Safety Tips For Online Dating

by Penny S. Harmon

Internet dating can be fun and exciting, but it can also be scary. Here are several tips to help keep you safe when you are looking for your mate online.

Go Slow and Trust Your Instincts.

When you start chatting with someone online, if they sound too good to be true, they probably are. Unfortunately, meeting someone online allows them to be very secretive and allows the possibility of lies. If you think that someone is lying about what they look like or what they do for a living, your best bet is to back off and look further.

Keep Your Privacy.

When chatting with someone online, do not give out any personal information. Do not give your last name, where you work, or anything that can be traced to you. If you need to give out a phone number so you can talk before meeting, give out a cell phone number. Never give out your home telephone number or work number. Until you know this person is safe, guard yourself carefully.

Use Common Sense.

Use common sense when you set up a meeting and do not meet until you are ready to meet. If he is pushing you into meeting up before you are ready, let him know and if he insists, get rid of him. When you are ready to finally meet this person, make sure that you meet in a very safe environment, like a coffee shop or restaurant. Make sure you tell someone close to you where you will be and who you are supposed to meet. If at all possible, bring someone along with you.

Take Care of Yourself.

When you do meet with someone, make sure that if you are at a restaurant or bar, that you do not overindulge in alcohol. This person may be waiting for you to let your guard down. Drinking will impair your senses and not only that, if you drink to much, he may get a bad first impression of you.

Meeting people online can be a great thing and there are many people who meet and end up married to the person they met on the internet. However, you need to be aware of everything around you when meeting someone online. Be careful and remember to trust your instincts.