Online dating can be fun and all, but it has its own dangers too! So take note of the following precautions and be safe.
1. Single. Not! Online profiles can be deceiving so make sure that the person you’re dating aren’t married yet. You don’t want wives coming at you and mocking you, do you?
2. Scam!!! There are a lot of online dating websites around but one thing you should take note of is the internet scam. Once the person you are dating starts asking for money, you may want to stop from there right away coz if you don’t, the next thing you know you don’t have money anymore!
3. Cyber-stalkers. What everyone needs to know is that cyberstalking is different from spamming. Cyberstalking is the act of stalking which involves harassing an individual through the internet. Another thing everyone should know about cyberstalking that it IS a crime. A Cybercrime.
4. Unwanted Visitors. It is ok to put little information on your profile, but don’t put everything lest you want strangers knocking at your door in the middle of the night. Again, do NOT give away email addresses that easy to all your new-found friends online. You never know what these people can do to you.
5. Webcam Scandals. All of us have heard of the different scandals there is on the internet. Be careful when having a webcam chat with someone, especially when things get pretty hot and naughty. Don’t strip and ‘play’ on cam if you don’t want to see yourself on Youporn the next day.
6. Take IM as an option. If you are not comfortable with exchanging emails and/or phone calls, take IM as an alternative. There are a lot of free sites that offer instant messaging so there is no escape with having a conversation over IM. Plus, it’s much safer than emails and phone calls because you can hide your true identity.
7. Have him call on IM instead. If the person still insist of a phone call and you’re still not comfortable giving out your number, talk on the IM instead. Some sites like Yahoo have a service that allows you to call the other person while you are chatting on Yahoo IM.
8. Meet on a public place. If you love your life, never meet on a private location like hotels, motels or resorts. If you do, make sure you bring a friend with you.
9. Identity Theft. This is the reason why people should not give personal information away just like that. There are many hackers around the world and you could be the next victim. Even in online dating sites, identity theft occurs so that the hacker could use the victim’s identity to their advantage and worse, their credit cards to make purchases.
10. It’s not over yet. Don’t think your suspicions end once you met him or her. Don’t let your guard down until you meet his/her family, friends, relatives and coworkers. That way you can double-check whether what he’s saying is true or not and if you are on the right track.