WHAT THE PRESS SAY...
[NEWSBYTES]
Who Is He / Who Is She Sites Expose Web Liars
11/25/97
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
BY Sami Menefee
Newsbytes: How can you know if someone you met in virtual space lies to you in an Internet chat room or by e-mail about who they are, what they do, or even what age or sex they are? WhoIsShe.com and WhoIsHe.com, new sites on the Web, aim to help people separate the good from the bad by offering a for-fee service by a California attorney to check out stories and uncover the truth.
Relationships forged on the 'Net can be particularly dicey. People invest time, emotional energy and money in pursuing what looks like the perfect relationship, sometimes only to find out it has been nothing but a pack of lies from someone with a hidden agenda.
Linda Alexander, a San Diego attorney, spoke to Newsbytes about her service. She does most of the background checking herself, although she keeps several paralegals and private investigators on hand in case they are needed. A detailed questionnaire is at each site to provide as much information as possible -- the more information at her disposal, the quicker she can get the job done.
She said she doesn't accept credit card payments over the Internet, citing client financial security as the reason. Clients can phone, fax, or mail payment up front, but as a licensed attorney she is fully bonded. The basic inquiry service is $75.
Said Alexander: “Everything I find out is public information. Finding out what people want to know is all from public records, but it takes time and you do have to know where to look.
“Just call me the 'Sherlock Holmes of the Internet,'? she added, “but I feel this is an important service -- something that should be done sooner not later.”
Citing examples of her investigations, she said: “One woman met a man on the Internet who told her his wife was killed in a car accident -- she turned out to be still alive.” Another who claimed to be a doctor, wasn't.
On the brighter side, she said she had a client who wanted to look up an old girlfriend. He found out she wasn't married and the two ended up rekindling the relationship.
She added, “People are meeting on the Internet at a phenomenal rate and it's not like going to a local singles area in your neighborhood.”
When asked about computer dating services in general, Alexander said she had links from her site to about 100 sites that she considered reputable. She added that the same safety principles apply to any kind of long distance dating service.
“Lies are lies whether they are online or on paper,” she said.
To access the service go to http://www.WhoIsShe.com and http://www.WhoIsHe.com .
Reported by Newsbytes News Network: http://www.newsbytes.com
11/25/97 Press & Reader
Contact: Linda Alexander
Telephone: (760) 631-7740
E-mail: checkhimout@whoishe.com