@HungryMind What would have been wrong with "My current salary is Z, but I think I am worth Y because of [insert reasons]. Please give me Z because of [insert reasons]."? You seem to have a pretty bad attitude in the first place, for example: justifying your lying by saying "many people" do it. (Which by the way is most likely not true. And even if: that's no excuse ...) If you are so confident with your skills, why cover it with lies? Play with open cards instead.