Also, the way memory works is different from person to person. For me, I could not possibly NOT remember the looks of a person but I could easily forget people's names. One of my favorite teachers at school was our geography teacher, and I remember her appearance, the sound of her voice and even mannerisms and speech patterns so vividly as if I were now sitting in her classroom (I am 43, mind you). But to look her up online and see if she is alive and to say hi is hardly possible because I do not remember her name. And that is after being her student for several years.

Other people have it the other way.

Also, some people have vision problems and they do not register the appearance as well as people who do not. Apparently this is true even if they wear glasses or corrective lenses.

I know several people who get themselves in awkward situations because they do not recognize their friends, do not say "Hi" when they pass by their friends at work or in social gatherings and thus appear cold or stuck up, but in reality they just do not have the kind of visual recognition ability that other people have and mean absolutely no harm.

Finally, in your case, you may want to think through his motivation. Why would he have not been honest - for what kind of benefit? Unless he is a pathological liar who does not tell the truth because of a compulsion, he would need to have a reason not to tell you the truth. What could that reason be?