Dating Safety Tips

Online dating can be a great way to meet new people, but it’s important to stay safe while you’re doing it. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind when using our online dating website:

• Avoid Sending Money or Sharing Financial Information: No matter how well you think you know someone, never send them money or share your financial information with them. If someone asks you for money, even if they claim to be in an emergency situation, it’s best to just say no.
• Keep Your Personal Information Secure: When creating an online dating profile, make sure not to include too much personal information. This includes your full name, home address, work address, and phone number. It’s also a good idea to use a different email address than the one you use for your other online accounts. That way, if your dating profile is hacked, your other accounts will stay safe.
• Stay on the Website: When communicating with someone you met online, do it through the dating website or app you’re using. That way, if there are any issues, the site can help mediate and resolve them. Don’t give out your personal email address or social media information until you’re sure you can trust the person you’re talking to.
• Be Wary of Long-Distance or Overseas Relationships: If you haven’t met someone in person, it’s impossible to know if they are who they say they are. There have been cases of people being scammed by someone pretending to be someone else online, so always be cautious.
• Report Offensive Behaviour Immediately: If you ever feel harassed or stalked by someone you met online, report their behaviour to the dating website or app you’re using. You can also contact the police if you feel you’re in danger.
• Protect Your Account with a Strong Password: Use a password that’s difficult to guess. Avoid easily guessed words like your name or birthday and include a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Be Careful with Links in Messages and Emails: If you receive a message or email with a link, hover over it to check the URL before clicking. If the link looks suspicious, don’t click on it.
• Avoid Rushing It: Take your time getting to know someone online before meeting them in person. Don’t feel pressured into meeting up just because they keep asking or seem impatient.
• Meet in Public: For your first meeting, choose a public place such as a coffee shop, park, or museum. Avoid meeting at someone’s house or apartment.
• Inform Friends and Family: Before meeting someone for the first time, tell a friend or family member your plans. Give them the person’s name and contact details, and let them know when and where you’ll meet. Check in with them after the date.
• Follow Your Gut: If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and don’t go through with the date. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Arrange Your Own Transport: Don’t rely on someone you’ve just met for a lift. Drive yourself or use a taxi or public transport so you can leave whenever you wish.