Online dating can be fun and enjoyable, but there are
some guidelines you should follow to stay safe:
Be Anonymous
There’s never any need to give out your personal
details – your real name, address, email address
or phone number, pager address, or videophone address–
in public areas like your online dating profile. Once
you have a one to one relationship with someone via
email, use your instincts to decide if you should give
more contact information to that person. Don’t
give any other information until after you’ve
met and have become friends offline.
Use your Instincts
If something seems too good to be true, it probably
is. You would notice if your boyfriend or girlfriend
was acting strangely. Pay attention to habits and moods
of online friends as well: are they changing? If something
doesn't feel right, it’s OK to end your contact
with someone.
Stay in Your Comfort Zone
Don’t let the other person push you to phone or
meet if you’re not ready. If they’re eventually
going to make a good partner, they’ll understand
and wait. If someone asks for your phone number, pager
address, or videophone address, politely refuse. If
you think you might eventually want to contact them,
ask for their email address and use it when you’re
ready
Stay Alert
Are there inconsistencies in what someone tells you?
Are they an accountant one day but can’t add 2+2
the next? When you talk with them, pay attention to
inconsistancies that you notice. Trust your gut if something
feels odd. If you use the telephone to contact them
you can use the relay operator's description of background
noises. Do they match what you know about the person?
Meeting
When you’ve decided to meet, tell someone close
to you exactly where you’ll be and when. Bring
your mobile phone or pager with emergency contacts stored
in it. You’re not likely to need them, but it’s
better to play it safe! If you have a phone or pager
with a camera, take a photo of you and the date together
and send to a friend for safety reasons.
Use your Head
You may have been dating online for weeks, but it doesn’t
mean that you actually know your date. Always use common
sense and good judgement.
Be Independent
Use your own transportation. If things don’t go
well, you can leave whenever you want. And even if things
do go well, you’ll still want to have your own
transportation. Bring your car, enough money for cab
fare or arrange for a friend to pick you up when you
contact him/her.
Meet in Public
Go somewhere familiar where there will be lots of other
people around. If you’re nervous, double date
with friends to take some of the pressure off. Don’t
meet anywhere isolated, unfamiliar or uncomfortable.
Drinking
You’ll probably be nervous before a first date.
Though a few drinks could help loosen you up, don’t
overdo it. You’ll need to have a clear head if
things don't go to plan. And being a drunken mess is
not a great way to impress a new boyfriend or girlfriend.
