What’s worse than a cheating spouse? A smart cheating spouse—and we all know why.

Their intelligence makes catching them tricky. Some are so good at covering their tracks that their partners stay in the dark for years.

Not on my watch! Today, I’ll share clever ways to catch a clever cheater. Along the way, we’ll also dive into how affairs typically get exposed.

How Do Most Cheaters Get Caught?

To catch a cheater, you first need to know what works.

A survey by the affair dating site Illicit Encounters revealed the most common ways cheaters get exposed:

• 39% were caught because their partner snooped through their texts.
• 22% got exposed through email spying.
• 20% slipped up by accidentally lying.
• 14% were spotted with their affair partner.
• 5% were ratted out by someone they knew.

This tells us that digital snooping, inconsistencies, real-time evidence, and outside sources are key to catching a cheater.

Worried your partner is too smart to fall into any traps? Remember—no one is invincible. No matter how careful they are, there’s always a way to uncover the truth.

1. Act Like You Suspect Nothing

If your partner is truly clever, assume they’re already being extra careful—so careful that despite your gut feeling, nothing seems off.

The worst thing you can do is tip them off. If they sense your suspicion, they’ll only become more cautious, making it harder to catch them.

So, don’t start acting distant, aggressive, or overly doubtful. Keep your emotions in check, stay calm, and keep your investigation low-key.

As frustrating as it is, wait until you have solid proof before confronting them.

2. Unlock Their Phone

Checking your spouse’s phone is one of the most effective ways to catch a cheater—but if they’re smart, they’ll have security measures in place.

A locked phone and deleted messages are common hurdles. If their phone uses a fingerprint lock, try unlocking it while they’re asleep by pressing their finger against the screen. If it’s a passcode, your best bet is discreetly watching as they unlock it.

Once inside, check for dating apps, suspicious messages on social media (especially WhatsApp), and don’t forget to search the Recycle Bin for deleted messages and media files.

3. Use Spying Tools (GPS, Cameras, Apps)

Before using any surveillance tools, be sure you’re not breaking any laws in your country.

1. Install Security Cameras

Security cameras aren’t just for safety—they can also reveal if your spouse is bringing someone over or constantly texting/calling in secret.

2. Plant a GPS Tracker in Their Car

If you share ownership of the vehicle, you can legally place a GPS tracker inside. This will help you monitor their whereabouts and confirm if they’re really “working late.”

3. Use Spying Apps & Keyloggers

Apps like Eyezy, mSpy, and ClevGuard allow you to monitor messages, calls, and locations. Keyloggers track everything they type, making it easy to see if they’re chatting with someone else.

Most of these apps run in the background, staying invisible—so your spouse won’t even know they’re being watched.

4. Enable Auto-Answer on Their Phone

This trick works in two situations:

• When your spouse is with their affair partner.
• When their affair partner calls unexpectedly.

How to Enable Auto-Answer:

• On iPhone:
  Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing > Auto-Answer Calls.
• On Android:
  Go to Settings > Accessibility > Answering and Ending Calls > Answer Automatically.

With this setting on, your calls will always go through—no more ignored calls or excuses. Plus, it’s such a minor change that your spouse probably won’t notice.

5. Check Their Location History & Wi-Fi Connections

Even if your spouse is careful, they might forget to erase their Wi-Fi history and location data—and these can reveal a lot.

How to Check Saved Wi-Fi Networks:

• On iPhone:
  Go to Settings > Wi-Fi > Edit (you’ll need their phone password).
• On Android:
  Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > Menu (top-right) > Advanced > Manage Networks.

How to Check Location History:

• On Google Maps:
  Open Google Maps, tap their profile, go to “Your Timeline,” and check past locations.
• On iPhone:
  Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations.

These logs can expose secret meetups and frequent visits to unknown places—details your spouse may not expect you to find

6. Use Your Phone as a Hidden Recorder

If you’re hesitant about using GPS trackers or spyware, your phone can still do the job.

Download a recording app or use your phone’s built-in voice recorder or camera (if it has a long battery life).

How to Set It Up:

• Hide your phone in a drawer, behind a painting, or on a high shelf.
• Start recording before leaving for a trip or making an excuse to step out.
• Review the audio or video later to catch any suspicious conversations or unexpected visitors.

