Safety Tips for Online Dating
Online dating is one of the most popular ways to meet people. There are a number of reasons for this. First of all, shy people do not need to work up the courage to walk up to a complete stranger and talk to them. Many people have a very large fear of humiliation and rejection that prevents them from putting themselves out there. However, online dating allows people to introduce themselves in a way that requires far less courage. Also, it is a convenient way to meet people for those individuals who are too busy to go to bars. However, you do need to take some safety precautions before you decide to venture into the world of online dating. This is especially true if you are a woman. Here are some precautions that you should keep in mind.
1. Do not give out your phone number until you have exchanged several emails with a person.
A common rookie mistake that many people make when they are new to the online dating scene is giving out their phone number too quickly. You should be very careful about who you give your number to. Otherwise, you could end up receiving calls and text messages at all hours of the day or night. You need to be certain that the people you give your number to are sane and stable. This means you should email each other no less than four times before you even consider giving your number to the person. A person who is willing to exchange emails with you that many times is clearly interested in meeting you. Give out your number only if you feel confident that the person will not turn into a stalker down the road.
2. Talk on the phone several times before you agree to meet in person.
Another common mistake that online dating newbies make is meeting someone too soon. This can turn into a disaster if you meet someone before you get a chance to know them over the phone. There is no need for you to rush into meeting someone in person. Just relax and enjoy getting to know him or her over the phone. They will understand your desire to wait for an in-person meeting if they are really interested in you. The most important thing is that you are completely comfortable with the person before you agree to meet them. The person you are talking to might begin to pressure you for a meeting. Always remember that you are in control. Never meet someone until you are ready.
3. Always arrange a first meeting in a public place that has a lot of light.
Meeting someone for the first time in person makes most people nervous. You want to make a good first impression on the person you are meeting. However, you should also be certain that you choose a meeting place that is totally safe. A restaurant or a mall food court are perfect places because there will always be plenty of people around. This will ensure your safety. It will also make it easy for you to leave early if the date does not go the way you had hoped. Online dating sites like Flirtfair always advocate meeting in public until you get to know the person you are seeing.
4. Never give out any financial info to a person you meet on an online dating site.
It is a sad fact that scam artists around the world will frequently target lonely people who are online. These criminals will try to find people who are vulnerable so they can easily prey upon them. They will contact people through an online dating site. They will form a relationship and build up trust in the people they are trying to rip off. This usually takes place over the course of several months. At some point, they will make up a story where they ask the person to send them money. The scammer will always live in another country. There have been many people who have been foolish enough to send the money. You should never send money to someone you have never met in person under any circumstances.
5. Do not give out your home address until you have dated the person at least six times.
Giving out your home address is obviously a lot more serious than giving out your phone number. You can always change your phone number if someone starts calling you too much. However, you cannot simply move if a person you met online starts showing up unexpectedly. This means you really need to be certain that a person is nice and normal before you agree to give out your home address. Go out with the person no less than six times before you reveal your address.
I had heard the online dating horror stories but I decided to give it a try and joined http://uk.cupid.com/. But I play it safe. I always arrange my first face-to-face dates in public places and never give any details about myself. I believe your recommendations will improve my safety:) Thanks for posting them.