How to Stay Safe Online

Online dating is a great way to meet a new partner and we want to make the experience as safe and enjoyable as possible for our members. Here are some tips for staying safe online.

Choose a reputable website

When you are looking to join a website, it is a good idea to do your research to find out about what strategies are in place to protect your personal details and to prevent scammers from interacting with members.

If you are unsure about which website/s to choose, it is sensible to ask your friends. Alternatively, you can check websites such as The Online Dating​ Association, or Get Safe Online for advice.

Don’t put your personal details in your profile

We ask our members to just use their first name on their dating profile, so that they cannot be found easily on other websites such as Facebook. We also ensure that members do not include their email address, telephone number, or website URL on their dating profile for the same reason.

Check for a padlock

When you are going to pay for anything online, including online dating, check that the website has a secure ‘https’ address and a padlock symbol that shows that your payment will be taken securely.

Don’t send out your personal details

When someone sends you a message asking for your personal details straight away, it should raise a red flag, as it is a method that scammers use to lure people away from the safety of the dating website.

You should only ask to exchange personal details when you intend to meet up with one another.

Beware of unusual behaviour

Not all strange behaviour is indicative of a scammer, but there are some things that you should be aware of:

* photos that look like model shots

*people who seem too good to be true

*people who are keen to chat for a long time with no sign of meeting up

*people who ask for money so that they can afford to meet up with you.

If you are suspicious of anyone, get in touch with someone at the dating website.