This is an easy, low-risk way to gather proof—without your spouse knowing.

7. Hire a Skilled Private Investigator

Hiring a private investigator isn’t just something from the movies—it’s a real and effective option. Many professionals specialize in infidelity cases and can discreetly track your spouse’s movements.

What to Look for in an Investigator:

• Professional & experienced in surveillance.
• Reputable (avoid scams).
• Willing to handle infidelity cases.

Cost:

Expect to pay $99–$150 per hour on average. While it’s not cheap, a skilled PI can gather undeniable proof quickly—saving you time and stress.

8. Check If Your Spouse Is on Dating Apps

Websites like SocialCatfish and Spokeo can help you find out if your spouse has active dating profiles. Other options include PeopleFinder and TruthFinder—just be sure to use a legit, paid service to avoid scams.

Pricing:

• SocialCatfish: $6.48–$6.87 for a 3-day trial.
• Spokeo: $14.95–$19.95 per month.

How It Works:

Enter their name, phone number, or email, and the site will pull up any linked dating accounts—if they’re using real details, their profiles will show up.

9. Use Amazon Alexa to Eavesdrop

If you have at least two Alexa devices, you can use them to listen in on your spouse remotely.

How to Set It Up:

1. Open the Alexa App and go to Devices → Echo & Alexa.
2. Select the device you want to eavesdrop on (living room, bedroom, etc.).
3. Scroll to Communications → Drop In → Choose “On” or “My Household”.
4. Click Communicate at the bottom of your screen and select your spouse’s contact.

If the Alexa devices are under your account, you can Drop In on them anytime via the Alexa App.

Now, when you’re away, you can listen to what’s happening at home—without your spouse knowing.

10. Follow Your Spouse Yourself

If you have the time, tailing your spouse can be an option.

How to Do It Discreetly:

• Follow them slowly and cautiously after work or other engagements.
• Change your look—a different hairstyle, outfit, glasses, or a hat (but don’t overdo it).
• Stay at a safe distance and avoid drawing attention.
• Bring a friend for backup or go solo if you’re confident.

This method takes patience, but if your spouse is going somewhere they shouldn’t be, you’ll see it firsthand.

11. Fake a Business Trip & Watch What Happens

Cheaters often see their partner’s absence as the perfect chance to bring their lover home. Use this to your advantage.

How to Set the Trap:

1. Plant the idea early—mention that your boss might send you on a work trip soon.
2. Throughout the week, complain about it—act like you don’t want to go but have no choice.
3. When the “trip” day arrives, stay at a trusted friend’s place nearby and keep an eye on your home.

What to Look For:

• Do they bring someone home?
• Do they return at odd hours?

Both are major red flags—and now you’ll know the truth.

12. Use Psychological Tricks to Catch a Cheater

20% of cheaters get caught by accidentally exposing themselves—so use their own words against them.

How to Trap Them in Their Lies:

1. Ask casual but detailed questions about their whereabouts:
   • “Who were you with?”
   • “What did you do afterward? Grab drinks with friends?”
2. As they make up details, keep digging subtly—the more they talk, the more likely they’ll slip up.
3. Once they seem emotionally drained, purposely say something wrong:
   • “I heard [a completely different bar/restaurant] was packed last night! Did you have fun?”

If they don’t correct you or go along with it, you’ve caught them in a lie!

Subtle Signs Your Clever Spouse Is Cheating—Look Out!

Before going all-in with spyware or surveillance, observe their behavior. Small changes can be major red flags.

Common Yet Subtle Signs of Infidelity:

• They lock or hide their phone the moment you get close.
• Your picture disappears from their phone wallpaper.
• They’ve started dressing better without explanation.
• Their messages and browser history are suddenly empty.
• They go out more often and stay out late.
• There’s a noticeable emotional distance between you.
• They ignore calls when you’re around.
• Complaints about the marriage suddenly stop (they might be distracted by someone else).
• They check up on your location frequently—likely to avoid getting caught.
• Most importantly, they’ve cheated before.

Trust Your Gut

If you’ve been getting an uneasy feeling when they say, “Honey, I’m home” or “I’m going out”, don’t ignore it. Your instincts pick up on small details—like a new cologne, a lipstick stain, or a shift in tone—before your mind fully processes it.

Whatever the case, if your gut tells you something is off, take action to get peace of mind.