With so many dating websites available to people with a wide range of lifestyles and interests, the opportunities of meeting like- minded people on line are almost endless.\u00a0 However, the most important thing about on line dating is safety.\u00a0 The very nature of an on-line identity not just offers you the ability to put yourself out there in order to meet lots of new people but also allows others to hide their true identity. Dating safely\u00a0is critical to your search for love as well as something a little bit naughtier.<\/p>\n
To stay safe you need to consider how to ensure your physical safety, how to insure against identity theft and ensure your financial safety is not compromised.<\/p>\n
You may think that physical safety doesn\u2019t come into the equation when dating safely on line as you are thinking it is all in the cyber world and until you actually decide to meet someone in person it won\u2019t apply.\u00a0 Actually, from the first words you type into your profile you are identifying yourself and you want to make sure that identity is not going to invite the wrong type of interest.\u00a0 There are plenty of good people on line but there are also predators.<\/p>\n
Firstly, do your research about the dating sites available to you.\u00a0 Read reviews.\u00a0 You want an established, reputable site.\u00a0\u00a0 If you choose an Australian site you can look up their ABN number and see how long they have been around.\u00a0 If they have been operating for a long time you know they must be doing it right.<\/p>\n
There are risks of being defrauded by using websites posing as authentic dating sites.\u00a0 The risks are the potential theft of your money if you do not use a secure link when making payments and having fake profiles where the person you think you have met is actually employed by the site to keep you hanging on and paying money.<\/p>\n
Read the fine print.\u00a0 The website should respect your information with regard to confidentiality and not share your information without your consent.\u00a0 It should also give information about how it keeps you safe from abuse such as vetting candidates, reviewing web cams, chats and videos, providing tips on how to use the site and providing a contact number if there is abuse.\u00a0 What are the terms of service of the website e.g. does it allow explicit content?<\/p>\n
Does the website suit the type of person you are and does it feature the type of people you are interested in?<\/p>\n
Do your research about writing a good profile.\u00a0 Use your search engine to look up articles about how you should write your profile, what to put in it and what to leave out.\u00a0 Most dating sites will have tips about how to write a good profile.<\/p>\n
Safety tips here are:<\/p>\n
Use a new photo of yourself for your profile.\u00a0 Any photos of yourself that may already have been used on line or in any social networking website can be traced back to those sources to get information about you that you may not want to share with strangers.\u00a0 Don\u2019t use an old photo no matter how much you admire the way you looked.<\/p>\n
Either use only your first name or create a screen name just for dating sites. Don\u2019t use your last name as you don\u2019t want to be instantly identifiable.<\/p>\n
Consider how you want to project your image on the dating site.\u00a0 Keep your screen name, description, and photo consistent with what you want to say about yourself.\u00a0 If you use a provocative name and photo, expect a provocative response.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t lie about your age, your interests, your personality, your likes or your dislikes.<\/p>\n
Keep information about where you live or work out of your profile.\u00a0 This can compromise your safety and allow someone to find you.<\/p>\n
Use the dating site\u2019s messaging system.\u00a0 If you want to make contact via email, get a new email address that you use only for dating websites.\u00a0 This can be a free email account eg G Mail or Hotmail but don\u2019t include your name in the email address.\u00a0 Don\u2019t use a social networking account.\u00a0 Only give a mobile phone number, not work or home number, once you are confident that you want to meet in person.<\/p>\n
It can be extremely flattering to receive lots of interest on a dating website.\u00a0\u00a0 Take your time.\u00a0 Start conversations on line to get to know the people who are interested in you and find out about them.<\/p>\n
Check to see if they are on other social networking sites.\u00a0 Google has an image search to check the profile photos.<\/p>\n
Once you have asked all the questions you want to on line and received consistent, logical answers, then move the conversations to the telephone.\u00a0\u00a0 Make the calls yourself at a time to suit you.\u00a0 \u00a0You can block your caller ID until you are certain that you want them to know your number.\u00a0\u00a0 Be wary of anyone who tells you that they can only speak at certain times or who wants to push the relationship very fast.<\/p>\n
