In a pre-registered study with N = 1,031 participants, quota-representative for the Danish adult population, we compared the prevalence estimates of self-reported handwashing, physical distancing, and attitudes towards the behavioral measures between people surveyed with a direct and an indirect questioning approach. We furthermore investigated two possible predictors for the sensitive attributes, namely (1) empathy for people who are vulnerable to the virus and (2) Honesty-Humility from the HEXACO Model of Personality. Moreover, we examined the interaction of the predictors with the questioning format. The results indicate that participants reported on average a greater adherence to handwashing and physical distancing guidelines when asked directly rather than when asked indirectly. The overall attitudes regarding the behavioral measures did not differ between the two questioning formats. In addition, empathy for people who are vulnerable to the virus was negatively linked to the violation of recommendations regarding handwashing and physical distancing, whereas Honesty-Humility was only negatively linked to violating physical distancing guidelines. An interaction of the predictors with the questioning format could not be confirmed by the data.