Online Dating Safety

As with any kind of dating, if you do decide to get in contact with someone, keep your details brief and private. There are a lot of strange people out there - even if they do have nice, normal-looking photographs. Follow our Internet dating safety tips, and then if you do decide to meet up, you should also look at the general dating safety tips.

• You should set up an anonymous e-mail account, such as hotmail, or something similar. Never use your real name when setting up the account - there's simply too much information (such as your address and telephone number) that can be obtained from it.
• If you're looking for romance, don't choose a sexually provocative handle; otherwise you'll simply get a flood of dirty messages. So girls - avoid Sexgoddess, Bondagegirl or Pornqueen, and be wary of men who give themselves equivalent handles. They're unlikely to be looking for love.
• Block or report anyone offensive - most websites ban offenders after a number of bad reports.
• When contacting people, keep a close eye out for stories or aspects about them that sound evasive or 'iffy'. This may include inconsistent information about age, appearance, interests, employment marital or status.
• Don't accept everything you read, use your judgement and instincts.
• Take your time ... and be wary of anyone who says they have fallen in love with you almost immediately.
• Watch out for red flags - pay attention to displays of anger, intense frustration or attempts to pressure or control you.
• After you've written for a time, perhaps even spoken on the phone, and feel this person is trustworthy, then you can give them more information about yourself.
• Be very cautious about giving away your mobile phone number - wait until your instincts tell you that it's right.
• Don't give out your business address unless you really feel you can trust them - you don't want them stalking your office.
• If you are interested, try to meet up in person within about a month of you meeting online. People who delay or put off that first meeting may have something to hide.
• Arrange to meet in a public place, such as a coffee shop, bar or pub.
• Always make your own way to the date.
• Always tell a friend or relative where you will be and ask them to ring your mobile an hour or so into the date.
• If you feel at all uncomfortable, threatened or compromised, excuse yourself and leave.
• Girls - don't get into his car, don't ask him back to your place on the first date, and definitely don't go back to his!