- Hold back - do not let out and give out too much personal information unless and until you are completely sure that a person is safe and that could be never. It's a scary world out there, where pornographic morphing of pictures and identity threat is just a small part of it. And lets not even start off with stalkers and murders who could do you serious harm if they got your phone numbers or home address. Be wary.
- Indulge in email - yes email is our latest best friend, it lets us keep in touch with people. But with a dating website that asks for your email address why not give an alternative email address. And while you are at it, do not give this email address with your last name. It gives you a bit of anonymity and mystery. (Wink).
- Free vs. Paid - if you are wondering what sort of online dating service to sign up with, most will tell you that a paid service is a safer bet. This is because free services have no strict screening process and allows anyone to sign up; this could be a bit of a problem. And for paid services, those who are serious about dating are going to be willing to pay the fee, which could be a little steep.
- Public places please - always meet someone for the first time in a public place. No private locations like homes or out of the way or unheard of restaurants. If the person asks to meet in a private place, start wondering what is the harm in being seen in public. And try to go on double date if possible as there is safety in numbers.
Just remember to have fun and be safe at the end of it all, and most importantly trust that gut!
Here are some online dating safety tips you can and should stick to: