Online Dating Safety Tips

Online dating can be a rather slippery slope and it's always tough to find the honest people versus the posers. The following are some ways that others use to weed some of the fakers online and to protect themselves when actually meeting someone in real life.

See if the site where you met them has some kind of forum or chatroom. Often dating sites offer a way to interact with others on the site. This is a good way to find out about someone who has been around the site a good deal. While it's not written in stone, most who are players will have been around a bit and somebody will know something about them. Online dating is the easiest place for a player to find someone who has no idea what kind of person they really are but most also tend to a bit arrogant in their wanderings.

Ask for a photo. Not just any photo but one that can be taken while you are online with this person. Most people have either a digital camera or a webcam both can take pictures. As the person to hold up a piece of paper with the days date or an oddball phrase that only you can come up with. This will verify that the person you are talking with is really the sex they claim they are among other physical features such as full head of hair, weight, etc….

Once you have established that the person is basically what they are claiming and you know their favorite food along with the fact that they have twelve cats you might feel ready to give out your phone number. Be wary of this. Just because someone is taking care of their eighty year old grandmother and volunteers in a soup kitchen does not make them either nice or sane. Public phones or disposable cell phones are a good option for phone calls until you become comfortable with the person on the other end.
Don't give out your home or work number including fax numbers until you know you have a sane person on the other end.
Once the two of you have established that you would like to take things further then give out basic information such as full name and real telephone numbers. If the person is calling you from a number that blocks caller ID, do not accept the call.

So now you have gotten through the initial chat and phone calls and now you want to meet this person because you are sure you have met the love of your life. Choose a place to meet, do not go to their home and do not have them meet at yours. Pick a public place at a time that you know there will be many people around. Suggest each of you bring a friend. While some may take exception but I suggest bringing someone of the opposite sex, this person can be related to you such as a sibling or cousin. Most of us can point out posers if we go in without expectation, bringing in an outsider who has no agenda but your welfare is always a good idea.

When you do meet this person make sure someone else knows where you are going and who you will be with. Give them names and phone numbers and have check in times scheduled until you get home. If you fail to check in they are to contact the authorities immediately.

Also leave a message on your answering machine, voicemail and email with the exact details of your plans and the information you have on this person including their screen name and email address.

Take your time and trust your gut. If something feels wrong it probably is. If statements don't ring true they probably are not. Online dating can lead to wonderful relationships but you must use good judgment and be very careful about the people you get involved with. You don't have to rush into anything and if the other person is pushing for you to make a commitment too quickly that is a huge red flag. Go at your own pace and do what feels right for you. Listen to friends and family if they express concerns about certain behavior and always listen to your own instincts. If you pay attention to them they will seldom lead you wrong.