Avoided being victim: Like millions of other Internet users, Linda Alexander struck up a relationship in an online chat room with someone who sounded like he'd be worth getting to know better. In person. But unlike many, who rush into face-to-face relationships with online pen pals only to be very disappointed or worse, Linda Alexander decided to do a little checking.
This chat user avoided becoming victim
By Mike Wendland
Like millions of other Internet users, Linda Alexander struck up a relationship in an online chat room with someone who sounded like he'd be worth getting to know better. In person.
But unlike many, who rush into face-to-face relationships with online pen pals only to be very disappointed or worse, Linda Alexander decided to do a little checking.
Alexander is a California attorney. And, by taking advantage of her legal training, she was quickly able to learn that her new online friend, who claimed to be a widower, was anything but.
In fact, by just checking a few public records sources, Alexander learned the man was married and still living with his very alive wife. In fact, Alexander's background check poked so many holes in the would-be suitor's story that the online correspondence immediately stopped.
"But I figured, if someone like me could be fooled, this must be a major problem," Alexander told me on my WXYT radio program the other day.
As a result, a Website was born, called WhoIsHe.com or WhoIsShe.com. For $75, Alexander does a public record check, creating a personal profile that reveals whether the person is married, where they live, what kind of a lifestyle they live and, often, many other things.
Alexander has found online predators, con artists and even incarcerated felons, using the Internet to find new victims they can harass or sweet talk out of money, sex or to feed seriously warped egos.
About 60 percent of all the people she checks out turn out to be lying or misrepresenting themselves.
Listen to some of the testimonials Alexander has collected from clients:
"She told me she was 33, turned out she was 47. I am so disappointed," wrote Shawn from West Virginia.
Kelly from Florida writes: "By having the information I received from you, I was able to go further in investigating my Internet 'Love.' Only what I found out was that he had told me many lies, especially about what he did for a living. He told me that he was a medical doctor, however, he was not. If he is willing to lie about that, what else will he lie about?"
Sometimes, the Website gets requests from concerned relatives of those smitten in cyberspace. Rhea, from New York, decided to check out a man that her mother was dating.
"She is very unsophisticated when it comes to how people will fudge on the truth," said Rhea. "After meeting the man, I was suspicious and so I sent a request to your company. Boy am I glad that I did. From what you were able to find out, things were not as he said they were. I was glad that my mom decided to dump him."
Alexander's Website outlines her services. But it also gives some common sense tips on how to play it safe online. Here are three of many: