Liars prefer the phone to email

People are far more likely to lie when talking on the phone than when sending an email, researchers have found.

A study has shown that because an email cannot be retrieved after being sent, we subconsciously decide it is too risky to include a lie in it.

The researchers also revealed that quick-fire questions such as: "Does my bum look big in this?" are likely to lead to a lie as they take us by surprise.

Jeff Hancock, of Cornell University, studied the diaries of 30 students who were asked to log all their communication for a week, including when they told lies. Only 14 per cent of emails included lies, while 21 per cent of instant messages and 27 per cent of face-to-face communications were dishonest. However, a huge 37 per cent of phone calls included lies.

The results have shocked psychologists, who expected emails to be among the biggest source of untruths.

Dr Hancock said: "People appear to be afraid to lie when they know the communication could be later used to hold them to account."

People are also more likely to lie in real time, he revealed.

Dr Hancock hopes his research will help companies work out the best ways for their employees to communicate.