are they lying about the REAL unemployment numbers? how much so? and how and why exactly? ?

not everyone is accounted for on the census or with statistics in general I'd imagine there is a significant amount of underreporting not many folks want to admit they don't have a job

The Bureau of Lying Statisticians.

Oiy is incorrect. None of the unemployment numbers that the bureau of labor statistics calculates are based on applications for benefits nor stimulus checks. Household surveys are not done every 4 years. They are done every month, and that's what the unemployment numbers are based on.

There is a separate statistic for new jobless claims, but that's not the unemployment numbers.

The U3 is the percent of the workforce that; does not have a job, and has looked for work in the past 4 weeks. 

You could also look at U6 - which is a broader measure that includes those working part-time but who want full-time jobs, and those who have haven't looked for work recently, but have looked within the last year. 

The statistics obviously have limitations - they're not perfect, but no one is lying about them. 

The unemployment report is based on U3. They are not lying. But people might feel that they are not included in the statistics. They are people who want to leave the workforce forever. They stop looking for jobs. But the U3 concept is based on the application for unemployment benefits, and the stimulus check. The numbers are exact, but they might be different from household survey which is done only every 4 year time. So they are some adjustment which all economists are aware already.