Safety In Online Dating – 5 Tips to Use in Dating Sites.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash.

Are you afraid of meeting a creep on your first date? And are you sceptical that you might match with a stalker on a dating site? Or are you afraid of being scammed and duped in the search for love?

Gone are the days when a friend or family member would set you up on a date. It was almost always guaranteed that you would spend your time with a reasonable and sensible person. Well, until they were not!!

Online dating is fun. It gives you a chance to interact with people from around the globe. You have to sign up and swipe left to meet the love of your life. But as thrilling as this venture is, safety is paramount.

You have to exercise caution and discernment when dating online. Here are five safety tips to guide you on your online dating journey.

1. Use A Trustworthy Site.

Since the global acceptance of online dating, there are more than 2500 dating sites. Consequently, fraud and scam websites are also on the rise. To enhance your safety when dating online, ensure you use a trustworthy site.

Scam dating sites claim to offer legitimate meetups, but are either filled with scammers or are severely underpopulated. It is a red flag when a site asks you to sign up to mine your information. Be wary of sites that ask you for too much personal information or your financial position.

So, use a dating site or app that has been around for a while. You can find its reviews, both negative and positive, online. Also, choose a site that is intentional about protecting your information. Sites like Tinder, Bumble, OkCupid, Christian Mingle, and Match.com have implemented safety features to keep you safe.

2. Do Not Give Out Private Information.

You have to be authentic to create a real connection with someone online. Part of being authentic is revealing some factual information about yourself. But there is a fine line between authenticity and becoming prey to scammers.

So, never share personal information with strangers online. Keep your bank account details, social security number, and work and home addresses private. Also, do not reveal details about where you work, live, or places you regularly visit. Remember, people are not always who they say they are.

Additionally, do not use your social media accounts to sign up for dating apps. It may seem fun to connect your dating app to Facebook or Instagram. But it is also a perfect way for someone to find you, even if you do not match on the dating app.

3. Beware of Scammers, Cheats, And Swindlers.

With the rampant cases and horrific stories of scammers on dating sites, you will have to be really naïve to dismiss the possibility of running into one or four in your online dating journey. As much as you want to connect and possibly find love, you also have to be on the lookout for rotten apples.

Be suspicious when someone you have never met professes their love to you in the first conversation. Do not be so desperate that you are blinded by sweet gestures and words that you let your guard down. It is also a bad sign in my book when someone wants to move to private mode quickly. Stay in the app until you are comfortable taking the next step.

Remember, not everyone is looking for love or a genuine connection on dating apps. There are also cheaters. Married men and women looking for relations outside their marital relationships. You will also find players looking for one-night stands and casual hook-ups. They are just playing the field.

Worst of all, you can also find predators. These are people with bad intentions from the word go. They sign up, charm you, and get you to trust them, only for them to turn around and mistreat you. They are also likely to abuse you mentally, emotionally and sexually. Scary huh?

4. Block Anyone Who Misbehaves.

If that last point scares you as much as it scares me, relax. Breath!! It is not that bad. The good news is that no matter what happens to you, you still have a choice. That is where your power lies. At the very least, you can choose your perspective and how your story ends.

So, you can block anyone who behaves badly towards you. If you feel a user’s profile is dangerous or suspicious, report them on the dating app and block them. Protect yourself and your peace of mind at all costs.

If anyone asks you for financial assistance, is offensive, uses belligerent language, asks for inappropriate pictures, and makes you feel threatened, submit a report and block them. It can also be done anonymously and silently, so the person on the receiving end will not know.

Before creating a new dating app account, familiarise yourself with the app’s reporting policy.

5. Play Detective.

You cannot always believe what you see online. People are not always who they say they are. Research shows that 80% of people lie or misrepresent themselves on their dating profiles. So, you have to verify that your match is precisely who they claim to be.

Be diligent when looking at single profiles. If they are verified, a feature in most legitimate sites, you know this person looks like their pictures. If they look too good to be true, like Wonder Woman or The Rock, you can screenshot their profile and reverse image search to see if someone is potentially lying on their profile.

If their social media accounts are linked to the site, take advantage and look them up. If they have a new account or a pre-existing account but with only two friends, you may want to swipe left.

Look for inconsistencies between their online profile and what they say when chatting. Be on the lookout for poorly written and vague messages. Alternatively, if they call you the wrong name, chances are they are scamming you and the other person, too.

The Takeaway.

The possibilities of online dating are endless. You could meet your soulmate, life partner, or your worst nightmare. Dramatics aside, you have to be vigilant on this journey. Exercise caution and tread carefully. With that in mind, remember to have fun. No matter what happens, you have a choice: engage or swipe left. ♥

How do you stay safe on dating sites? Share your thoughts below.

This article was first published on Mourine’s Warui LinkedIn page.