Ask about previous relationships and why they broke up.\u00a0 Some people never learn any life lessons from previous break ups and it may be a\u00a0 glimpse of a future relationship.<\/p>\n
Make sure from your phone conversations that you both want the same thing from this relationship.<\/p>\n
Common sense tells you that a public place is the best place to have your first meeting.\u00a0 A coffee shop is a great place to meet.\u00a0 You can make the meeting a morning coffee just to see if the person you were expecting really does live up to their profile.\u00a0 If they don\u2019t look like their photo \u2013 what else would they be dishonest about?<\/p>\n
If you have a friend to go with you it is even better.\u00a0 They can observe from a distance but can come to your aid if necessary.<\/p>\n
Otherwise let someone know where, when and who you are meeting and arrange for them to call you half an hour into your date to check on your safety.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t depend on your date to drive you to or from the coffee shop and don\u2019t go anywhere else with them on the first date.\u00a0\u00a0 There is always time to go on to a lunch next date.<\/p>\n
Also don\u2019t leave your food or drink to go to the bathroom.<\/p>\n
Ask lots of questions about your date and their lifestyle.\u00a0 If there are inconsistencies or vague answers \u2013 be wary.\u00a0 If there are any signs of anger, disrespect, controlling or other unwelcome behaviour \u2013 make an excuse and leave.\u00a0 Use your instinct and if you have cause to doubt \u2013 leave.<\/p>\n
Most dating sites have a feature that allows you to block the person from contacting you if you want communication to stop.<\/p>\n
Guard your personal information.\u00a0 There are\u00a0 predators out there who want access to your identity and thereafter your bank account.<\/p>\n
Be careful of the information\u00a0 you reveal in email and conversations, even after you meet in person.<\/p>\n
Think about the questions you\u2019re answering.\u00a0 Are those questions fishing for security passwords to your online accounts?<\/p>\n
Being online makes you accessible.\u00a0 Be wary of emails claiming to be from online dating sites encouraging you to divulge personal information.<\/p>\n
Be careful when accessing your account in a public place or on a shared computer so that others can’t view or record your password or personal information.<\/p>\n
Update the security software on your computer.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t open email attachments from someone you have only just met.<\/p>\n
Do not share pictures or information about yourself, your family or friends that give someone any sort of hold over you. \u00a0\u00a0Keep your private life private until you know someone really well and can over time trust them with that information.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately there are unscrupulous people out there who are only interested in whatever money they can get from you.<\/p>\n
Always keep your bank account information private.<\/p>\n
Make sure you monitor your online transactions and account balances.<\/p>\n
These people might appeal to your better nature to help them out of a sad\/disastrous\/medical\/unfortunate\/bad luck situation by sending them money.<\/p>\n
Do not send anyone money.\u00a0 \u00a0Report anything like this to the website.\u00a0 It is a scam. \u00a0\u00a0Scammers will try to gain your sympathy by the stories they tell. \u00a0Unfortunately these scammers will also manipulate your emotions. \u00a0\u00a0Stop all contact immediately and report the matter to the dating site.<\/p>\n
If someone you are in contact with starts declaring their love for you within a very short time of making contact they could be trying to get right into your life, possibly for all the wrong reasons. Use common sense and tell someone you trust to get advice.<\/p>\n
If someone offers you money that is also a scam. \u00a0\u00a0The same goes for anyone with a get rich quick scheme.<\/p>\n
Some scammers will threaten people with webcam footage or messages that they have managed to get out of users online so be very wary of what you say and show online.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t assume scammers are illiterate foreigners you and others will see through in an instant. They practice at being needy and appealing to someone\u2019s emotions and will tell people what they want to hear.\u00a0 If you suspect that someone you’re talking to may be a scammer, stop your communications and immediately report them to the dating site.<\/p>\n
Have any other pointers about dating safely? Please share in the comments below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Our Tips For Date Safely Online. With so many dating websites available to people with a wide range of lifestyles and interests, the opportunities of meeting like- minded people on line are almost endless.\u00a0 However, the most important thing about on line dating is safety.\u00a0 The very nature of an on-line identity not just offers …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[109,110,111],"yoast_head":"\n