Tips to know if someone is lying

[Guest guest]

I plan on writing to the author of this article because although I personally do not exhibit all the signs, like I can make eye contact (usually stare) but I have heard the complaints of others hear about people having the wrong impression of them because people assume that they are lying for most of the reasons discribed in this article.

Kim

Tips to know if someone is lying(http://www.southtownstar.com/business/860783,032608askthepi.article)

March 26, 2008

By McRae

With April Fools Day right around the corner, we are reminded that at times we can be misled.

In business, politics and romance, it would be nice to know if and when we are being lied to. Private investigators deal with deception on a daily basis. Private investigators are lied to when they are questioning a client, when they are trying to serve a summons, when they are interviewing a witness and on and on.

At times, I have been lied to by my clients.

It is crucial for a good private investigator to be able to discern whether someone is telling the truth. This ability will help you solve cases and save you countless hours of wasted timed. Our agency specializes in the area of deception. We often are called in by clients to interview and interrogate employees who are suspected of being involved in some type of fraud. Our goal is to illicit a confession if we believe we have the guilty party. We do this by using certain techniques that help us detect lies and then get the guilty party to confess.

We also work with a polygraph examiner to substantiate findings or when the case goes in another direction.

I have interviewed thousands of people in my career and have learned one thing: Even when the proper techniques are imposed, there always are a few liars who will not be found.

So how does it work, how do you turn yourself into a human lie detector and see through lies?

Well, like most things; experience is always critical. Repetition is the mother of skill. The leading school for fraud detection in the world is right here in Chicago. The name is the Reid Institute. I attended their academy as do most law enforcement, military personnel and federal agents who deal with deception. Many major retailers also send their loss prevention representatives to their academy, as well. They teach techniques that are second to none.

Here are some guidelines to help you decide whether the person you are dealing with is telling you the truth.

First, stay objective, especially when dealing with a loved one. Watch out for the, "Oh, honey, oh, sweetheart."

Second, you must not only listen but also watch the person. Nonverbal behaviors often give insight as to whether someone is being truthful.

Nonverbal behavior includes: not making eye contact, crossing of arms and legs, pupils will narrow, and limited hand, leg and body movements are limited. Eye movement also can indicate whether a person is remembering or making something up. Wiggling or uncomfortable movements and long pauses are other things that can indicate lying.

Here are some verbal behaviors that can indicate when someone is lying: talking fast, being overly friendly, inappropriate laughing, parroting the question or repeating a question back. Other signs are religious oaths, asking to repeat your question and communication in third person.

We all have had the wool pulled over our eyes and been lied to. Even the best interrogators in the world miss one now and again. The more someone lies, the better they get.

McRae is a licensed private investigator and president of KAM Data Services, 35 E. Wacker Drive, No. 1545 Chicago 60601. Contact McRae at ext. 1 or kmcrae@....