by Cheryl Rickey

Created on: September 06, 2009

If you are easily fooled by someone, it doesn't mean you are naive. Some people are good liars and are very convincing. Here are a few ways to tell if someone is a liar. Keep in mind that it's not always easy to tell, but these are some clues that might help you.

Listen closely to what the person you think is lying is saying. Often times you can tell if someone is a liar just by the words they are using.

A liar will often repeat the question you ask or use the exact words in his/her reply. "Did you take the wallet?" "Did I take the wallet? No I did not take the wallet." A lot of effort goes into their answer and the repeat of the question seems to be a stalling tactic to give them more time to create an answer.

A liar will often make more conversation about a subject than necessary. One simple question about a wallet (in step 1) may turn into a big dissertation about how the wallet could have been lost, where it might be and how this person was busy all day so he/she could not possibly have taken it." Information overload. This person may be trying to make you believe you are being ridiculous for even asking or assuming he/she stole the wallet.

A liar may say, "What?" even though he/she heard exactly what you said. This again is due to some much needed processing time so the person can come up with a lie about the situation at hand.

Body language plays a huge part in determining if someone is a liar. When someone is lying, they may avoid eye contact with the person they are lying to. They might also touch their face as if to cover it-such as rubbing their nose while talking. They may also fidget with their hands or an object like keys.

Often a liar will put something such as a book, glass or other object between the two of you. This is a sign that this person needs space and does not want to discuss the subject.

Another way to tell if someone is a liar is to try to get them to give details about the subject you suspect he/she is lying about. Ask specific questions because it will be hard for a liar to remember what they told you only minutes before unless they are a professional con artist! Interrupt them mid-sentence with a completely off base question and then get back to the original question. They will likely stumble with their answer.

The most important thing to understand is that just because a person has one of these traits, it does not mean he/she is a liar. It is best to already know this person's normal behavior to see if it is completely off base. Some people are nervous and fidget - so that doesn't mean they are a liar. However, the tips above will help you get clued in to someone's behavior if you do suspect they are lying.

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