I dissimulate my voice a little bit. I throw a few high-sounding words into the sentence. 'Mr. Johnson? Ah, you don't know him?' Make a concerned face. Make them feel guilty. 'Oh God, I hope no one tells them you called him that....' Good. Show doubt. Take advantage of it. 'I play golf with him, you know.' Maybe that was exaggerated? Bah, they seem to be buying it. Now I leave it to him to ask.... 'Yes, I could put in a good word.... ' And there you go. It's so simple. We are so simple, we human beings. So much more than machines.