Plan all details before you take any action at all. Don't even
ad-libsomething from this book without a plan of exactly what you're going to doand how. If your campaign involves a series of actions, make a chronological chart, then coordinate your efforts. Make a list of possible
problems. Plan what you'll do if you get caught - depending upon who catches you. You must have every option, contingency, action, reaction and evaluation planned in advance.2. GATHER INTELLIGENCE.
Do what a real
intelligence operative would do and compile a file on yourmark. How detailed and thorough you are depends upon your plans for the mark. For a simple get-even number, you obviously need less intelligence than if you're
planning an involved, time-release campaign. Before you start spying, make a written list of all the important things you need to know about the target - be it a person, company or institution.
3. BUY AWAY FROM HOME.
Any supplies, materials or services you need must be purchased away from where you live. Buy way in advance and pay in cash. Try to be asinconspicusous and colorless as possible. Don't talk unnecessary with people. The
best rule here is the spy's favorite - a good agent will get lost in a crowd of one. The idea is for people not to remember you.
4. NEVER TIP YOUR HAND.
Don't get cocky, cute'n'clever and start dropping hints about
who's doing what to whom. I know that may sound stupid, but some would-be tricksters are gabby. Of course, in some of the cases this will not apply, e.g., unselling car customers at the dealership, or other tricks in
which the scenario demands your personal involvement.
5. NEVER ADMIT ANYTHING.
If accused, act shocked, hurt, outraged or amused, whichever seems most appropriate. Deny everything, unless, again, your plan involves
overt personal involvement. If you're working covert, stay that way. The only cool guy out of Watergate was Gordon Liddy; he kept his mouth shut.
6. NEVER APOLOGIZE; IT'S A SIGN OF WEAKNESS.
Normally, harassment of
a citizen is a low-priority case with the police. The priority increases along with the person's socio-financial position in the community and with his or her political connection. If you are at war with a corporation,
utility or institution, that's a different ball game. They often have private security people, sometimes retired federal or state investigators. By habit, these people may not play according to the law. If you play
dirty tricks upon a governmental body be prepared to have a case opened. But how hard it is followed depends upon a lot of factors. Understanding all this ahead of time is part of your intelligence planning before you
get started in action.
