History Main / InvestigatorImpersonation

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[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

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* In ''IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', [[spoiler:Donovan hiring Indiana Jones]] because that will [[MacGuffinDeliveryService lead him to the MacGuffin]].

* In ''TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'', [[spoiler: M[=/=]Moriarity]] was pulling this off on the whole team.

->"When you're a spy playing the role of spy hunter, the trail of evidence can lead wherever you say it does."
-->--'''Michael Westen''', ''Series/BurnNotice'', "Seek and Destroy"

* In ''HeavyRain'', one of the investigators on the Origami Killer case turns out to be [[spoiler:the Killer himself. Namely, Scott Shelby, who poses as a PI to collect evidence he left behind as the killer]].

* The "Mr. Charles" plan implemented by Cobb in ''Film/{{Inception}}''. By making Fisher believe Cobb was a projection of his subconscious, Cobb managed to make Fisher think someone was trying to steal information from his dreams. In reality, ''Cobb himself'' was the thief of whom he spoke.

-->--'''Michael Westen''', ''BurnNotice'', "Seek and Destroy"

* This is a favorite tactic of Michael Westen on ''BurnNotice''. In the episode that provides the page quote, he persuades a mark to give him access to his stolen painting by telling him that he's trying to protect it from a spy. (Accompanied by frequent {{Sarcastic Confession}}s, no less.) This is a rare non-villanous example. Westen will often go to extremes in these efforts by faking "attacks" by the invisible enemies.

* In a recent ''{{Chuck}}'' episode, a mercenary hired to rob a CIA warehouse told a guard she was an agent sent there to assist him as they'd received word someone was going to try to rob the warehouse. Of course, her success here may have been due in large part to his fascination with [[DistractedByTheSexy her cleavage]].

* The "Mr. Charles" plan implemented by Cobb in ''{{Inception}}''. By making Fisher believe Cobb was a projection of his subconscious, Cobb managed to make Fisher think someone was trying to steal information from his dreams. In reality, ''Cobb himself'' was the thief of whom he spoke.

* In ''IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', [[spoiler:Donovan hiring Indiana Jones]] because that will [[MacGuffinDeliveryService lead him to the MagGuffin]].

* In ''IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', [[spoiler:Donovan hiring Indiana Jones]] because that will [[MacGuffinDeliveryService lead him to the McGuffin]].

** In a much more awesome variation, in RealLife the actual Frank Abagnale conned his way out of prison by impersonating an undercover FBI agent that was investigating the prison system(there were really FBI agents doing that at the time).
* In ''IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', [[spoiler:Donovan hiring Indiana Jones]] because that will lead him to the McGuffin.

* LupinIII's favorite disguise is Inspector Zenigata.

* This is also frequently done on Leverage as well, usually by Hardion, Parker and Eliot. In one interesting variation, during a mystery dinner theater, they have to claim to be putting on the show while solving the real murder.

A favorite of the ManipulativeBastard and TheChessmaster who may use [[ThePlan any variety of plan]] to make this work.

* OlderThanRadio: ''Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo'' was fond of employing these, albeit on a smaller scale.

* ArseneLupin has pulled off many a heist or escape by dressing up as an investigator.

* In ''CatchMeIfYouCan'', to throw off Tom Hanks' character, Frank pretends to be an investigator from another agency.

* OlderThanRadio: TheCountOfMonteCristo was fond of employing these, albeit on a smaller scale.

-->--'''Michael Westen''', ''BurnNotice'', "Seek and Destroy"

So you're a scheming villain out to inflict some suffering on a poor UnwittingPawn. You have the gadgets, the {{Mooks}} and most importantly, the {{Evil Plan}} itself. But wait! Your unsuspecting victim may not be so unsuspecting! Quickly! What do you do?

Why, you employ the Investigator Impersonation! Almost a villanous form of {{Lampshade Hanging}}, you do this by doing the last thing the victim would expect you to do: Outlining your entire plan straight to his face! By posing as a helping party, the villain convinces the victim that his plan is currently being implemented by somebody else. This allows the villain to simultaneously shift the suspicion away from him and get his victim to follow his every command to the letter.

A favorite of the {{Manipulative Bastard}} and {{The Chessmaster}} who may use [[ThePlan any variety of plan]] to make this work.

!!Examples:

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

* In ''CatchMeIfYouCan'', to throw off Tom Hanks' character, Frank pretends to be an investigator from another agency.
** In a much more awesome variation, in RealLife the actual Frank Abagnale conned his way out of prison by impersonating an undercover FBI agent that was investigating the prison system(there were really FBI agents doing that at the time).
* In ''IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', [[spoiler:Donovan hiring Indiana Jones]] because that will lead him to the McGuffin.
-->Didn't I tell you not to trust anyone, Dr. Jones?
* In ''TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'', [[spoiler: M[=/=]Moriarity]] was pulling this off on the whole team.
* In ''WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', [[spoiler:Judge Doom]] claims to be after Marvin Acme's murderer, when in fact it was [[spoiler:he]] who committed it.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* OlderThanRadio: TheCountOfMonteCristo was fond of employing these, albeit on a smaller scale.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

** This was once played for comedy with Sam impersonating a CSI, with all the LampshadeHanging necessary.

* This is also frequently done on Leverage as well, usually by Hardion, Parker and Eliot. In one interesting variation, during a mystery dinner theater, they have to claim to be putting on the show while solving the real murder.

A favorite of the {{Manipulative Bastard}} and {{The Chessmaster}} who may use [{ThePlan any variety of plan]] to make this work.

So you're a scheming villain out to inflict some suffering on a poor UnwittingPawn. You have the gadgets, the {{Mooks}} and most importantly, the {{EvilPlan}} itself. But wait! Your unsuspecting victim may not be so unsuspecting! Quickly! What do you do?

So you're a scheming villain out to inflict some suffering on a poor UnwittingPawn. You have the gadgets, the {{Mooks}} and most importantly, the {{Xanatos Gambit}} itself. But wait! Your unsuspecting victim may not be so unsuspecting! Quickly! What do you do?

A favorite of the {{Manipulative Bastard}} and {{The Chessmaster}}.

Compare XanatosGambit and BatmanGambit. Compare DetectiveMole.

* {{The Count of Monte Cristo}} was fond of employing these, albeit on a smaller scale. Proving that this one is {{Older Than Steam}}.

So you're a scheming villain out to inflict some suffering on a poor {{Xanatos Sucker}}. You have the gadgets, the {{Mooks}} and most importantly, the {{Xanatos Gambit}} itself. But wait! Your unsuspecting victim may not be so unsuspecting! Quickly! What do you do?

** This was once played for comedy with Sam impersonating a {{CSI}}, with all the LampshadeHanging necessary.

** This was once played for comedy with Sam impersonating an {{CSI}}, with all the LampshadeHanging necessary.

** This was once played for comedy with Sam impersonating an [[CSI]], with all the LampshadeHanging necessary.

** And so has his "descendant" LupinTheThird.