Adultery business cashes in on recession

Membership to website that helps find would-be cheaters has soared from one million to 3.6 million in 12 months

Adultery business cashes in on recession

Membership to website that helps find would-be cheaters has soared from one million to 3.6 million in 12 months

The company has recently gone mainstream with a new promotional campaign, reaching an expanded audience of potential adulterers with light-hearted television advertisements placed on peak-viewing daytime slots.

And the message is hitting home as the economy reels, according to Noel Biderman, the company's founder.

More members

Membership has soared from one million to 3.6 million in just 12 months, and he expects another surge after the company launched a service allowing members to access the site from their mobile phones. The innovation is aimed at would-be cheaters who are nervous about leaving evidence of their infidelity on their computer at home or work.

Biderman said that many couples who would otherwise have divorced were seeking affairs at the moment because of the cost of hiring lawyers and the difficulty of selling the marital home.

"We're not just recession-proof, we're booming," declared Biderman, a happily married father-of-two who set up the business in Toronto in 2001.

Why I cheat

Tamara (32) who has signed up on the website said, "I got married too young to the wrong man seven years ago and everything has been downhill for the last five years.

"We have drifted far apart, but he lost his job a year ago and has become very depressed and I'm not sure he could cope if I went for a divorce." So far, she has only chatted by phone and online with potential lovers from the service. This, she says, has been a major confidence boost.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels