How to Catch a Cheater: 7 Tips from a Private Investigator

Are you having suspicions that your partner might be cheating on you? The longer you sit on your suspicion, the longer your agony. Act on it now, but do so in the right way. Here are a few tips that an infidelity private investigator can share with you:

Tip #1: Listen to your gut

Any infidelity private investigator will tell you to listen to your gut because nine times out of ten, it is right. Many people have caught their partners cheating just by listening to that little voice in their head telling them that something is not quite right in their marriage or relationship.

However, suspicion can be tricky. It could either be a gut feeling, or it could just be a heavy pang of jealousy. Emotions can get in the way of your instincts – at best, they can lead you to what your gut is saying, at worst, they can make a completely unrealistic story sound more and more real in your head. So, when it comes to suspicion, take a moment with yourself to see if it’s an instinctual feeling. If in the middle of the day, you find your emotions are levelled and the feeling still persists, that is the best time to decide to act on it.

Tip #2: Check their devices

… and keep it legal, of course. For example, if you share a family computer or they gave you their password, check their browser history. You might find a few answers there – dating sites, secret social media accounts, etc. Or, you might not even need to scroll through their browser history at all. If you notice that the browser history has always been fully cleared before you use the computer, it is likely they are hiding something.

You can check their phone as well, only if you were given access to it. But you might usually see notifications pop up on the screen; these should serve as good clues. Or, you could also pay attention to the way they behave around their phone. If they make the effort to keep it out of your reach, it is likely they don’t want you to see what is on there.

Tip #3: Do not confront your partner right away

Yes, it might be tempting to randomly bring it up over dinner. But you need to do everything you can to keep your suspicions to yourself so you can prepare a good, clear plan. If your partner knows you are suspecting that he or she is cheating on you, they might start changing their behaviour to offset your suspicions – they might make more of an effort to get home earlier, or they might start wiping any evidence off their devices. Try and keep it cool for now and you will surely thank yourself later.

Tip #4: Videos are better than any other type of evidence

If you have to do any investigating on your own, prepare to pull your camera out and hit record. Video evidence is the most conclusive piece of evidence there is, for the simple reason that it is taken in real-time and a video does not lie (pictures can be looked at the wrong way, receipts can be explained a different way.) So, whether you are presenting it in court (if necessary) or are simply showing it to your partner to catch him both cheating and lying about it, it’s a video that will guarantee your success.

Tip #5: Still, do not do anything illegal

Using spyware, for example, such as GPS tracking devices or phone spyware programs are illegal across all states. Whether or not it points you to the truth, this could prove to be disadvantageous for you in the long run. For example, if it comes down to things like custody battles or splitting assets, your partner can use the fact that you used illegal means to catch him or her cheating against you, and this could weaken your integrity. Plus, if you are not a professional and you try your hand in these things, it could become unproductive for you anyway.

Tip #6: Call a private investigator

Yes, there can be some fulfilment in catching a partner cheating all by yourself, but you are likely to get answers sooner if you call a private investigator. Set your intention right. You want to put an end to your anxiety and start making amends to your relationship. So, the sooner the better. Plus, a private investigator has access to tools and databases that an average person will not even come close to.

The best tip that a private investigator can share with you is to just hire a private investigator. They may be doing most of the professional work, but you will play a huge part in the case anyway. You hold the fort at home while the investigator works outside. You hand him or her receipts you found in your partner’s pockets. And then, they pull up your partner’s credit history (if necessary), and they put the puzzle pieces together for you. It would be a real challenge to do this alone, so if you can ask for help from a professional, go for it.

Tip #7: Be prepared for what you might find

Sure, you may be going in with the intention of catching a cheating spouse, but a lot of private investigators know that there can be tons of other conclusions the cases could come to, some even a bit strange. For example, a spouse just wants extra alone time. Or, they were not lying at all because things are just hectic at work. And as much as you should prepare yourself to discover that your spouse has been cheating, also prepare to discover the complete opposite.

Either way, what you discover will help you repair your relationship – whether that means you stay together as a stronger couple or you are better off as friends.

We at Sticky Beaks Anon can help you get the answers you need

If you and your partner are going through a rough patch that allowed a third party to slide themselves in, you will do well to start doing something about it. Ask help from an infidelity private investigator.