In the interest of being over-prepared when you’re dating a stranger, we’ve collected the latest information about what women can do to keep themselves safe while they’re dating.

Don’t Give a Stranger Personal Details

Does your online dating profile require you say where you were raised, your mother’s maiden name or your school’s name? A stalker or predator can perhaps use this information to find you. Even thinks like where you were born can give someone enough information to Google you through a people-finder and track you down.

Don’t Give out Your Number too Early.

It’s pretty common practice to switch over from a dating site to texting once a flirtation has been going on for a little while, but think twice before you give out your number. A phone is just another link to you and depending on their skills, they cab hack into your phone, track your whereabouts, or continuously text an call you. Remember, once someone has certain information about you, there’s no way you can undo it.

Never Post Identifying Info.

It’s tempting to post photos of your new car, apartment or dogs on social media, but you may not realize just how much those things can reveal. From your license plate numbers, to street names, cities and house numbers, photographs can reveal loads of information.

Avoid Specifics

Chatting about things like your profession, company you work for, schools you went to, or neighborhood you live in are typical online dating small-talk topics, but they’re not that harmless. If you give out specific details, someone could easily find you. It might seem a bit boring and vague, but it’s all in the interest of protecting yourself. Just talk about something else instead.

Google Someone if You’re Unsure

If your date had a record and you found out, would you still date him or her? We tend to show only our best side when getting to know someone. A simple Google search can reveal information you don’t know, assuming it’s the right person. You could also try an advanced search. If you find the correct details, match what they’ve been telling you to that.

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

There’s a lot you can learn from someone’s photos and a lot can mislead you as well. Everyone’s nice on the first fate – even psychopaths. A nice smile and polite small talk demeanor doesn’t mean that person’s a completely nice, law-abiding citizen.

Meet in Public for the First Few Dates

When you first meet and go on dates with someone, you might want to meet in public spaces. Think about parks, restaurants, shops, the art gallery or any public place. Avoid areas which are dark, secluded or confined. While it may be romantic, there might not be someone around if you need help.

Always Pick the Place Yourself

Never let your date pick the place, as it could be prearranged. You never want to give a potential criminal the advantage. The chances of this happening are slim, but it only takes one person with hidden bad intentions to harm you.

Never Lead Someone on.

Stalking situations can happen through no fault of your own, but usually develops after a relationship has begun. For some people, a simple peck on the cheek is enough to make them think you love them. It’s impossible to know what’s inside someone’s head and heart.

Trust Your Gut

If your instincts are telling you something is wrong, believe them.If you think someone has lied to you, you’re probably right. If you overlook it, you may end up regretting it later. Trying to make it feel right is a risk not worth taking.

Tell People About the Date.

Always tell a close friend or family member where you’re going, who you’re with, and check in with your friends or family during the date. Also, give them an idea of when you’ll be back and make sure to alert them when the date is over. This just adds another layer of safety to any date you go on with a stranger.

Watch Your Alcohol

Obviously we mean it that you don’t drink too much but you should also watch your glass closely. It’s wise to keep an eye out to ensure nobody adds anything unexpected to it. If you can’t finish a drink before going to the bathroom, ask the waiter to take it away. It might be a little awkward in the moment, but it’s better than downing drugs without your knowledge.

Have a “Gotta Go!” Excuse Ready.

Don’t be afraid to leave a date prematurely if the other person is making you uncomfortable. Work on your excuse before meeting up for the date, and practice what you’ll say if you decide your date is too creepy and would like to leave early. It’s best to avoid spending more face time with someone who’s giving you a bad feeling and get out of there.

Not Interested? Don’t be Afraid to Go “Off the Grid”

After you tell someone you’re not interested, never take their calls, texts or emails again. Continually responding to messages, even just to say know, might seem like a challenge to them. Just ignore them, drop out of reach – it’s not rude, just a clear signal to back off.

The article Online Dating Tips that could Save Your Life appeared first on Dating Online and Meet IRL.

Taking a fake photo and creating an appealing profile, “romance scammers” have managed to steal $120 million from victims in the first half of 2016 – a 23% increase from the same period last year. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2015 was a banner year for romance scamming, with $203 million in losses.

Dating sites say they try to guard against fake profiles, but “a lot slip through.”

“Part of the issue is ubiquity,” said Bruce Reppert, assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, on online dating.

“Ive not known of a romance scam that was not first started on a dating website.”

While the pattern can vary, the scams usually seen the scammer pretending to be an American worker overseas. After a lengthy “courtship,” the suitor makes up false stories of emergencies abroad and asks for a loan.

The victim pays initially due to emotional attachment – then stay around in the hopes of collecting their debts.

“Anyone could be a victim of this given the right kind of circumstance,” said Mr. Reppert, the Illinois prosecutor.

Sites do try to screen away scammers – one official from Match.com noted that the service turns away as many as 15 percent of applicants to the site for suspicion of being involved in attempting to defraud those looking to connect.

“If there was technology that enabled us to alleviate the massive amounts of false positives, we’d do it.” a Match official noted.

The article Romance Scamming on Online Dating Sites in on the Rise appeared first on Dating Online and Meet IRL.

• Stick with reputable sites. Read reviews and check with friends. Thoroughly check out a site before posting a profile. It’s a good idea to read the security tips that some sites offer.

• Protect your personal information. Identity thieves attempt to harvest personal details such as your address, phone number and more. Remember that seemingly insignificant information, such as your pet’s name, might help someone discover your passwords.  Don’t post your complete name on a profile; use a nickname or alias. Create a dedicated email account that you use solely for online dating.

• Conduct online searches. Simply typing a potential companion’s name into a Web browser can tell you a lot. If you can’t find anything on the person, cancel the date. Be willing to read past the first few pages, conducting deeper research.

• Pay for a background check. You’ll find initial background checks quite reasonable. To do a more complete background search on any one person you want to date exclusively may be prudent. You just need to make sure you’ll always be safe.

• Follow smart tech security practices. For instance, be wary of scammers who attempt to direct you to look-alike dating sites. Click on the wrong link, and you could be downloading malware that records your sensitive information. Never click on links in emails or messages. Don’t sign on to your dating profiles from public computers. Also, keep all of your security software update.

The article Protect Yourself Against Internet Dating Dangers appeared first on Dating Online and Meet IRL.