This is a tradecraft series of intel about the specific methods of enacting deception; how to lie and deceive for strategic applications as a covert operative in the field or as a civilian in casual engagements.

LINER TRADECRAFT

Lying is easy but being convincing of the deception is less so. It’s keeping it stable and getting away with it over time that often proves to be most difficult.

Since telling a lie is essentially telling a fictional story, you must use your imagination to bring that story together with the elements that make up a story.

That takes creativity which requires for more cognitive effort than recalling a memory (truth).

Once a deception is enacted (fictional story is told), then it becomes real to the person it’s being told to.

At least that’s the objective of deception, for your target to believe your fictional story as a non-fictional account of events. If successful, it becomes canon.

That means your lie was believed, but that doesn’t always mean the deception is over.

Lies have a tendency to haunt you for many reasons but the case in point here is that you forget the details of those lies over time, making them unstable.

This is why you want to keep as much of your fictional story as non-fictional as possible, within reason.

Naturally filling it with as much real facts and details as possible, and never including any unnecessary lies.

The truths should flow and blend with the lies.

This will make the act of the deception more believable as it plays out due to the truth factor.

And just as important, it will make recalling your fictional story at a later time more accessible.

A lie with a foundation of truth stands strong.