Spying on a Cheating Mate Could Be Against the Law

Infidelity victims who use surveillance equipment to spy on a cheating mate, could be violating state or federal laws.

New York NY (PRWEB) November 14, 2006 -- The Today Show recently hosted a 3-part series on "Cheating: The Business of Infidelity." The show revealed that infidelity investigation is now a $400 million business. But the suspicious spouse who uses surveillance equipment to spy on or investigate a cheating mate, could be violating state or federal laws.

"Most people don't realize that there are strict laws governing the use of surveillance equipment," says infidelity expert Ruth Houston, founder of www.InfidelityAdvice.com and author of Is He Cheating on You? -- 829 Telltale Signs. "It doesn't occur to someone anxious to get the goods on their cheating mate, that electronically eavesdropping, recording, or intercepting the conversations, communications or activities of another person without their knowledge or consent is illegal in most cases."

Illegal Use of Surveillance Equipment

"Suspicious spouses who purchase recording devices, hidden cameras, GPS trackers, keyloggers, spyware and other surveillance equipment with the intent to spy on a cheating mate have no idea that they're about to break the law. The federal government and most states have strict laws regarding where, when, how and under what circumstances such equipment can be used," cautions Houston.

"Buying this equipment isn't illegal. But using it to spy on a cheating spouse could put a suspicious spouse on the wrong side of the law," warns Houston. So could hiring or persuading someone to use the equipment on their behalf.

"It could be a violation of state or federal wiretapping laws, which are generally understood to apply to both telephone and computer communications. In some states, like New York, breaking these laws is punishable by up to 4 years in jail," she said.

Disclaimers Make the Buyer Responsible

"Most retailers of surveillance or spy equipment have disclaimers stating that the products are not to be used illegally," points out Houston. "But it's the buyer's responsibility to determine the legal use of the equipment in the state where he or she resides. Laws vary from state to state, and few people bother to check."

Other Illegal Activities

Pretexting, using false pretense to obtain cell phone records or other personal information about a cheating mate, is another illegal, but commonly-used practice.

In some states, if an individual hires an investigator, or enlists a the help of a friend who uses illegal methods to spy on the cheater in their behalf, they could be liable, too.

How to Spy Without Breaking the Law

What, then, can a person legally do if they suspect infidelity and want ce tain details about their cheating mate? How can infidelity victims find out the truth without running afoul of the law?

Ruth Houston, the nation's premier authority on detecting the signs of infidelity WITHOUT the use of private investigators or surveillance equipment, says, "There's no need to risk doing something illegal, when the infidelity victim can find out almost anything they want to know about the affair using their own eyes and ears, their personal knowledge of their mate and the information in my book. Knowing what to look for is the key."

Infidelity Book Tells How to Legally Spy on Cheating Mates

Houston's book, Is He Cheating on You? -- 829 Telltale Signs, documents practically every known sign of infidelity, including the subtle signs people usually overlook. Despite the title, most signs in the book apply to both cheating women and cheating men. (The e-book version, sold through Booklocker.com , contains a special 10-page section for men with cheating wives or girlfriends)

Houston says, "Once a person knows what to look for, they can find out what type of affair it is (workplace, emotional, sexual, cybersex, same sex), what stage the affair is in, how serious it is, how much of a threat it poses to their relationship, the identity of the other woman (or other man), and when, where, and how often they meet -- and more."

Drawing on 13 years of research, Houston has identified 21 major categories of infidelity signs. She says, "If a person is really cheating, there will be clusters of signs from several categories all at once."

Categories include Work Habits, Conversational Clues, Day-To-Day Behavior, Telephone Tip-Offs, How He Relates to You, Car Clues, Physical Appearance, His Behavior Around Other Women, Computer Use, Financial Affairs and 11 others. For a FREE special report describing the 21 categories of infidelity signs, e-mail InfidelityInfo at gmail.com with "categories-prw " in the subject line.

"I can't stress strongly enough that knowing what to look for is the key," says Houston. "If someone who suspects infidelity knows what to look for, they can even find information a private investigator would be unlikely to find without their help". Houston's method is discreet, inexpensive, accurate and 100% legal.

Is He Cheating on You? -- 829 Telltale Signs (Lifestyle Publications, $29.95, ISBN 0-9720553-4-7), is available online from Houston's Web site, www.InfidelityAdvice.com, from Amazon.com , or the 24-hour, toll-free number 1-800-431-1579.

About Ruth Houston

Infidelity expert Ruth Houston is the author of Is He Cheating on You? - 829 Telltale Signs and the founder of www.InfidelityAdvice.com Ruth is frequently called on by the media to comment on popular infidelity issues in the news, and has been quoted in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Post, the Chicago Tribune, Cosmopolitan, the Toronto Sun, Maclean's, the Houston Chronicle, Newsday, Crain's New York Business, MSN Lifestyle, iVillage, UPI, Reuters and numerous other print and online media.

Ruth has been a guest on The Today Show, Good Day New York, Telemundo, CNN, Ireland's Late Late Show, BBC, CBC, 1010WINS, Court TV Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, CN8 and over 270 other radio and TV talk shows worldwide.

To interview infidelity expert Ruth Houston,

call 718 592-6039 or e-mail InfidelityExpert at gmail.com

For more information about signs of infidelity or cheating mates, visit www.InfidelityAdvice.com

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