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Online Dating Safety

Since its inception, online dating services have gained remarkable popularity in the Internet world. In fact, almost 40 million American singles try online dating sites to find romance.

However it is still best to observe online dating safety measure. With millions of strangers out there, an individual will never know if the person they are about to date is 100% harmless.

Here are some safe dating tips for people who are into online dating:

Anonymity

Even if you're already eyeing the profile of somebody that you particularly like, it is still best not to divulge any personal information like e-mail address, home address, contact number, or any pertinent information that would reveal your true identity.

Giving your real email address, personal web site URL, last name, phone number, place of work, home address, or any other information that identifies you in your profile or first few emails that you exchange with other members makes you an easy victim. Turn off your signature file, or make sure that it does not have any identifying information, when sending emails to a member through your own email.

Photo Request

To give an idea of the person's look, thus make you a tad safer, request for a picture. A scanned photo won't cost so much, so no excuse can be given for not doing it. You will also be able to choose person whose appearance you will like.

Honest profiles

Being honest does not necessarily mean revealing personal information immediately. Being honest with one’s profile means simply being true to one’s self. It’s best not to create a dishonest profile or to display a fake picture. At the least this will disappoint others and waste their time if they find you are not what they wanted after all.

Make A Call

A person's skills when it comes to communicating can be easily gauged through a phone call. Though it might cost you some moolah, it is worth it to make sure you don't fall for someone who is anti-social. However, to make things a lot safer, use a cell phone or a pay phone instead of using your land line. Unless you are absolutely comfortable with the person you are calling, don't give your home phone number at once.

Pressure measure

It would be safer not to meet somebody who pressures you to meet immediately. It could mean a lot of things that might not be favorable to you. It is advisable to take your time and get to know the person as much as possible first before saying yes to a face to face meeting. If he seems to be only spouting or keying saccharine words that you want to hear, the person on the other end might have a questionable honesty. Don't feel like you are obligated to meet anyone, you still have the last say on whether you are ready to meet the person or not. You are free to change your mind if anything feels not right.

Inconsistency

Be wary of people who are inconsistent with their profile information. They may not be telling the truth about themselves.

Caution

1. If somebody seems to be depressed, it would be better to stop all contacting with them.

2. Uneasiness is a good indicator if something is likely to get out of hand. If you feel uneasy or uncomfortable about any relationship, stop communication immediately.

3. Trusting your online acquaintances easily can make you easy bait. If your gut feel tells you that someone is lying, there's a big chance that you are right. Look for someone that deserves your trust. Online intimacy is very dangerous. Don't indulge yourself in such endeavor at the click of a mouse. Logical thinking will save you a lot of trouble.

4. You should pay attention to any signs of intense frustration, anger or any displays of aggressive behavior. If the person is trying to control or pressure you, stop the communication. Here are the other alarming manifestations of bad behavior that will make you aware that you are in danger.

giving dubious info about appearance, age, interests, profession, marital status, etc.
refusal to converse with you over the phone when you have already established online intimacy
consistently not giving any direct answers to direct questions, etc.
overly agreeing to your every statement
asking you to provide travel arrangements

Offline Meeting

To feel comfortable and safe follow the below tips for a first date arranged online:

Before meeting your online friend, tell someone reliable where you will go and when you will return. You might also want to arrange a time schedule where someone could call you later and check up on you. You could also plan to meet some friends after the date.
Leaving your date's name and phone number is a good idea.
Bring your mobile phone.
Don't allow your date to pick you up at home. Have your own transportation and meet somewhere public. Do not let any first-time date know where your house is. Only assess after the second date if you should let them know where you live. Do not give your home contact number. If you really have to give contact information, give your mobile phone number.
Make arrangements to meet at a specific location, but do not let the person pick you up from your house.
You should meet in places where there are many people so you can ask for help if your date gives you trouble. Public places such as malls or daytime parks are good places to begin with. If it is possible, you could go double or group date.
When you are eating in a restaurant or café, go Dutch. Pay half of the bill. In that way, you won’t feel under any obligation to continue the relationship if you don't like the person.
If possible, avoid drinking alcohol while on a date. Alcohol could affect your judgment and lessen inhibitions. If you are drinking, keep the drink in sight all the time. Do not get too drunk. You might not know or remember what happened later on. During the date, don't leave your drink unattended. After the date, leave on your own too.
If you have a car, use it. Make sure the gas tank is full.
Assuming that your date is safe just because they claim to be religious is wrong. For all you know, they could have a hidden, more unfavorable side.
At night, avoid going to secluded, dark areas like parks or dimly lit places.
Listen to what your gut says. If there is something that does not feel right, then most likely, it is not. Leave immediately if you feel something isn’t quite right.
Stay alert. Having fun the whole time does not mean you should let your guard down.

Conclusion

All of these things boil down to the fact that safety on online dating starts with you. Set certain safety rules for yourself and stick to them. No-one can give you better protection than you yourself. Online dating may be fun, but your safety should be your primary concern.