Hi mojave rose8 - i could be confusing you with someone else but i recall you posting a similar thread like this before and the details are similar except the person you are now talking about is a man. Firstly i would ask yourself why it matters whether this person is either one way or another - if you're convinced they are a liar and you therefore distrust them then why maintain contact? This person clearly isn't going to change - at least not until they get help - so you need to decide whether its something that is worth pursuing an interest in. To answer the question at the bottom of your post, i doubt he believes the lies - how could he if he keeps changing them? Also i doubt a successful manipulator would constantly change the lies they tell, people would eventually realise regardless of whether they choose to say anything about it. Im sure you're not the first person to pick up on his behaviour so if its someone who you've not much choice but to be around (i.e. at work) then i would perhaps take it up with HR - otherwise i would focus on maintaining the friendships/contacts you are happy with. All the best.