If you’ve signed up for an internet dating site, chances are you will be corresponding with a variety of people. Some will seem very trustworthy and some may seem a bit off from the start.
Safety should come first. No matter how charming and trustworthy a stranger may seem, they are a stranger. You have the ultimate responsibility in protecting yourself.
Following are some tips to keep safe:
* Don’t give out personal information. Even if you are tempted because the person seems so nice, use common sense and hold off on giving your full name, address, phone number, place of work or any websites where you can be found. If anyone pressures you, don’t comply. Would the type of person you want to meet pressure you into anything? If anyone becomes irate or aggressive in trying to get your personal information, don’t feel obligated to correspond any further and use the block feature if necessary. Remember…once any personal information is given out, you can’t take it back and the person you gave it to may prove to be untrustworthy.
* Don’t take pictures and words at face value. Some people lie. Some people use fake pictures. Get to know someone slowly and watch for red flags. One thing that helps me is watching for a person’s consistency. A liar usually can’t keep up with their lies. Someone who is real tends to be more consistent.
* Anytime you feel uneasy about someone, cut off correspondence. Gut instincts are usually accurate. Don’t make excuses for someone’s bad behavior, hoping they will improve over time. If they are acting weird online, they probably won’t be any better in person. Chances are, they will be worse.
* If anyone gives you a sad sob story about needing money, do not correspond with them. There are numerous scams where people try to reel others in with stories that will break your heart, only in the end, they break your bank account. Don’t be gullible by a stranger’s charming words.
* Be cautious about anyone who seems desperate or needy – those who give out a phone number in the first correspondence; someone who wants a relationship quickly instead of taking time to know you; a person who talks incessantly about an ex; anyone who makes sex the main objective. Chances are these situations can imply the person is trying to fulfill a need more than being interested in getting to know any one person.
It’s tempting to disclose more of yourself when you find someone you really click with. But, no matter how well you get along, how much you have in common, safety should be of utmost importance. Get to know people at a pace you are comfortable with. Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into stepping outside those boundaries.
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