Online Dating Personal Safety Tips
June 25, 2015 | Technology
There are certain steps that every person should follow while dating — both online and offline. Take a few minutes to read these tips and require that you follow them.
Online Safety Tips
Protect your finances
Ignore any request to send money, especially overseas or by wire transfer, and report it to the site immediately – even if the person claims to be in an emergency. Wiring money is like sending cash: the sender has no protections against loss and it's nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money.
Never give financial information (such as your credit card number or bank information) to people you don't know or you haven't met in person.
Guard your personal and online access information
Be careful about sharing other personal information, such as your full name, phone number, email and address. You are in control of your online dating experience at all times – remain anonymous until you feel ready.
Use extra caution when accessing your account from a public or shared computer so that others are not able to view or record your password or other personal information. If you share your computer with others, disable the auto sign-in feature to your account and clear all saved passwords.
Be Web Wise
Be wary of communications that ask you to act immediately, offer something that sounds too good to be true, or asks for personal information. There are certain red flags to watch for that may indicate you're dealing with a scammer. Be aware of anyone who…
- Quickly asks to talk or chat on an outside email or messaging service.
- Claims to be from New Zealand but currently travelling, living or working abroad.
- Asks you for money.
- Vanishes mysteriously from the site, then reappears under a different name.
- Talks about "destiny" or "fate".
- Claims to be recently widowed.
- Asks for your address under the guise of sending flowers or gifts.
- Makes an inordinate amount of grammar and/or spelling errors.
- Sends you emails containing strange links to third-party websites.
Be cautious and use common sense. If personal details provided by another person don't seem to add up, they behave suspiciously or pressure you for personal or financial information – block communications with that person.
Block and report suspicious users
You can block and report concerns about any suspicious user with all popular online dating websites.
Additionally, report anyone who commits violations of your provider's terms, which may include:
- Asking you for money or donations.
- Married people or minors using the service.
- Members sending harassing or offensive emails/IMs.
- Members behaving inappropriately after meeting in person.
- Fraudulent registration or profiles.
- Spam or solicitation, such as attempts to sell products or services.
Offline Safety Tips
First meetings are exciting, however, always take precautions and use the following guidelines.
Get to know the other person before meeting them offline
Use the technology on dating sites that protects your anonymity to get to know someone before disclosing personal information or meeting in person. Dating sites don't conduct criminal background checks on their users, so if you would like more information about someone, we recommend using the Internet and government resources available to everyone. This can include typing the person's name into a search engine, reviewing public information made available by government offices, or using a paid service to obtain a full background report.
Always meet in public
Meet for the first time in a populated, public location – never in a private or remote location, and never at your date's home or apartment.
Stay in a public place
It is best not to go back to your date's home or bring them back to yours on the first date. If your date pressures you, end the date and leave at once.
Tell a friend
Inform a friend or family member of your plans and when and where you're going. If you own a mobile phone, make sure you have it with you.
Stay sober
Keep a clear mind and avoid doing anything that would impair your judgment and cause you to make a decision you could regret.
Drive yourself to and from the first meeting
Just in case things don't work out, you need to be in control of your own ride – even if you take a taxi.
Keep personal items with you at all times
You don't want to risk having personal information stolen. If you're drinking, keep your drink with you at all times so it can't be tampered with.
Long Distance Meetings
Long distance meetings pose special safety concerns to take into account. Keep these tips in mind.
- Stay in a hotel. Check into your own room and avoid staying in the other person's home. If you can't afford a hotel, you shouldn't go.
- Use a taxi or rental car to get to and from the airport. Securing your own ride is important. Even if the person you're meeting volunteers to pick you up from the airport, do not get into a personal vehicle with someone you've never met.
- Keep your hotel location confidential. The person you're meeting should respect your privacy until you know each other.
- Remember to keep your family and friends posted. Tell someone who you are meeting, where you are going and when you will return.
Online dating has changed the way people meet and fall in love. No longer are face to face meetings necessary to kindle a relationship. But what happens if the person behind the screen isn't really who they say they are?
Online dating scams are rife. Anyone can be targeted. You do not have to be rich and you do not have to be stupid.
You just have to be looking for love, a search that causes you to be more vulnerable than usual. And love is the tool scammers use to pry open your bank account and strip you of your assets.
We highly recommend verifying a person’s identity before becoming seriously invested in a relationship.
Protect yourself and reduce your chances of falling for online dating scams by having a professional ID Verification undertaken.
Contact The Investigators Investigations, or call us on 0800 747 633 for a completely confidential discussion on how we can help you make the right decision.
