Dating Free Site - Stay Safe Online Dating

Online dating - staying safe

Are you playing the dating game or just being fair game? Read our checklist and see how many of these sensible precautions you are taking when dating online

Are you online dating? If so, what precautions do you take? Internet dating sites rarely do background checks on their members so it is no use relying upon them to look after you. That is your job.

To begin with don't rush in - only fools do that and you would be one to do so. Remember if something sounds too good to be true it almost certainly isn't. Start your relationship by email and then progress on to SKYPE. Make notes of the minor aspects of the other person's life - eg children, work, career, geographical location, age, major events in their life. You need to specifically listen for:

• Inconsistencies in their career, timelines, location, age etc
• Pushiness about meeting up
• Abusive or threatening language
• Refusals to provide information or current photographs
• Questions about your children (if you have any)
• Inappropriate sexual innuendo

Beware of men who are particularly keen on meeting women with a family and men, beware of women who are overly-curious in your material assets.

Protect your privacy by the following:

• Use an anonymous email account (Yahoo, Hotmail etc) and don't make any part of it your real name.
• When it comes to speaking on the telephone, invest in a cheap 'contract-free' mobile phone that you bought specifically for dating. Only use a Payphone if you are ringing from a city or large town and never use your home phone or mobile.
• If there is a number blocking facility then always use it

Never give out any of the following until you have met a few times and have decided you feel it is time to do so

• Any part of your name or those of your children (if you have them)
• Your address (it is OK to say you live in a city but even giving the district may be a bad idea)
• Your phone number
• Your normal email address
• Where you work

When meeting up don't forget to:

• Go under your own volition - don't let the date collect you from home or work
• Stay off the booze - you need to keep your wits about you
• Don't leave your food or drink unattended - go to the toilet before ordering or after eating. Too many people have been drugged this way
• Take your anything valuable with you into the bathroom
• Always take a detour on the way home in case you are being followed
• Have a pre-prepared excuse for leaving early in case it turns out to be an unpleasant experience

If you feel uneasy then leave. If things are really bad then leave your car and leave by taxi, go to a public place and then go and collect your car later. Do report any anti-social behaviour to the dating site you used - silence only allows them to prey on someone else.

Good luck with your date. We hope you found our advice helpful and now feel confident about staying safe when online dating.