“There is nothing more sinful than untruthfulness. Because of this, mother earth once said, ‘I can bear any heavy thing except a person who is a liar.’ “
Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.20.4
Lying or deception is the main root of evil. Now days there are people who speak lies to spread their evil ideologies/beliefs. Lying is very common in business and personal relationships. You should always be on alert for liars.
“On the surface of the earth there are many great mountains and oceans that are very heavy, and mother Earth has no difficulty carrying them. But she feels very much overburdened when she carries even one person who is a liar. It is said that in Kali-yuga lying is a common affair: mayaiva vyavaharike (SB 12.2.3). Even in the most common dealings, people are accustomed to speaking so many lies. No one is free from the sinful reactions of speaking lies.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.20.4 purport)
It is very difficult to tell a liar, because people are so expert at speaking lies. You should be very careful in all dealings:
- Must get references
- Must look at past histories/records/work
- Must get written statements on any agreement before the work/activity starts
- Must write everything down and get it signed and dated by all parties
- Must keep all documents
The above will give one the best chance of spotting liars and not get cheated. By following these rules, one will save a lot of money and hassle in life.