5 Online Dating Safety Tips

Online dating can be a great way to meet dating partners and quite possibly your perfect mate. Many people have very positive experiences with online dating sites. Some people even end up getting married to someone they initially meet online. However, when it comes to online dating, you do need to proceed with caution and use some common sense. There are some dishonest and even dangerous people online that look to take advantage of honest people. Here are 7 online dating safety tips to help you stay safe.

Tip #1 Trust your gut instinct

If something doesn’t seem or feel quite right do not continue contact or pursue anything further with the person. Remember, there are plenty of people looking to date, and if something doesn’t feel quite right, chances are your instincts are trying to tell you something.

Tip #2 Don’t give out your personal information until you have established trust with the person

If possible, your initial contact should be through the online dating site first. Many sites have email or instant messaging services you can utilize. You might want to set up a separate email account that you use for online dating communication. You can also use instant messaging services before giving out your phone number for further communication.

Tip #3 Pay attention to red flags

A red flag is anything that seems inconsistent or sets off a warning signal in your head. If a person’s behavior seems inconsistent or they seem controlling or manipulative or dishonest think twice about further communication.

Tip #4 Ask questions

Remember, the person you are speaking with needs to exercise caution too, but if a person is not open and honest with you and you feel you cannot ask questions, that is a bad sign.

Tip #5 Always meet in a public place on your first date,

You should never invite someone over or be picked up on a first date. Meet in a public place where there are plenty of people around. A short date for coffee or something casual is best. Don’t be in a rush. Take your time in getting to know someone.

Online dating can be a great way to meet some fabulous people to date. Just be sure to practice safety first and take your time in getting to know your online dating partners.

Online Dating Safety for Women

Online dating can be a fun and certainly a rewarding experience for women of all ages. Maintaining your safety while doing it is simply a combination of using common sense and exercising good judgment. Online safety rules are the same as real world safety rules.

You wouldnt give your name, address and phone number to a strange man that you met in a bar or on the street so you should never do that online either. Play it safe. Get to know this man who could turn out to be Prince Charming before you give out any information that could make it possible for him or others to trace you. Dont tell a stranger exactly where you work. Say that you are a legal secretary (if thats what you are) for a mid-sized law firm.not that you work for Brown, Smith and Jones Attorneys-at-law. It is safe to tell him what city you live in but you should wait to be any more specific than that until you have been chatting and exchanging emails for awhile.

Use only the tools provided by the dating service you belong to. Most offer chat and private email on their site. Do not give out your isp email address. If you must give out an email address make it a free one such as Hotmail or Yahoo. Your isp address is traceable for anyone who wants to go to the trouble.

When the time comes for you to have your first face-to-face, make that first meeting in a public place and during day light hours. Take a friend with you or arrange for one to call you on your cell soon after the arranged meeting.

Rememberyou ARE in control so do not let anyone pressure you into revealing more personal information than you are comfortable with revealing.

Online Dating Safety For Men

Almost everything you read about online dating safety is directed at women but men need to be concerned as well. Perverts, sexual predators and weirdoes come in both sexes, all sizes, and all agesas do, liars and cheaters. So men need to stay on guard, too.

It is common knowledge not to readily give out personal information to strangers. The reason for not doing so is as large as the number of strangers who want that information. If you come across a person who is giving out personal information and asking others to do the same, dont do it. You dont know what they want to use it for.and you had better believe they want to use it for something. That something will not be for your benefit. Men, also, need to guard their real names, addresses, phone numbers, and place of employment. Do not give that information to anyone online until you are confident that they are who they say they are.

Men, be wary of women who seem too financially needy. If they ask for money, in any of a dozen ways women can ask for money, cut the relationship off immediately. They are not looking for love or even friendship.they are looking for financial help.

If a woman gives you a contact number but you cannot ever reach her at that number, beware. If you always have to page them or text them and have them call you back, this could be a sign that what they are telling you is not the complete truth.

A need to get married and insecurity are other signs men should be very wary of. If the woman is pushing too hard for a commitment you arent ready to make, it might be a good time to head for the nearest exit.