New trend caught by snoops

(The Standard) Monday, December 03, 2012

More and more young couples are joining the rich and famous in making use of private detectives to check on their spouses(配偶).

According to Global Investigation and Security Consultancy, where all the investigators  are female, more than a quarter of cases last year involved the post-80s generation - and the trend(趨勢) is rising.

Clients in 27 percent of the 381 extramarital (婚外的) cases were aged 21 to 30, compared with 21 percent of the 305 cases in 2010.

"Young people are increasingly becoming troubled with marriage problems, especially those who marry after having babies or in a flash(閃現) of emotions," investigation director Philic Man Hin-nam said.

"In some extreme cases, spouses have been accused(被指控) of having extramarital affairs within two to three months of marriage.

"The post-80s generation may have looser moral standards(道德規範)- some think it's normal to get divorced once they are not happy with their partner."

The youngest case involved a secondary student who wanted her boyfriend tracked.

"But this is not common as few secondary students can meet(應付) the costs," she added.

One-third(1/3) of all cases involved relationships in the office, considered the "safest" place to indulge(放縱自己)in affairs(風流韻事).

But the firm highlighted a soaring number of cases highlighted from popular smartphone social apps such as WhatsApp, Line and WeChat, as well as social media site Facebook. These were blamed for 28 percent of the cases last year compared with 17 percent in 2010.

"These apps allow strangers to get to know each other, which may lead to a one- night stand," Man said.

She did not disclose(透露) the specific(具體的) fees charged, saying they vary(成比例變化) from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the sophistication (複雜) of the case.

The figures in other age groups remain stable(平穩的), with those aged 31 to 40 accounting for 44 percent of the cases last year, down slightly from 45 percent in 2010.

The consultancy(顧問服務公司) usually gets more clients during Christmas and Valentine's Day.

"Clients may be suspicious(猜疑的) if the other half goes out before or after important days," Man said.

But not all clients want to break up(分離) even after their worst fears are confirmed.

Man said more than 60 percent of cases were resolved after the firm advised clients to mend their relationships.

Beatrice Siu