I Searched Instant Checkmate: Does It Notify People?

The Day I Discovered My Husband's Secret Life: A Story About Instant Checkmate and Spokeo

It was just another ordinary Tuesday evening when my world quietly cracked open. I sat on our living room couch, scrolling through Facebook while my husband Mark was in the shower. That's when I saw the ad - "Find Hidden Dating Profiles with Instant Checkmate." My finger hovered over the screen for just a second before I tapped it.

The Promise That Caught My Attention

Instant Checkmate's advertisement claimed it could reveal if someone was secretly using dating apps. This caught my eye because Mark had been acting differently for months. The man who used to leave his phone on the kitchen counter now carried it everywhere, even to take out the trash. His "business trips" had become more frequent, and he'd started using a passcode for the first time in our seven-year marriage.

My Experience with Instant Checkmate

When I visited Instant Checkmate's website, I was immediately asked to enter Mark's name. My heart pounded as I typed "Mark Richardson" and our city. The site processed the information quickly, but then came the disappointment - they wanted $22.86 for a monthly subscription before showing me any real results.

I hesitated. That seemed expensive just to confirm a suspicion. Plus, I worried - would Mark find out I was checking up on him? The website claimed searches were confidential, but I wasn't ready to commit that much money without knowing what I'd find.

Instant Checkmate does not notify the person when you perform a search on them. It’s a legitimate service that provides detailed background checks using public records. However, it is not free—you’ll need to pay for a subscription to access full reports. The cost varies depending on the plan you choose, with monthly, quarterly, and annual options available. It’s important to use the service responsibly and understand the pricing structure before subscribing.

Discovering a More Affordable Option - Spokeo

Determined to find answers, I kept searching online and discovered Spokeo. Unlike Instant Checkmate, Spokeo offered a free basic search option. Even better, their full detailed report cost just 95 cents. This seemed much more reasonable for what I needed.

I decided to try Spokeo's reverse phone lookup feature. My hands shook slightly as I entered Mark's phone number - the same number he'd had since college. The free preview showed there was indeed information available about him. For less than a dollar, I could see the full report.

The Truth Revealed

Within minutes of paying the 95 cents, I received an email with the full report. What I saw made my stomach drop:

• An active Tinder profile under the username "LoneStarMark"
• A Zoosk dating account created five months ago
• A secret Instagram account linked to both profiles

The dates and times matched perfectly with Mark's recent "business trips" and late nights at the office. The evidence was undeniable. There is no doubt that Instant Checkmate is a good and safe tool. But I was looking for a free tool, and Instant Checkmate was not. I thought about using other tools, but when I read reviews of Spokeo, I felt that it was made for me. I also used Spokeo's reverse email lookup, and the results were absolutely accurate.

Why Spokeo Worked Better for Me

Looking back, I'm glad I didn't pay for Instant Checkmate's monthly subscription. Spokeo gave me exactly what I needed for less than a dollar. Here's why I think Spokeo was the better choice:

1. Cost - 95 cents vs. $22.86 per month

2. Ease of Use - Just needed his phone number

3. Speed - Got results within minutes

4. Discretion - Neither service notifies the person, but Spokeo was more affordable

The Difficult Conversation That Followed

Armed with the report from Spokeo, I confronted Mark that same night. At first he denied everything, but when I showed him the evidence, he broke down. He admitted to creating the profiles but claimed he "never actually met anyone." Whether that's true or not, our marriage will never be the same.

Final Thoughts

If you're in a similar situation, I understand how painful and confusing it can be. Here's what I learned from my experience:

• Instant Checkmate is legitimate but expensive for one-time searches
• Spokeo provides similar information at a fraction of the cost
• Neither service notifies the person you're searching
• Sometimes the truth hurts, but living with suspicion is worse

For me, paying that 95 cents was worth it for the peace of mind, even though the truth was painful. If you're debating which service to use, I'd recommend trying Spokeo first - it's affordable, quick, and gives you the information you need without a long-term commitment. Apart from Instant Checkmate, TruthFinder, and BeenVerified are also good background check tools but they all do not provide free services.