had lots of questions regarding researching countermeasures on the Internet. Also, as documented in my initial post; he had me write a hand written statement as I set there stating that I have never researched polygraph countermeasures on the Internet, and/or anywhere else to include buying any books/text with regard to polygraph countermeasures. The FBI is definitely concerned about people educating themselves about polygraphy on the Internet. Without a doubt!

I completely agree with you regarding the 2nd test. I suspect it may very well have been "data collection" at its best. It was obvious that they had removed ALL CQT questions, and replaced them with all R/I questions. 

He ran a total of nine (9) charts on me during the 2nd test. That included 3 sets of questions on each of the same question series as asked during my first test; plus, the addition of the countermeasure question series, which also included a three (3) question series asked in random order.

Good luck.

Respectfully,
triple_x

Dear xXx,

I recently went through two FBI test similar to yours.  The examiner on the first one led me to believe that that if it was up to him, I would be passing.  It came back inconclusive.  My second polygraph was nothing more then a thinly veiled inquisition.  They had already made up their mind that I was not passing.  I am still under appeal and do not want to get into too much detail.  I was quizzed up and down the flagpole also about where I was getting my information (I now know this was concerning "countermeasures") and maybe "we could work it out if you cooperate."  

The polygraph community is now trying to prove what we had known for along time.  They have no valid research or techniques to detect countermeasues.

When in doubt, bluff!

The race of lemurs going off the cliff is about to begin.

Marty,

Yes, six to eight "control" questions sounds like a high number for a single chart collection (question series) in an FBI pre-employment polygraph examination. I would have expected about half that number, because each question series includes (to the best of my knowledge) only three relevant questions.

For the record:

I have received many questions via email and private messages asking me if "I forgot" to say I employed polygraph countermeasures. 

People want to know if I did or did not.

Although I strongly support this website, as well as "TLBTLD" which is readily available for download (free) also on this website, I did not "forget" to indicate if (I did or did not) use polygraph countermeasures. 

I simply cannot and "will not" confirm nor deny if I employed polygraph countermeasures during either or both of my polygraph exams. The concern here should not be if I used them or not. The point of concern here should be: 

1)  If they (the FBI) can so easily identify polygraph
    countermeasures, as they like to claim, then why didn't 
    the polygrapher detect them during my actual 1st 
    polygraph exam? According to the Washington DC FBI 
    polygraph lab; they “suspect” (but are not sure), that I 
    employed polygraph countermeasures.
2)  One thing is for certain in my specific case; the 
    polygrapher absolutely did not detect any 
    countermeasures during my polygraph exams. 
3)  The polygrapher actually told me that I did fine; he went 
    on to tell me that I passed the test with no problems 
    noted on any of the two question series.
4)  I was also told that he (the polygrapher) had to mail the 
    charts to the DC lab merely as a formality, for “QC 
    purposes” he added. 

I can only assume, that the bureau has not paused for a second to consider that I possibly may have been telling the truth…

One can only sincerely hope; that the FBI is better at detecting and identifying terrorist than they are at detecting and identifying polygraph countermeasures with certainty. 

I feel that if they are going to accuse you merely on suspicion alone, they should have to support their claim, and not hide the charts, notes, video, audio, etc., etc. resulting from the actual exam. It is an outrage when you have to write Senators, Congressmen and file various FOIA request for your own results to be made available to you. That alone is a flawed system. 

I’m sure glad our federal government cannot prosecute and incarcerate suspects on as little evidence as they do with polygraphy. If they did, the jails and prisons would be packed full of innocent people.

In closing, I will leave you with this to ponder:

The actual polygrapher that administered my 2nd polygraph (retest) actually told me the following:

"no one does that good", "you did too good to be true".

And all this time, I thought that's what you were supposed to do... I did my best, I did the best I could do, and they failed me because in their own words; "I did too good to be true".

What an outrage!


Respectfully,
Triple_x

Fair Chance wrote on Oct 19^th, 2002 at 3:17am:


I like your attitude, fair_chance. That is exactly what I would do were I in your circumstance.

Do remember that the philosopy of hiring screens is that it's perfectly acceptable to reject a large number of false positive applicants if it prevents even a few "bad guys" so you are in the company of a large number of innocent people who have also been rejected. They know that. You know that. Your friends and associates should know that as well.

-Marty