How to Protect Yourself from the Dangers of Online Dating - Joe Morris

With Internet Dating on the rise and becoming more and more popular , I have Guest Blogger Joe Morris from http://www.100bestdatingsites.org/ informing us "How to Protect yourself from the Dangers of online dating".

How to Protect Yourself from the Dangers of Online Dating

With busy schedules consuming our lives and because of the ease and convenience provided by the internet, it’s no wonder why singles everywhere are heading straight for their computers to type in a search for friendship, casual dates and even love.

However, today’s world is not only a busy one…it’s also very dangerous.  Because of the anonymity allowed by the internet you never know who you could be interacting with and what peoples’ intentions are.  Safety is your number one priority when using the internet as a method for dating.  So why risk yours?

Check out the following tips to ensure that you have a safe and successful experience in your online dating adventures:

Safety tip #1:  Choose a reputable dating site.  Before just signing up for any dating site that offers the cheapest membership packages, take the time to do plenty of research.  A legitimate dating service will provide you with the latest in safety and security features.  Do some investigating and select a site that not only meets your specific needs, but also gives you peace of mind. 

Safety tip #2:  Limit the information you disclose.  When interacting with strangers on the web, it is imperative that you are careful with the details you share about yourself.  Take your online relationship at a slow pace—until you feel 100 percent confident that someone with whom you are communicating is pursuing you for the right reasons, never share the following personally identifying material:

·         Last name

·         Home address

·         Place of employment

·         Phone number

·         Personal email address

·         Financial info

Safety tip #3:  Be aware of scams.  Many online daters recently have found themselves victims in the twisted webs of romance scammers.  These con-artists wreak havoc on the innocent by luring online daters into a phony online relationship, seeking out their vulnerabilities and then preying upon their bank accounts.  So that you don’t meet the same financial fate as other less-fortunate online daters, watch out for these tell-tale warning signs of a scammer:

·         Too good to be true profile pictures

·         Confusing names or conflicting information is given

·         Love is confessed at warp-speeds

·         Poor grammar/language that doesn’t coincide with alleged education level/career

·         Money is requested to help with some dire situation

Tip #4:  Stage a safe first meeting.  If an online romance has reached a point where a face-to-face date is the next step, there are some important things you need to know before meeting in person: 

·         Never have your date pick you up from home or work.  Use your own transportation to meet in a crowded, public place. 

·         Make sure that you let a friend or family member know where you are going and who you are going with.  Keep your cell phone handy and call this friend or family member when you arrive home safely.

·         Be observant and remain aware of your surroundings at all times—for the first few dates it is best to forgo the alcohol. 

·         Never leave a drink, wallet, purse or cell phone unattended.

·         Trust your get.  If your intuition is telling you that something is wrong, bow out of the date and get to a safe place. 

Joe Morris is a guest post author who enjoys writing about dating and relationships.  In addition to his hobby of writing, Joe also owns Best Adult Dating Siteswhere he offers safety advice to singles dating on the web.