Ten essential tips for Online dating safety
March 12, 2009
Gut instinct: While setting up a date with someone you met online, whom you only know by the response to emails, profiles views, communication either face-to-face or telecommunication, follow your instincts as they play a vital role in determining whether to go ahead or put an end. Your gut instinct will surely tell you about something wrong or the “right” to continue further.
Personal information: Your full name as well as your home phone number are the key factors one can use to easily find out rest of the information about you including your residential address, income, work address, profession, etc. These can easily be found out with availability of even one of them. So, do not provide this personal information too early.
Free e-mail account: Use free e-mail account with yahoo, gmail, or hotmail, and make sure that you use a separate account meant only for dating and not the regular email account. There is no need to put whole information in the form; put first name or even imaginary name.
Cell phone or other non-personal number: Avoid providing your home number. Instead, provide a cell phone number, skype, or anonymous phone service. Continue this till you know much about the person.
Identify the married person: It is true that married people do indulge in using online dating services. As per the MSNBC up to 30% of the users of this services happen to be the married. So, beware because early identification will help you the most.
Questionable characteristics: Do ask yourself certain questions to find our some characteristics about the person like does the person get angry easily? Or is he/she avoiding some of your questions? These will help you decide whether or not to move ahead.
Recent photo: Photo carries the significance because it might tell you many things about the person. Plus, check that the photo you get is a recent one and the person looks like his/her photo when you meet. If there is any doubt do clear. If the person is totally different, then it is a warning signal.
Paid online dating services: Free online dating services are most likely to make you meet a wrong person because here they do not have to use their credit cards or other personal information.
Be careful about a false sense of security: Do not get lulled into a false sense of security because some online dating services happen to encourage background checks. Remember that laws differ from one state to another.
Keep your first meeting at a public place: Avoiding the offer of picking up from your home, it is better to choose a public place with all of transportation cost. Let your gut instinct work. It will tell you much about the person.





























