Online Dating Safety Tips

Online dating can be a very effective way to find your soul mate. Millions of couples have found each other through online dating. If decide that online dating may be the thing for you, it is important to follow certain safety tips. While online dating is often effective, you have no idea who you are talking to. It is very important to be safe when dating online.

Have a Safe Dating Profile

Your dating profile should tell other people about you, however, you do not want to give up too much information. When creating your profile, you should avoid any personal information, including your last name, your address, telephone number, and email address. While you can add your occupation to your profile, you should avoid adding the name of your company and its location. You never know who is viewing your profile. This is information that you do not want to put out there for everyone to see.

When it comes to your profile pictures, you should avoid posting photos of yourself at your place of business, or in front of your home. Photos of you in your home are the safest ones to post. Also, you should not post photos of your children. Again, you do not know who will be viewing you profile. People are viewing your profile to see you, not your children.

The First Date

When you have connected with someone online, and you decide to meet in person, you should follow a few safety tips.

1. Meet: It is a good idea to meet your date at a designated location. You do not want your date to know where you live, just in case things do not work out. When you meet up, you have your own vehicle. This gives you the freedom to leave if you are not feeling comfortable. At the end of the date, you should wait for your date to leave first. You do not really know this person, and they could follow you home. If your date seems to be waiting for you to leave, pull into a driveway that is not yours. This will throw your date off.
2. Public places: It is a good idea to have your first date in a public place. While cooking dinner at home is a great idea for a romantic date, it is not a good idea for a first date with someone you have met online. Meeting at a coffee shop or a crowded restaurant is a good idea.
3. Don’t get drunk: When you get drunk, your inhibitions are low. This will make you less cautious. As soon as you let your guard down, the sooner you can find yourself in trouble. It is best to avoid alcohol on the first date.

Don’t Believe Everything that You Hear

More and more often, there are stories on the news and on talk shows about people who have been scammed through online dating. There are scam artists out there who will use a fake photo and a fake profile, in order to get close to people on the site. After messaging each other online for a while, they will begin to bring up reasons that they need money. This is a huge red flag. Unfortunately, many people believe these scam artists, and give their money away.

When you are talking to someone online, you should never offer to give them money. If they start asking for money, stop all contact immediately.

While online dating is a great way to find “the one”, it can also be dangerous. As long as you date safely online, you should be able to find a successful, lasting relationship.