Online Dating Safety

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If you choose to communicate with someone using e-mail outside of the service, at least create a special anonymous account. Some of the better choices include Yahoo and Hotmail, which are free.
Do not let anyone pressure you into giving out information that you know you should keep to yourself. Remind yourself that you are in control and are not required to do anything you do not want to do.
Start out slow and remember the old cliché, "If it seems too good to be true – it probably is." The key is to watch for inconsistencies or behavioral changes in someone. This would be a clue that something is not what it seems. Always trust your instincts and if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable then move on.
When meeting someone online, be sure you use common sense and exercise caution. Although most people will come across as being trustworthy, and most probably are, you need to pay close attention to each conversation. Make sure you do not fall in love prematurely, which can be easy to do with online dating.
If the person you are communicating with does not have a photo posted, ask for not one, but two or three current photos. First, this will help validate that the person is the one in the photo and second, it will show you if he or she is trying to hide something. It is not that love should be based on looks alone, but it is important to see if there is a physical attraction. If you get one excuse after another, this should raise a major red flag.
Once you have met one or two people that interest you and have spent quite a bit of time chatting, set up a phone call, always using your cell phone. The call itself is important in that it shows you the level of communication and social skills, as well as manners and degree of intelligence. Additionally, by using your cell phone for the conversation, you are not giving out coveted private information that could be traced to find where you live.
Finally, never do anything to make you feel uneasy about a situation. For example, if you have decided to meet someone in person, always make sure a friend goes with you but stays out of sight or that a friend or family member knows the person’s name, phone number, where you are going, and what time you will be home. It is then your responsibility not to deviate from your plans and if you do, call your friend or family member advising them of the new plan.

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