Online dating site tips - safety first and the fun will follow
March 21, 2008 – 9:08 am
Online dating is a lot of fun, and you can meet a lot of great, honest people online. But there are those that would spoil the fun for everyone.
Predators and con artists lurk online hoping to catch the unsuspecting. Many even pose as sincere singles looking for their soul mate.
Does this mean that you shouldn’t date online? No! You just have to be careful and take precautions to stay safe.
The number one rule of online etiquette is to never give out your personal information, ever. This can be tricky if you’re trying to date someone.
At some point, you’re going to have to give them your phone number and maybe even your address. But you need to ensure your safety before you do.
How? Never give out your personal contact information when you first start talking to someone. Use your first name, your middle name or a nickname. Do not divulge your full name until you have talked to them for a while.
After you have chatted with someone for a while, you may be tempted to give them your phone number. Before you do, make sure you are talking to who you think you are talking to. Enable voice chat, view their cam and do everything that you can to verify the person’s identity. If something seems odd, cut off all contact immediately.
When you decide to go out on a date, take back up with you. Meet in a public place and with a group of friends. Not only does this ensure your safety, it takes a lot of pressure off and calms nerves. Don’t worry about offending your date by asking to meet in a group.
If they have respect for you and really want to get to know you, they will not mind at all. In fact, they will probably feel better by brining some friends of their own.
Always stay alert. Never let your guard down even after you have been dating someone for a while. Identity theft, financial fraud and emotional ransom usually occur after you let someone get close to you.
Do not divulge personal financial information such as bank account information and your social security number. Keep all credit cards in your wallet and do not loan out any money. Be very wary of proposed ventures that seem to be one sided.
Remember; if something makes you uncomfortable, there is probably a good reason why you feel that way. Always listen to your inner voice, but try not to be overly suspicious of everyone.
There are good people online. You might even meet your soul mate online. The key is to not treat everyone like your soul mate from the beginning.
Take steps to protect yourself and let your mate be revealed over the course of time. After all, lasting relationships are built on trust and honesty. Make sure you take steps to build both from the beginning.
