What happens when you accuse the wrong person
How the accusation works
On the suspects screen, the Accuse button becomes active as soon as you have at least one clue. When you accuse, you choose the suspect and then answer "What is your evidence?" with one of your clues.
To win, both choices have to be right: the culprit and a piece of evidence that points to them. Getting the suspect right with evidence that doesn't tie them to the crime is also a wrong accusation.
What you lose
A wrong accusation is a loss and ends the game. The video of your boss rejects the accusation, and the message is the same for the wrong suspect and for the wrong evidence: the game doesn't say which of the two failed.
You lose 10 points. Your total never goes negative: if you have fewer than 10, you only lose what you have. The Score shows "-10 wrong accusation" and then the leaderboard.
Forensic tests paid for in that game are left behind. The purchase lasts per game, so in a new game of the same case you pay again for any test you want to repeat.
What you keep
The points from the clues you revealed are still yours. Each clue counts once per account, per case and per clue, and the loss doesn't take that away. On the other hand, revealing the same clues in the next game doesn't pay out again.
The culprit isn't revealed and the case isn't used up. On a free account, a loss doesn't start the 30-minute wait clock: you go back to the opening of the same case and can start over right away, with the question counter reset.
How to do better next time
You already know the suspects and some of the answers, so use that. Go straight to the questions that produced clues and save the counter for what you haven't seen.
Rethink the evidence. If you were sure about the suspect, maybe the problem was the clue you chose: it has to tie that person to the crime, not just show they lied about something else. Remember that every innocent person is hiding something embarrassing that isn't a crime.
Before accusing again, reread Statements filtered by suspect and check that your evidence fits what each one said.
Losing on purpose doesn't help: the clues won't pay out again and every loss costs 10 points.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do I lose for a wrong accusation?
10 points, without letting your total go negative. If you have fewer than 10, you only lose what you have.
Does the game show who the culprit was after I get it wrong?
No. The culprit isn't revealed and you can play the same case again right away.
Do the forensic tests I paid for still count in the new attempt?
No. The purchase lasts per game; in a new game you pay again for any test you want.
