10 FBI Tips On How To Spot A Liar

FBI agents are trained to read other people and uncover what is hidden so they can get to the truth of a situation. Their job is to recognize language inconsistencies and other verbal cues to spot liars and deceptive behavior.

It would be nice if every job candidate, negotiating partner, and supplier told the truth—but they do not. In addition, many business owners and entrepreneurs get embezzled by the employees they trust.

In the world of business, being successful often means being able to spot liars and people who are deceptive. How do you know when someone is telling you the truth? And if you do believe something you are told, how can you be sure it's not because you want it to be true?

Here are 10 FBI tips on how to spot the liar:

1. Build Rapport

Coming across as empathetic in a conversation gets the person to open up more than when the interviewer is cold and accusatory. Rapport building is the root of effective communication. In fact, without rapport no one will be interested in your message. Without rapport, you have no opportunity to influence others.

TIP: Practice on ways you can mirror and match another person's behavior. When you match and mirror, you observe with your entire body. This is not mimicry. It’s learning to tune in with another person. Pay attention to their body posture, their energy level, and their voice.

2. Fill In The Blanks

Instead of asking direct questions, tell the person the story as if you already know all the facts. Make it a statement—the guilty party will supply details and make corrections.

TIP: Pause every so often or leave out details. Allow them the opportunity to fill in what you've left out. Liars have a prepared narrative in their mind. They will try to correct you when say something that is contrary to their version of the story. Those are the areas into which you will want to delve deeper.

3. Surprise Them

The person knows they are guilty and will be prepared for your questions. If you ask them something they do not expect, they will usually stumble when put on the spot.

TIP: As unexpected questions. This could put them in a tough spot because they'll have to stop and think about how to add another detail to their story. Watch for signs of anxiety or hesitation. Better yet, ask the same question in different ways. Liars prefer to stick to their rehearsed answers and specific words because that is how they've memorized their response.

4. Ask For The Story Backward

This is one of my favorite techniques.

Truthful people tend to add details and remember facts the more they repeat their story. Liars, on the other hand, memorize their stories and keep them the same. Ask the person to recall events backward rather than forward in time.

TIP: For example, start at the end and then ask them to explain what happened right before that point. And so on…For truthful people, this makes recall easier. For liars, they tend to simplify the story so they don’t contradict themselves.

5. Withhold Evidence

Don't show your hand at first. Start with empathy: nod your head or suggest that it isn't really much of a big deal if they admit to it. Give them an opportunity to confess and tell the truth, but if they don't, you will need to confront them. They'll have a hard time editing out all the details they've had to add as you followed the above steps.

TIP: If confronted with evidence of guilt too early, the person will either clam up or become hostile. Instead, give them the opportunity to make a confession. If they don’t, allude to evidence in such a way that they realize you know the facts.

6. Listen More Than Talk

Liars tend to talk more than truthful people in an attempt to sound legitimate and win over their audience. Liars also tend to use more complex sentences to hide the truth.

TIP: Here are some other things to look for:

• Stress usually increases the speed of speech.
• Stressed peopen often talk louder.
• Cracking in the natural tone of the voice often occurs at the point of deception.
• Coughing and clearing the throat are good signs of tension at the point when they occur.

7. NO Is A Key Word

A person is most likely showing deceptive behavior when they:

• Say “no” and look in a different direction (upward, downward, etc)
• Say “no” and close their eyes.
• Say “no” after a hesitation.
• Say “noooooooo” stretched over a long period of time.
• Say “no” in a singsong manner.

8. Be Wary Of Compliments

Watch out for someone who is trying too hard to make a good impression:

• Emphasizing respect for your qualities and talents
• Forming a mutual bond by reminding you of common friends and activities you share
• Offering lots of praise and pleasantries
• Laughing at all your jokes (a sure give-away)

9. Watch For Changes In Behavior

Take the time to notice subtle changes in behavior when you are interviewing them:

• Exhibiting lapses in memory at critical times even though they’ve been alert in earlier conversation
• Providing small crumbs of information to questions asked
• Moving into a more formal way of speaking indicates that the conversation is hitting a point of stress
• Using extreme superlatives or exaggerated responses, such as saying awesome instead of good.

10. Ask Follow-Up Questions

If the person exhibits uneasiness with a specific question, take the time to explore further. For example, "Explain this gap in your résumé" may lead to an answer such as, "I was recuperating from hip surgery." Often, the deception that you’ve uncovered may be related to a personal embarrassment or a desire to be “the perfect candidate.”

What ways have you found to spot liars?

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© 2015 LaRaeQuy. All rights reserved.

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Author of “Mental Toughness For Women Leaders” and “Secrets of a Strong Mind.” 

Co-author of Energize Your Leadership