Guard your identity: Until you know you can trust the person you are e-mailing and then dating, do not make your personal information available to him/her.
• Never include your last name, where you work, email addresses with your last name or employer’s company name or home phone number in conversation or emails.
• If you make a call from your home or work, always use caller ID blocking to maintain your privacy.
• Watch for automated ways of having your information sent to them such as auto signatures on your email, and caller ID.
• Only correspond via anonymous email, by using the anonymous email provided by online dating services.
• If the service you are using does not provide such an email account, create your own on yahoo or hotmail. Do not use your name in any step of setting up the account as it could appear on outgoing emails.
Take it slowly: Online correspondence creates a feeling of intimacy very quickly. You may feel like you know someone or can trust them too soon. Ask yourself question like: Does he/she sound too good to be true? Are my direct questions being answered? Do I feel pressured?
People Don’t always tell the truth: Just because it is in his/her profile does not mean it is the truth. The same is true for the pictures he/she has posted. Keep alert for inconsistencies.
Always meet in a public place: Until you know more about your new friend and are sure you can trust him/her only meet in a busy public place. This is an absolute requirement for the first date and even subsequent dates, until you feel you can trust your new date.
Tell a friend details: Make sure a friend knows when you are going on a date with someone new. Give them information about who you are meeting including his/her name, phone number, and when you should be back from your date.
Listen to your instincts: If at any point when corresponding or dating someone new you feel pressured, decieved, uncomfortable or in danger, get out! If you have a bad feeling you are probably right. Do not worry about one missed opportunity, your safety comes first.
