The lawyer was correct. If you have reason to suspect the FBI is watching you, they already have what they need. The men-in-black routine is meant to alter your behavior, to cause you to do something rare like empty an account or contact a distant friend. This was federal investigation 101.
Walk past the car and photograph the driver. They really love that.
I have a PI friend (retired) who pretended to be a cable guy as one of his go-to methods, even had a van with the right paint job. In that context, what you're saying sounds about right--why would you make yourself more obvious if you didn't have to?
I would love to hear more about this. Both you and the lawyer in the story recognize it as true, but is this something you're taught ... or learn officially ... or learn unofficially?
Exact procedures are of of course classified, but talk to enough people under investigation, read enough warrant affidavits, and you learn the patterns. They haven't changed much over the decades. They still dress in 1950ish black suits with sunglasses, at least when they want people to recognze them. This is a culture no different than any other corporation. They all dress to look like the boss/oldest man in the room.
FBI agents follow the trial lawyers credo "never ask a question you don't already know the answer to". They dont ask for a meeting until they know enough to dominate the conversation. Thats why they watch nearly everyone they ever deal with.
Actual footage of a low-level FBI agent engaged in semi-covert activities. Note the suit, haircut and body language (Ex-soldier, doesn't know a thing about the tech he is standing amongst). He stands in the middle of the action because he thinks that makes him part of the process, but all he can really do to help is close the cage door. This is a very junior agent out doing unimportant grunt work. He doesn't even have a partner with him.
> FBI agents follow the trial lawyers credo "never ask a question you don't already know the answer to"
When I was 18 I got a visit from the FBI that was related to some trouble I had gotten into when I was 15. They asked me a question about something I definitely never did and then later in the conversation circled back to my denial and told me they had proof that I did it. It was a really scary and bizarre moment. It was at that moment that I realized they were asking questions not to get the answers but to see what I said. I asked them to leave (they had showed up to my house) and to come back the next day when I could have a lawyer present. They did.
I was interviewed by FBI agents in a small town, and they did not appear sophisticated at all.
First, they went to my mother's old employer that she had left 8 years prior. The message got passed to me and I called them.
They mispronounced words, tried to intimidate me and at one point said, "We aren't the Federal Bureau of Information" when I pointed out holes in their questions.
I'm sure if I was a high priority this would had been different.
A group that tries to provide secure means of communication for protests and activists. Take the fact that the FBI have seized and replaced their co-located servers as you will.
Walk past the car and photograph the driver. They really love that.
I assume you're being sarcastic, but they might actually "love that" if their objective at that point of the investigation is to alarm you and see what you do. It's an acknowledgment that they have indeed alarmed you.
I can actually do them a favour. That agent doesnt like sitting there all day. He was assinged to intimidate. Mission acomplished. By photographing him you acknowledge the message and he can be assigned to sonething else. Moving the nonverbal conversation along might actually trigger them to make a formal, polite, approach.
A lone FBI agent wont be happy, but he wont break cover be reacting. He will just drive away.
I think the idea is.
Step 1: FBI agents watch you without you realizing it. They find out what you normally do.
Step 2: The FBI agents do something obvious so you know they are watching you. In this case, taking your picture.
Step 3: The FBI agents then watch you to see what you do next. Do you go to an unusual bank to take out money? Run out and buy a burner phone and make weird calls? etc.
The point of it is, I suppose, to react in a strange way, and let them know that you know. Most people would do one of the things you listed in Step 3 - not take pictures of the person taking pictures of them.
Yep. Seems like a classic dumb move(tm) designed to convey that you're on to their FBI games.
I'd say that unless you're a TV spy complete with a complicated plan, sidekicks and knowledge of how the script ends, the right answer here is "skip the high school psych-outs and talk to a lawyer yesterday".
Walk past the car and photograph the driver. They really love that.