With so many, relationships starting in chat rooms, how well do you really know that person you're hoping will become that special someone?
Maria Coder wrote the book "InvestiDate" to offer tips and tricks to investigate your date. She says she wanted to protect people from criminals by teaching them to do a bit a research.
Her 200-page guide and website can help you discover if that person you just met in the bar is, well, a sex offender.
Coder says she originally got the idea for "InvestiDate" after a stint as a crime reporter -- she covered the tragedies of Natalie Holloway and Lacy Peterson -- and because she's had her own heart broken.
"I was dating someone who i thought was terrific. He was not so terrific," she says.
Mr. Not-So Terrific was a cheater.
Now Maria wishes she'd taken her own advice. She never wants to feel that heartbreak again.
The Washington State Patrol says the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River at Mount Vernon has collapsed, dumping vehicles and people into the water.
An Interstate 5 bridge over a river collapsed north of Seattle Thursday evening, dumping two vehicles into the water and sparking a rescue effort by boats and divers as three injured people were pulled from the chilly...
The American Cancer Society, which is celebrating on Wednesday a century of fighting a disease once viewed as a death sentence, is making a pledge to put itself out of business.
The American Cancer Society, which is celebrating on Wednesday a century of fighting a disease once viewed as a death sentence, is making a pledge to put itself out of business.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:07 PM EDT2013-05-23 00:07:26 GMT
It's not unusual for a cat to get a hairball, but a 400-pound tiger needed help from veterinary surgeons in Florida when he couldn't hack up a basketball-size hairball by himself.
It's not unusual for a cat to get a hairball, but a 400-pound tiger needed help from veterinary surgeons in Florida when he couldn't hack up a basketball-size hairball by himself.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:29 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:29:45 GMT
A man was fatally shot when a team of FBI agents swarmed an apartment complex near Universal Studios in Orlando. The shooting happened early Wednesday.
A man was fatally shot when a team of FBI agents swarmed an apartment complex near Universal Studios in Orlando. The shooting happened early Wednesday.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:45 AM EDT2013-05-22 10:45:29 GMT
Survivors of the tornado in Oklahoma are beginning the deliberate process of assessing what's left of their homes and possessions and what comes next.
Survivors of the tornado in Oklahoma are beginning the deliberate process of assessing what's left of their homes and possessions and what comes next. The twister killed at least 24 people, destroyed countless homes and reduced one elementary school almost entirely to rubble, killing seven children inside.
Friday, May 24 2013 6:29 AM EDT2013-05-24 10:29:05 GMT
AP photo
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested Thursday for allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building and throwing a marijuana bong out of a window, said police.
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested Thursday for allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building and throwing a marijuana bong out of a window, said police.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:17 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:17:32 GMT
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:11 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:11:26 GMT
An Edison, N.J., police officer was arrested and accused of setting fire to the home of a police captain in his department, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
An Edison, N.J., police officer was arrested and accused of setting fire to the home of a police captain in his department, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:04 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:04:45 GMT
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner launched his campaign for mayor of New York City this week, but his website seems to indicate he is running for office in Pittsburgh. The stylized and colorized image used in
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner launched his campaign for mayor of New York City this week, but his website seems to indicate he is running for office in Pittsburgh. The stylized and colorized image used in
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:49:53 GMT
AP photo
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:50:04 GMT
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:42 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:42:40 GMT
The Bronx Zoo has unveiled its animatronics dinosaur exhibit. The exhibit, called Dinosaur Safari, is something different from the zoo, which is better known for its exhibits of living animals. The ride
The Bronx Zoo has unveiled its exhibit of animatronics. The exhibit, called Dinosaur Safari, is something different from the zoo, which is better known for its exhibits of living animals.
