Dear April Masini,
"

I'm usually not the suspicious type, but I think my girlfriend is cheating on me. Last Tuesday evening she didn't answer her home or cell phone, and when she finally called me back the next day I got this long dramatic story about where she had been and why she couldn't call me right back. This wasn't the first time this has happened, and while I don't want to falsely accuse her, I don't want to be a fool either. Are there any tips you could give me on how to tell if she's lying?

Sincerely,  Tell the Truth

"

April Masini's Advice :

Dear Tell the Truth, 

You bet!  There are definitely some signs you can look for, here they are:

Liar, liar, pants on fire!

 

Here are the telltale signs that someone is being deceptive and telling you a lie:

Information Overload.  You ask a simple question and get a complex, long, drawn out, (too) detailed explanation, with way more information than necessary. Liars try to convince by revealing too much information and too many "facts," rather than conveying a simple answer to a question.
 
Informational inconsistencies or lack of logic to statements, the stories seem too dramatic or unrealistic. 
 
Physical discomfort -- blushing, sweating, leg jiggling, scratching a maddening itch.
 
Inappropriate body movement -- unexplained smirks, inadvertent shrugs, lack of eye contact or shifty eyes, and inappropriate smiles. 
 
Changes in speech patterns -- hesitations, odd phrases, slips of the tongue, or quickened speech.
 
Repetition.  Repeating questions can be sign of someone buying time to formulate her or his lie. 
 
A strong feeling that something is not right.  If your gut tells you that "something's up" with what someone is telling you, pay close attention to their behavioral patterns (how a person sits, gestures, looks at you, responds, talks, etc.), listen for inconsistencies in information and watch for too much information -- someone who is trying to convince you with too many facts, rather than convey.