Safety and Internet Dating

In recent years, since the start of the computer age, internet dating has become one of the more popular trends. The idea of meeting someone in a "blind date" environment is appealing and exciting to many people. However, internet dating has also become a serious safety concern. While many scenarios have had ideal results, others have resulted in robbery, kidnapping and even death. This is due to the fact that there is no way to guarantee the true identity or personality of the person on the other end. A habitual con artist can actually portray himself or herself as the perfect mate over the internet. What are some tips that a person can consider in order to protect himself or herself?

Exercise caution. The most important thing for a person to do while dating via the internet is to be extremely cautious. Be sure to think things through and use a common sense approach when corresponding with someone over the internet.

Keep information to a minimum. A person should never give away too much personal information. Never give away information regarding family or employment history, social security or driver's license numbers and/or addresses. This information in the hands of the wrong individual can result in identity theft.

Use email as the primary source of communication. E-mail is vital when using the internet. It allows us to instantly correspond with people without having to divulge too much information. However, if the relationship is maintained for an extended length of time, a person may opt to relay his or her phone number.

Remember pertinent information. Recalling things that a person divulges about himself or herself is helpful when dating over the internet. Did he say he was a doctor one day and the next he claims he is a police officer? Was she never married when you first started corresponding and now she says that she's been divorced twice? If a person's stories are inconsistent and have discrepancies on a regular basis, this is a warning sign that something could be wrong.

Face to face. If a person who has been dating someone over the internet chooses to meet the other person, he or she should opt for safety first. Let someone know where you are going and who you are meeting. Meet the person in an open, crowded area such as a mall, park or museum. A friend might even be persuaded to tag along.

Internet dating can be a fun and exciting adventure. While internet dating is safe in most cases, some situations have proven otherwise. Using the right precautions will help keep a person safe while he or she tries to find that special someone.