Couples are now hiring professional 'checkers' to test their partner's loyalty: How popular is this service?

When Savannah Harrison caught her boyfriend cheating, she did more than confront him—she saw an opportunity.

Today, the 27-year-old is the founder of a booming loyalty-testing service known as ‘Lazo’, which describes itself as a “tool designed to see intentions and let go of toxic relationships”.

After experiencing heartbreak herself, Harrison wanted to help other women avoid the same pain, according to a Sky News report. She soon took on the role of a professional “checker,” who uses social media to expose cheating partners.

And she’s in demand—running dozens of loyalty tests each month, each one paid, with clients eager for proof.

Here’s how she does it.

The loyalty test

Once Harrison accepts a “mission,” she reaches out to her client’s partner, following specific directions from the suspicious client. She revealed her clients are mostly women seeking answers about their boyfriends.

Alongside her work as an eyelash technician in Corona, California, Harrison dives into detective mode. She investigates where the boyfriend spends his free time, then might claim to have seen him somewhere or even “accidentally” send him messages or photos.

“Either way,” she told Sky News, “I will flood into his [direct messages] and say something to see if he’ll reciprocate.”

Throughout the test, she keeps the client informed, sending screenshots of their exchanges. These loyalty tests can last about five days, with checkers occasionally arranging to meet the partner—though they won’t go on the date.

“I’ve seen some comments saying it’s messed up,” Harrison shared. But guilt isn’t on her mind. “If you can’t be loyal, then you shouldn’t be in that relationship,” she added.

How much does it cost to run a loyalty test?

The loyalty tests typically cost between $50 and $80 (Rs. 4,198 to Rs. 6,717), though rates vary among checkers, with some charging over $100 (Rs. 8,396) for their services.

While Lazo currently has one full-time checker making around $3,000 (Rs. 2.51 lakh) monthly from loyalty tests, the service also has 350 to 400 part-time checkers like Savannah on its roster.

For Savannah, however, the motivation goes beyond money. “I don’t care about the money,” she told Sky News. “It’s more about helping other girls because I’ve been there."

Ashlyn Nakasu, Lazo’s community manager echoes similar sentiment and said the goal isn’t to catch people off guard. “There might be this misconception that we’re here to entrap people,” Nakasu clarified. “That really is not the case.”

Instead, the company aims to help clients confirm what they already suspect: the end of their relationship. “[Often] they just need that proof, that final kick in the butt to let them know: ‘This is the wrong person for you,’” she explained to Sky News.

Nakasu added that open communication is always the first recommendation. “And if communication fails to exist, then you can try to have a loyalty test if you truly believe something is wrong.”

What do experts have to say?

According to one relationship expert, loyalty tests may do more harm than good in building trust in relationships. “It would be much better to talk about why they feel insecure in the relationship,” Marian O’Connor, a consultant couple and psychosexual therapist at Tavistock Relationships told Sky News.

O’Connor suggests that couples should focus on openly addressing any concerns. “It’s about saying: ‘There’s something wrong with us, what’s happening?’ That is the important thing, not to catch them out,” she explained.

She also recommends taking a closer look at the root of distrust. “Is this the experience you’ve had in all relationships? Is this lack of trust something that is from childhood, or is it in this particular relationship?” she added.

Ultimately, while loyalty tests may provide answers, experts like O’Connor believe that open, honest conversations are what truly strengthen relationships

With input from agencies