Complete Guide to Safe Online Dating
Sunday, October 04th, 2015
Online dating is no more unsafe than meeting someone in a pub, but it’s worth taking a few steps to make sure that you are as safe as you can be.
Choosing a website
When choosing a dating website, ask your friends about the sites that they have used and what experiences they have had. You can also take a look at online reviews if you don’t know anyone who has used online dating websites, or a little shy about discussing it.
Finally, when looking at different dating websites, take a look at the T&Cs. It may seem boring, but it will give details about how your data will be used, how payments will be taken and how the website deals with bad behaviour.
Writing your profile
When you write your profile, think carefully about the details that you include. At Muddy Matches, we read through every profile that is sent through to us to make sure that people are not including personal details like phone numbers or email addresses. However, not all websites offer this service, so it is important for you to avoid adding any contact details, exact details of where you work, or other personal details.
Photos
Your photos can also reveal too much detail if you are not careful. Try not to include anything that could identify you, like a house number, car registration plate or work badge.
Messages
Never send your contact details in the first message to someone, it can put you at risk and it seems very forward. Another thing to consider is the type of messages that you receive – if someone is very pushy or is asking for money, you should report them to the website administrator.
Meeting up
When meeting up, choose a busy public place like a cafe, or pub. Let someone know where you are going and what time you are likely to be back. If your date is going really well, you can send them a message to reassure them that you will be staying out longer than you had expected.
Finally, make sure that you have planned your route home and that you have transport sorted, so that you do not have to accept a lift from your new date.
