'I'm a criminal lawyer - how to spot when someone is lying to you'

A lawyer says she knows how to figure out when someone is lying to you, and anyone can try her method. Posting on TikTok as @aprildivine1, the lawyer named April shared her tried-and-tested tips.

In her video, she said: "How to figure out if someone is lying to you, coming from a criminal lawyer. Now, I have met several different people throughout my career, some of whom have simply just lied to my face. So I think I know a thing or two about this topic.

"But the pro tip that I would give to figure out if someone is indeed lying to you is questions, questions, questions. Have your line of questions ready in order to ask the person and to figure out if there are any inconsistencies in what they are saying to you."

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April explained: "Even the most advanced or experienced liars hate being questioned on the topic. It makes them uncomfortable, and it means they have to think really hard.

"Now, don't get me wrong, there are many advanced liars in the world who will have their story ready to go. They are skilled in the art of fabricating things. But what I will say secondly to that is that you need to speak to that person in person. This is not the time for FaceTime calls, phone calls, or text messages.

"If you want to ascertain if someone is truly lying to you, you need to ask them the questions, have the conversation in person. And you need to do this because you need to observe their body language.

"In this instance, body language over words works all the time because you need to observe whether they are doing anything that's quite odd. So, for example, looking at their phone consistently, or tapping, or nervous laughs, or if they are becoming sweaty, or if they're shaking all of a sudden."

She added: "You'd be surprised at the amount of people that shake when they're lying, or if they're suddenly smiling at very odd times. So body language is a key thing that you need to observe, and you can only do that in person.

"Now, I will say this, major disclaimer: results may vary. This unfortunately cannot be applied to every single situation, but questions and observing body language works for me more often than not. You're welcome."

Offering advice to people who have caught someone lying, Everyday Health's website said: "If you catch someone lying, it's completely natural to feel upset and betrayed.

"Before reacting, try to understand the person's intention — and consider practising compassion when dealing with the situation. Remember, setting boundaries and having open conversations can help rebuild trust and heal the relationship, if this is someone you want to keep in your life."