A private investigator reveals the secret 'code' cheaters use to hide affairs in plain sight.
Earlier this year, social media became obsessed on the moment astronomer CEO Andy Byron was seemingly caught cheating with Kristin Cabot, his company's chief HR officer, at a Coldplay concert.
First shared by 'instaagraace' on TikTok, the kiss-cam has been viewed over 45,000,000 times as thousands rewatched the pair's reaction.
Even celebrities like Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared their remarks.
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While some cheating scandals explode into public view, the majority of affairs happen under the radar.
In fact, a top private investigator has disclosed the tell-tale signs of cheating that might be hiding on your partner's phone.
Gone are the days of hidden love letters.
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Today's unfaithful partners have turned apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat into refined communication networks using secret codes and seemingly innocent emojis, Paul Jones from ARF Private Investigators explained to The Sun.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen an increase in people using everyday symbols as a way to communicate without getting caught," Jones said. “On the surface, it might look innocent, but there’s usually a deeper meaning.”
According to the private investigator, the most common red flag emojis include a croissant or a padlock. If these symbols show up frequently in your partner's most-used emoji list, it could signal that something sneaky is going on.
“We’ve had people using a croissant emoji as a way of saying ‘meet me for breakfast’, or the letter emoji as a subtle ‘text me when you’re free’," Jones explained.
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“It’s like their own language, one that their partner isn’t meant to understand.”
According to Jones, certain emojis have become standard code in affair communications. The monkey covering its eyes can suggest secrecy or guilt, while the bright red chilli pepper indicates flirtation or intimacy. The padlock emoji can also be used to hint at a private or locked conversation.
“Used once or twice, they don’t mean much," the PI added.
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“But when you see them appearing regularly in chats with the same person, especially late at night, they start to mean something more.”
But the emoji code is just one piece of the modern cheating puzzle as Jones advises partners to watch for broader changes in phone behaviour.
“Start with your gut," he suggested. “If your partner suddenly starts hiding their phone, keeping conversations short, or you notice new contacts with strange names or emojis, that’s when you should start asking questions.”