Safety Tips For Online Dating That Anyone Should Follow

A lot of people are not aware that by dating online they are exposing their lives to virtual strangers. There are too many stories of people who have been used by scammers or had their personal data stolen. So is it possible to navigate the murky waters of online dating with all the potential risks it presents? The answer is yes, it is possible, but you need to understand some important things when doing so.

Below are few ways you can use to help protect yourself even as you venture into online dating:

Be Keen On The Dating Sites You Choose

Because of the growing popularity of online dating, there are so many new dating sites that pop up every now and then. Although it is possible to find some new sites that are worth your while, you are better off sticking to established and reputable dating sites. You can find such sites by talking to friends or relatives who have had success in dating online before.

Be Aware Of The Small Print

What most people do not know is that dating sites are often linked and have partner sites. Be sure to read the fine print of the site’s terms and conditions. You may find that they share your private information with their sister sites.

Expect To Pay

There are reputable dating sites that are free, but more often than not, you find a lot of profiles that are questionable. You are less likely to find a scammer on sites that require you to pay a membership fee. Also, if these sites require their members to use their credit or debit cards to pay, it means that the users can easily be traced.

Some of these sites have offer free trials with limited features. You may still be required to sign up using your credit or debit card details. You need to be aware that once the trial period ends, they may upgrade your account to full membership after charging your card. If you do not like the site ensure that you cancel your membership to ensure that they do not continue charging you for services you no longer need.

Avoid Giving Away Too Much Information

It is advisable that you use a nickname instead of your real name on dating sites. This is because it is only too easy to search for people on social networking sites by simply using their name. So if you use your name on a dating site, you are simply giving a stranger the chance to check on you.

Do not give out any personal information such as your address, phone number, or even where you work. The longer you get to know someone, the safer it becomes for you to let them know small personal details about yourself. Even at this level, it is important that you give out information only if they need to know it, and as you see fit. If you have a mobile version of the application installed, make sure the “locations” setting on your phone is turned off.

Be Wary

Once you set up your profile, you will be bombarded with messages from people who are looking for a person with similar interests to yours as shown in your profile. There may be numerous people who are genuinely interested in you, but be extremely cautious when you come across those who declare their undying love for you within a few days. These are people who are in the business of luring you into feeling secure enough to start a relationship with them, but have ulterior motives.

If you think that a person you have met online sounds too good to be true, then he/she probably is. Some scammers will take a look at your profile, study your interests and desires and craft themselves into the person you are looking for. At this point you will need to ask yourself as to the chances of you meeting a person that matches your each and every desire.

Also, a lot of scammers tend to copy paste some weird messages and if you suspect this of happening, simply search for the text to see if it has been used anywhere else.

If your gut instinct tells you there’s something suspicious about someone, report them immediately…