Myth: If you have invoked your right to remain silent and refused to make a statement, you cannot be questioned about your case by anyone.

Truth: If you invoke your rights and make no statements, no one in authority can make you answer questions about your case. Needless to say, this is frustrating to investigators and the prosecution, who rely on your incriminating statements as the bedrock of their case against you. To get around this rule, it is a common investigative practice for the government to send friends and others to attempt to question you about your case and get you to say something that will get you into trouble. One method is the “pretext phone call,” where a friend, victim, or other person will call you from an investigator’s office, where your conversation will be taped. Often, the investigator feeds questions to this person, questions the investigator cannot ask you directly. Whatever you say during that call will be used as evidence against you. This is why it is vital not to make any statements to anyone about your case, except your attorney.