Facebook is supposed to bring people together - but may be tearing some apart.
Divorce lawyers say the social networking site is tempting users to cheat on their spouses, reports The UK's Telegraph, and flirty messages and wall posts are increasingly being cited as evidence of extramarital activity.
One law firm says that nearly one in five divorce cases they’re working on cited Facebook, a site that allows people to connect with past friends and make new ones.
In the end, pictures and status updates posted by her husband’s pregnant girlfriend were proof enough for the court that the woman, who is in her late 20s, should not have to wait the standard three years for the divorce to be finalized.
Her lawyer Amolat Singh said: “She was a frequent Facebook user and was resourceful after stumbling on the photos.”
He is among a growing number of lawyers and private investigators here who say that with more people living their lives out loud online, Facebook has become a useful tool in legal battles.
The use of the social networking site has proven especially prevalent in evidence gathering for cases concerning extra-marital affairs or divorce.
A woman and her accomplices were arrested for violating the law for privacy protection by hiring private detectors to unlawfully install bugs on her spouse's vehicle and scooter. After the spouse uncovered the hidden bugs, the wife and the two investigators were arrested after they confessed to the police.
From police report, Lin Jing-yi, 34, and her spouse surnamed Guo, 40, usually drive separately to Hsinchu Science Park Administration, where they both work. The detective work began in April this year, when the offender noticed that her spouse had been arriving home late for several nights, with his cell phone turned off. She then hired two private detectors in an attempt to uncover a possible affair.
Read more here
According to Christopher Paoletti, the Founder and President of Infidelity Investigations (www.infidelitypolice.com), a full service private investigation agency located in Bridgeport, Connecticut specializing in infidelity cases, individuals that may be unaware of a cheating spouse are putting themselves at risk.
“Surveys show that infidelity is more rampant than most people think,” says Paoletti whose investigations have been the subject of countless divorce proceedings in Connecticut and throughout the United States. “Although many people will ultimately catch a cheating spouse, there are many who never find the truth that they deserve.”
Paoletti says that a gut feeling, usually based on changes in the behavior of the cheating spouse, is usually enough of a reason to consider hiring a private investigator and he says that while victims deserve the truth about a cheating spouse, the reason for hiring a private investigation firm is to protect oneself.
“First and foremost, gaining proof of a cheating spouse will protect the victim legally because, in some states, adultery can be grounds for divorce,” says Paoletti. “Secondly, knowing the truth can protect the victim emotionally because suspicion alone can do great damage. By revealing the truth once and for all, the victim can finally learn to handle the situation and move forward.”
Read more here
The wife of philandering former Sen. John Edwards said she expects a paternity test will take place soon to determine the father of the 18-month-old child of her hubby's former mistress.
In an interview on CNN's "Larry King Live," Elizabeth Edwards confronted rumors that her cheating husband was set to claim paternity of little Frances, his alleged love child with ex-mistress Rielle Hunter.
Read more here.Picture this: a husband so desperate to escape an unhappy marriage that he commits fraud to "expose" himself in an act of infidelity. He hires a prostitute to act as his lover and a private investigator to burst into a motel room and photograph them in flagrante delicto.
Australia's private investigators can recall the boom days of a seedy, sordid business, when a spouse would go to such extremes to get a divorce. Until the arrival of no-fault divorce laws in 1975, a marriage could not be dissolved unless one spouse was found, in effect, to be the guilty party. Commonly it was for adultery, more often for desertion. Otherwise cruelty, drunkenness, imprisonment or insanity might be grounds for divorce.
Read more here.
S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford admitted today that his secret trip to Argentina over the Father's Day weekend was to visit a woman he has been having an affair with for the past year.
In an emotional news conference, Sanford said his relationship with the woman in Argentina would not work, but would not say if it was over. He did not name the woman, but said he met her eight years ago, although their casual friendship evolved into a romantic relationship about a year ago.
Read more here.
Sources say Douglas Hampton, who's married to Senator John Ensign's former paramour, was behind plans demanding money in exchange for silence.
Earlier this week, Douglas Hampton's lawyer issued a statement saying the Hamptons wanted to keep things quiet. In that statement, they blasted Ensign, saying "It is unfortunate the senator chose to air this very personal matter, especially after the Hamptons did everything possible to keep this matter private."
Read more here.
The wife of the former Democratic presidential contender from North Carolina said before a book signing in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday she has been unfairly criticized for detailing her reactions to his infidelity in her book "Resilience," The (Raleigh) News & Observer reported Sunday.
Read more here.
Cheating Partners Exposed with PInow.com’s Valentine’s Day Infidelity Quiz
DENVER, CO — February 6, 2009 — For years private investigators have been touting Valentine’s Day as the number one day for cheaters. However, most people do not even recognize every day activities as signs of cheating. Affairs often continue for years without the other spouse’s awareness. PInow.com, a directory of local pre-screened private investigators, has created a free online quiz for suspicious spouses. This quick and easy quiz will create awareness for attentive partners who are ready to act. To take the infidelity quiz, visit http://www.pinow.com/resources/infidelity.php
“This year, PInow.com hopes to offer a bit of reassurance to those who may have infidelity concerns, and help those who may be correct about those suspicions,” said PInow.com Co-founder Trent Carlyle. “It is often easier to catch cheaters around Valentine’s Day because they want to spend time with both their spouses and lovers so slip-ups occur. Many cheaters will withdraw large amounts of money to purchase extravagant gifts for their partners — ringing alarm bells for those who aren’t on the receiving end of the gifts.”
Using these and other tell-tale signs of infidelity, partners can arm themselves with evidence and stop the disastrous pattern of infidelity. The best thing a worried partner can do is to prepare. Oftentimes, what started out as just an inkling of suspicion will prove to be accurate. Studies have confirmed it, showing that 85 percent of women and 50 percent of men who suspected that their partner was cheating were ultimately correct.
About PInow.com:
PInow.com is the most widely used source for finding private investigators worldwide. PInow.com assists legal professionals, insurance companies, corporations public institutions, government agencies and the public in locating local pre-screened investigators.
PInow.com’s search technology allows you to locate an investigator by location and investigation type - and it’s FREE to use. Visit the PInow.com private investigator directory at http://www.pinow.com. Need additional assistance? Call us toll-free at (888) 997-4669.
Contact:
PInow.com
3215 Osage St.
Denver, CO 80211
T - (888) 997-4669
F - (877) 824-2482
###
