Online Dating Tips – Stay Safe Dating Online

It seems like more and more people are turning to online dating in search of finding love. While meeting someone new can be an exhilarating experience, there are certain risks involved. Coming face to face with a stranger you have communicated with only through the internet or by telephone can be risky, however there are some precautions you can take to ensure your safety and that will keep you better protected should that perfect date turn out to be not-so-perfect.

Be Vigilant

Don’t believe everything you read or hear. You need to set boundaries and stick to them. If you decide to communicate outside a dating site, set up an anonymous email account. Never publish your personal e-mail address, phone number, or address in personal ads. Be honest in your ads, and if someone becomes rude or abusive to you while communicating online, block them. Most importantly, under no circumstances, send money or give financial information such as bank details or credit card numbers.

Use Trusted Dating Websites

Using a well-known dating website doesn’t eliminate you from love scammers but it’s better to start with a popular site than one you’ve not heard of before. You should still take the same precautions as detailed in this article and remain vigilant at all times.

Do Your Homework

Consider internet or government resources available to find out more about your potential date. There are also paid services you can use to obtain a full background report. Keep in mind that even if the person comes back with a clean report doesn’t mean you should allow yourself to be lured into a false sense of security. It could just be that they haven’t been caught yet.

You don’t need to feel like an internet stalker for doing these initial checks, it’s all in the interest of your safety after all!

Provide Your Own Transport

Regardless of how comfortable you may feel with your potential date, you should still consider them a stranger. For this reason, you should choose to meet in a public place instead of allowing them to pick you up, at least for the first few dates. By driving yourself to the meeting location, you will be keeping them from knowing where you live in case things don’t go well. It will also enable you to feel more in control of the situation.

Location

When planning to meet choose a public place, ideally one with lots of people around, a restaurant is a popular choice for first dates! Having other people around can also help to curb any unwanted behaviour and will put you in a better position to ask for help, should you need any. If possible, park in a well-lit and high traffic area. Avoid parking in a quiet spot.

Trust Your Instincts

Once you meet, if at any time you begin to feel uncomfortable or things just don’t feel quite right always trust your gut and leave. It is also a good idea to let someone know where you will be going, with whom you will be with, your departure time, and when you plan to return home.

Watch Your Drink

Never leave your drink unsupervised. You may also want to consider avoiding alcoholic beverages for the first few dates since it can significantly impair your judgement, however if you do decide to drink simply consider limiting your intake. You may just thank yourself for this advice afterwards! After all, nobody wants to regret something they’ve accidentally said on a date.

Keep Private Information Private

Along with keeping your address confidential until you get better acquainted, you should also limit other personal information. You don’t want to make yourself too vulnerable in case things don’t turn out well. It is especially important not to share too much about your family, friends or other connections. Something as seemingly insignificant as where your child goes to school can be dangerous information in the wrong hands.

Summary

In today’s world of cyber dating, it is essential to keep your guard up when forming new relationships. However, don’t let fear take the fun and excitement out of online dating. By being vigilant and keeping these simple precautions in mind, you can experience the thrill of meeting new people while staying safe dating online.