Safety Tips
Let’s get this straight. Before you get started to meet new people online and finding new relationships, it’s important to remember that you also have to protect yourself when you are trying to make connections especially with people you don’t know. So, here are some of the online safety tips that we would like to share with you.
Tip 1: Keep your privacy.
Don’t give away your personal information, or any identification details in your profile such as your real name, phone number, birthday, address, school, social security number, ID numbers, etc. to a person you have just met online. We advise that you use a nickname or a generated username in your profile to protect your identity.
Tip 2: Stay anonymous.
Avoid linking your online profile for online dating sites with all your other social media profiles that reveals your identity. Also, we advise that you use different profile picture on all your social media accounts to avoid traceability. It’s now very easy to do a reverse search using images in Google so, to avoid being profiled, use different profile photos on all your social media accounts.
Tip 3: Block and report suspicious people.
If you think that another person has suspicious account profile or has acted inappropriately towards you, you can always block that person. Inform the website admin about that person’s profile and inappropriate behavior so he/she will be on our watch list for further actions.
Tip 4: Identity frauds are real.
Be aware that not all people’s online profile is real. It is very easy to create a profile to be someone that they really aren’t. So never give your financial information to someone you have met online or send them your money, if they are asking from you. Do your background research first about the information in their profile to see if they are who they claim to be.
Tip 5: Reality check.
Some online posers will try to use fantasy to get you. They will use too-good-to-be-true situations such as boasting about their properties, their money, the places they have been around the world and they would say that they want to share it with you, etc. Don’t be fooled about this. Nobody in his right mind would show off his wealth and possessions to random people they’ve just met online. These are suspicious people so, go back to Tip no. 3.
Tip 6: Be an educated online user.
Learn about spam and viruses. Avoid opening links and attachments that people send you online. These could contain viruses and spams. Also, don’t accept invitations from people you don’t know that invites you to follow their social media accounts.
Tip 7: Don’t respond to requests for financial help.
Never respond to someone who is asking you for financial help specially to wire or transfer money overseas even though their reasons might be very compelling and convincing. Report this incident to the website admin.
Tip 8: Don’t reveal who and where you work.
Don’t give out specific information about your job such as the name of the company you work with, even if you seem to be proud of your achievements or proud of your profession. Keep this information about where you are working with, ambiguous.
Tip 9: Plan ahead if you intend to meet personally.
If you and your new online friend plans to meet in person, arrange your date to be in a public place so that there will people whom you can ask help if needed. Make sure to tell a friend, a family or another safe and trusted adult the details of who you are meeting, where you are going, and at what time you’ll be done. It is also a good idea to order your own food/drink as you come in and do not take the food/drink that has already been prepared ahead without you. Keep your phone with you (or some cash for payphone) and have emergency numbers for a friend and emergency services written down and readily accessible to you. Don’t rely on your date for your transportation, ask a trusted friend to drop you off to your dating venue and pick you up at the end of the meeting. Trust your instincts. Remember, you don’t have to meet someone if you are not ready and comfortable about it.
Tip 10: Don’t let your online friends walk you home on your first date.
I know that walking along with some good and interesting people is quite romantic, but keep in mind that you just don’t want someone you have just met know where you are residing. So, politely refuse their offers at this time. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
