A Private Investigator Who Specializes In Cheating Just Spilled All The Unknown Details About The Job, And I Can't Stop Reading

Yahoo

18-06-2025

Recently, a pretty interesting post on the subreddit "Ask Me Anything" caught my eye. "I'm a private investigator specializing in catching cheaters," Reddit user Visible-Novel-6409 — or Novel, for short —titled his post. "Ask me anything."
"I'm a [27-year-old man]," Novel wrote, and said that he's "been in the PI business for about a year. I mainly go after unfaithful spouses (per title)," he explained, but "also handle parental negligence and the occasional employment fraud."
People did not hold back about "asking him anything," and like any great PI, Novel delivered the answers. Here are some of the best from his fascinating Q&A:
1."What was the craziest location you found a cheater?" asked user saygoodnightsoftly. "What was the longest distance you've seen one travel to cheat?"
ABC, Fox / Via giphy.com
"There've not really been any insane locations for me so far," Novel wrote. "Mostly the usual stuff: restaurants, bars, hotels, outdoor attractions depending on the season.
The farthest I've seen someone travel was a lawyer who lived four hours away who'd come to my city for a business conference.
Her husband back home hired us because he didn't believe she really had a conference and that she was running around with a coworker (who she swore to him wouldn't be there). The conference was real, but I nailed them down together immediately."
2.Saygoodnightsoftly had another question: "Does being in this field of work make you feel depressed about romantic relationships?"
Novel wrote back: "I wouldn't say it makes me feel depressed individually, but for society in general.
I personally just got engaged to someone amazing who I trust 100%. If anything it makes me grateful for how lucky I got, but a bit melancholy realizing how rare that really is for others."
3."How often do you run across people who are convinced their spouses are cheating but they're truly innocent?" asked another redditor. "My ex-wife probably would've bet her soul I was cheating on her for years. I was constantly accused, but I had never once been unfaithful. It's a harder cross to carry than most people would think."
Novel had a surprising answer: "A good majority of the time, our client is incorrect. And that's even after we filter out truly wild cases by refusing to take them. It's pretty rare but it feels amazing when you actually get one."
4.User alwayssalty_ asked, "Have you ever been in a dangerous situation during an investigation?"
Novel simply said, "There are some people I've followed who I would NOT want to be caught by."
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5.Another user, Ok_Lavishness_4561, asked, "How many of the cheaters were nervous/wary whilst in public with their affair partner? Or were they just totally chill?"
"Most people are oblivious of their surroundings, which makes my life easy," Novel said. "The average person does not have their head on a swivel.
Most of the time they're acting pretty relaxed and at ease; but sometimes they take cartoonishly stupid precautions like parking super far away from each other before meeting up."
6.One devilish rake, styled paragonx29, no doubt with the purest of intentions, asked, "What combination of factors could a really stealthy cheater use to avoid your capture?"
"Literally just don't go in public," said Novel. "I can't do surveillance anywhere with a 'reasonable expectation of privacy.' Other than that, you're fair game."
7."So have you ever found someone who wasn't cheating, but they were doing something weird or wacky and keeping it from their significant other?" jackdupp27 asked.
NBC / Via giphy.com
"Ooh I like this question," said Novel. "Unfortunately nothing too crazy, just out drinking with their friends is a common one though." But...
"There have been a few that I've been sure were up to something but could never nail down. For instance, a guy said to his wife he had a doctor's appointment at 5 a.m. and I followed him thinking it was a lie, but he actually went to the doctor's office and then went to work."
8."What's the quickest turnaround you've had for receiving a job and collecting enough evidence to prove the cheat?" asked user twopeasandapear. "And then, what's been your longest (so far)? How long will you commit to a case before deciding it's not going anywhere?"
"It's been same-day before," wrote Novel. "I usually get hired for 10-20 hours of surveillance split up over one to two weeks. We get paid in advance so we use all our time regardless, even if it looks like it's not going anywhere.
Sometimes people want peace of mind anyway, and the longer we document their activity the better they'll feel that they're not cheating."
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9.A question I, personally, would be worried about: "Have you ever been caught or suspected by the target you're trailing?" asked masterdebater117.
"I've never been caught, but that's also because I'm cautious," explained Novel.
