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 Keep it to yourself
Never provide any type of personally identifiable
information in your profile, e-mail messages, or chat
room conversations. This information would include your
full name, address, city where you live, phone number, name
of the company where you work, organizations that you
are associated with, and so on.
If you choose to communicate with someone consider
creating a special anonymous e-mail account.
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.
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.
If the online dating service has a chat room, you should
be very careful about the information you share. Far too
often, predators will lurk, portraying themselves as
other singles trying to make a connection. While you
want to have a good time chatting be careful about
the information talked about.
Pictures say a thousand words
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 red
flag.
Use your cell
Once you have met one or two people who 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 person's 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
private information that could be traced to find
where you live.
Meet in a safe place
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.
When you decide to meet face-to-face, avoid
meeting late at night. Go to a local public place during
the day or early evening. Be familiar with the location
you are meeting. Do not have your date meet you at your
home or drive you home afterwards. Refrain also from
consuming alcoholic beverages in excess.
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