Deceiving others is included in the prohibition of verbal abuse, and it is forbidden even when no actual lie or significant harm results.

The following are examples of this prohibited kind of deception:

A person offers to help his friend, with the clear knowledge that his friend has no need for assistance; he does it just to create the impression that he was willing to help.

A person invites someone to stay at his home, knowing with certainty that the he will not agree to come.

However, if he really wishes to host his friend, he may plead with him even if is clear to him that the friend does not want to agree. If he indeed wants the friend to come, it is even permitted to invite him multiple times, even while knowing that ultimately the friend will not acquiesce, as this is a way of honoring the other person.