Ann Flaherty is the owner of the R.D.D. Detective Agency and is a noted authority on missing persons, fraud, scams, and elder abuse. A licensed private investigator in the state of California with over 25 years' experience in the investigative field, Ms. Flaherty possesses a degree in Criminology, and has collaborated on many TV projects including Oprah, 20/20, Dateline, Hard Copy, and several cable shows. Her website is http://www.ratdogdick.com.

Direct correspondence to Ann Flaherty, The R.D.D. Detective Agency, P.O. Box 794, Pacifica, CA 94044.

             He’s single, rich, charming and wants to marry her after just three weeks of hot and heavy emailing.

             My client met Joel through an Internet dating web site and she feels she has met her soul mate. After getting the details from my client, which include the "fact" that Joel is an entrepreneur worth in excess of five million dollars, I warn her that the I see too many red flags and to please want until I complete my investigation before she orders the wedding cake.

               You see, my client Rochelle has come to me on two other occasions after meeting "Mr. Right" on the Internet. Each time I had to deliver the news that "Mr. Right" was in fact married and not even close to what he had purported himself to be. Rochelle wants to be in love and wants to get married; sometimes I feel that wanting something so badly may cloud one's judgment. Rochelle is a bright woman who luckily realized that through a quick and inexpensive investigation, I can give her the true picture of the latest Romeo she finds on-line. By doing so in the past, Rochelle has saved herself a lot of grief and possibly avoided losing her nest egg.

          The day after Rochelle contacted our agency, I again had to call and tell her that my suspicions were true. This time though, the results were alarming. Joel was living in a trailer park after going through a divorce which featured allegations of physically abusing his wife. Joel had a criminal history of violence and fraud. It might have been that Joel was hoping that he had found a new way to make an easy living. Rochelle cried when told the news and I encouraged her not to give up and that possibly she needed to try different avenues for meeting someone.

             I do know that many individuals have found love on the Internet, and for that I am happy. I have also found that many Internet dating sites now carefully screen the applicants and even run criminal background checks. I am all for looking for love on the Internet — but tread carefully. Do your own research on the person by using the Internet as a resource. Google his name, address, etc. You’ll be amazed at what you can find on your own. Find out where he went to school, then research alumni associations. If he claims to be a doctor, a contractor, etc., research that person through the state licensing bureaus. If that fails, then solicit the help of a private investigator.

             Remember, you wouldn’t let a stranger into your home without really knowing him (or her) first. The same rule of caution must apply to the Internet: be careful and be sensible in your approach.

             Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.

Copyright 2005 by Ann Flaherty