"Following someone in their car is the hardest part. Depending on traffic it's very easy to get burned on the road. If I think they may notice me I peel off and try again another day. But if you get caught it's all over. Patience is key."
10."Could you share the not-so-obvious red flags of a cheater, or things people miss?" asked BeautifulTerm3753.
Pop TV / CBC Television / Via giphy.com
"They'll usually take overly paranoid steps to keep the affair secret, but it ends up just making them look stupid," Novel wrote back. "A dude was at a restaurant with a mistress once, and from the parking lot I watched them immediately split off into opposite directions. Neither of them parked at the place itself, but in adjacent lots on opposite sides. I'm sure his wife will be entertained by the video I got of that."
11."Have you encountered situations where you needed to make some purchase to not come off as suspicious?" asked matroosoft. "Something like getting a drink, booking a hotel room, or getting a taxi? If so, is that covered by your boss?"
Novel responded, "Usually I get a drink or app at a restaurant. Had to buy tickets to get in an event before. I'm compensated if I keep the receipt."
12.A question 12-year-old me would have loved: "What's your standard 'spy kit,'" asked user Schickie, "and how much of your time is spent sitting in your car, vs. being in public looking inconspicuous?"
"Very basic stuff," said Novel. "Digital camera, binoculars, a few different outfits, timestamp camera app on my phone for close-quarters.
"I always start every case in my car and then it just depends on where they go. If they enter an establishment, I'll have to find my way in."
"That's pretty dope," wrote Schickie. "Do you have to carry a lot of cash around, for slipping to front-of-house staff, informants, etc.? Or has the trade upgraded to Venmo? Are you packing?"
"Cash is king; in case you need to get out of somewhere quickly, you can just leave it on the table," Novel explained. "I don't slip anything to anyone, and I'm not packing. I shouldn't put myself in a situation where I'd need to be."
13.A crucial question, from slevenznero: "What are the pieces of evidence you gather to be sure to win a case for your client?"
Novel replied, "It's pretty simple, I take photos of whatever they're doing without the client's knowledge, and if those photos show them engaged in behavior they shouldn't be, the client is satisfied. I am not involved in the legal proceedings, just the collection aspect."
14."Hands down, most hilarious experience?" asked QuarantineCouchSurf.
"One lady hired us because her husband was a bum and she wanted to kick him out of the house," said Novel. "The day of the case he said he got a new job and was on his way to work. I followed him to the liquor store and weed dispensary as soon as they opened."
15."How do you feel about the ethics of your work?" asked richweinb. "Do you feel it's okay to track people?"
"Everything I collect is in public view and therefore fair game," Novel said. "I will say I'm glad I do this as a private individual and not for the government."
"How would it differ if it was for the government?" asked RefrigeratorOptimal3.
"I am not a fan of state surveillance for the same reasons most other people aren't," said Novel.
16.Another user, parallaxog, asked, "What's the most wholesome story you have about someone whose spouse thought he/she was cheating but in reality, they weren't?"
"I guess there was this dude who went to an overnight spa resort and turned out to be by himself," wrote Novel. "Man just wanted some alone time."
17."Am I right in assuming that almost everyone who suspects a spouse of cheating is correct," asked Downtown_Baby_8005, "or do you often investigate only to discover that, in fact, you can't find any evidence of infidelity?"
"Way off," said Novel. "Probably in only 25% of cases do I actually find something. The majority of the time I follow someone around for days and they're not up to anything suspicious at all. Client still pays."
18."Do you have any special equipment, so it's not obvious you're taking photos?" asked user blinkomatic. "Hidden cameras, long-distance cameras, remote cameras?"
"I use a telescopic lens digital camera for long-distance," Novel explained. "If I'm in a restaurant or something I'll usually turn my phone video camera on and either act like I'm on a call or put it in my shirt pocket with the camera just barely sticking out."
19.And finally, a question I wouldn't have thought about, that user CrazyEights916 asked: "How do you stay cool when it's 100 degrees outside and you're conducting surveillance from your car for an extended period?"
"Extreme heat and extreme cold are the worst," Novel wrote back. "Usually in the span of an hour I'll turn my car on for five minutes to either run the A/C or heat and have to live off of it. I worked a full day in -20°F earlier this year."
Absolutely fascinating. So, what do you think? Surprising? Old hat? Let me know in the comments!
Note: Q&A has been edited for length/clarity.
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