{"id":3115,"date":"2022-03-02T10:49:37","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T10:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usersearch.org\/updates\/?p=3115"},"modified":"2023-02-04T13:03:05","modified_gmt":"2023-02-04T13:03:05","slug":"how-to-stay-safe-dating-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usersearch.org\/updates\/how-to-stay-safe-dating-online","title":{"rendered":"How to stay safe dating online?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you seen the show on Netflix, Tinder Swindler<\/a>? It is a true story of three women who got scammed millions of dollars into a scammer posing as a lover in Tinder. It is heartbreaking to see how these victims got ripped off their money innocently to a criminal who used their emotional vulnerabilities to get what he wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to dating, much has changed due to ever-evolving technology. Dating online has become the new norm surpassing the traditional courtship. I bet there are only a few couples left compared to the general public who can brag about meeting at a dog park or the market. Most millennials have opted for dating online, and with the rising number of dating sites and apps, the singles looking for love can now connect easily and quickly with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, safety on these online dating sites has become questionable as many crimes have been reported, and many users have fallen victims to scams. Sadly, online dating sites don\u2019t check the criminal background of users thoroughly, leaving the public at risk of meeting potential scammers and criminals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In today\u2019s article, we share tips on how to stay safe dating online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips on how to stay safe dating online<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
The number of crimes being linked to online dating is simply just shocking. And it’s growing fast. Theft, assault, blackmail, it’s real, and it’s happening to people who date online.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Picture sharing<\/em><\/strong>. The pictures you set up on your online dating profiles are essential. Avoid using provocative images or sharing nude pictures as they can become risky, used against you for blackmail, or even bring attention you were not hoping for. Use a simple online handle and pictures that don\u2019t reveal too much flesh on your online dating profiles. This will minimize the chance of you becoming a target of blackmails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google them<\/em><\/strong>. Run a background check on your online suitors and see how much information you can gather about them and whether they seem genuine. Additionally, do a Google image search on them to see the places where their images may appear. Check them online on different social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and see if you two, by chance, share common friends. This can be a great way to understand where they come from. Chances are, they are likely doing the same check on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Humans
Humans have inbuild systems to know when something is not right. If you’re talking to someone, or on a date and something ‘feels off’, that’s your internal warning system kicking in. Get out of there.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Trust your gut<\/em><\/strong>. You\u2019re going through a person\u2019s profile, and you\u2019ve done a quick check on their social media pages, and after all that, you still have doubts about them. Something to do with your instincts doesn\u2019t lie, so listen to your gut feeling, trust it and abort the mission. Assume you already like someone, and you really don\u2019t know what to make of them. It\u2019s a brilliant idea to share it with a trusted friend and listen to their perspective to get some clarity. There is a 70% chance that you both can\u2019t be wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider the risks<\/em><\/strong>. When using dating sites, be open to the idea that you could potentially meet criminals or scammers. Be aware of the profiles that seem too good to be true. For instance, if a person portrays themselves as a son of a well-known billionaire or famous person (like in Tinder Swindler<\/em>), double-check on that. They are probably scammers. Meeting someone online can be a challenge (a genuine person). Make sure to do your due diligence before getting invested emotionally in someone you meet online. For starters, if you need to create a profile for dating online, search dating site that is common and safe to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some more tips on how to stay safe dating online!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Connecting or Dating Online<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Online
Online dating can be a great experience, as long as you stay aware of your safety and don’t rush anything. Don’t forget, anyone can be anyone, online.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Protect Your Personal Information<\/strong><\/em>. When talking to a person on dating sites, never share with them your personal information such as home\/work address, credit card number, social security number, or any details about your routines (e.g. going to a particular gym every Tuesday) with individuals you don\u2019t really know well or at all. For your safety, keep sensitive information away from the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep conversations on dating sites<\/em>.<\/strong> When dating online and you\u2019re getting to know a new person, keep the conversation on the dating platform you are using for safety purposes. Scammers have a tendency of trying to take conversations off dating sites to text messages, emails, or even phone calls. By isolating you from the dating sites, a scammer can easily convince you to share sensitive information by playing psychological tricks you may fall for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid linking with suspicious online dating profiles.<\/strong> Meeting someone online requires some sort of intelligence. If you are matched with a person who has no bio on their profiles, posted only one picture, or has not linked any social media accounts to their profile, arguably, it may be a fake account. Approach with caution since it\u2019s a red flag to connect with someone you have no solid information about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reject any requests involving money<\/strong><\/em>. Imagine you\u2019re just getting to know someone on a dating site, and they drop the act of playing a victim of an accident or any event that seems to make them \u201cneed\u201d money urgently. Guess who is going to get the money request? If you\u2019ve been talking to them for a little while, you could potentially become an ATM and bankroll these criminals after falling for their fraudulent tricks. If anyone asks for money on any dating sites, make sure you report them immediately and cut all the communication with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be cautious of overseas and long-distance relationships<\/em><\/strong>. Keep an eye on individuals who claim to be from overseas or stuck someplace where they need financial aid to help them get back home. Avoid such individuals particularly if you have not known them well because they may not be who they seem to appear. Note that if a person is dodging your questions or pushes for a serious relationship without you guys meeting in person first, that\u2019s a huge red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get to know them bette<\/em>r.<\/strong> One of the greatest challenges of dating online is to get to know your suitor well. Meeting someone online can be easy but getting them to share their truths with you and building trust is something else. It is always a great idea to try to probe further and ask your online suitor to open up a bit about themselves and see what you both share in common. This is very important because it helps to build a bridge of trust even before you get to meet in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Username
Username Lookups can quickly find associated accounts on different dating websites. Make sure you use a unique username (and run it through a checker like UserSearch.org before you commit to a username!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Protect your account<\/em><\/strong>. When setting up an online dating profile on any dating site, be sure to use a username that you’ve never used before. This stops people from finding all your other online accounts online. How? UserSearch.org has the largest list of online dating and social network sites available, where you can perform ‘username lookups’. Try it out on yourself before dating online. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, enhance your account security. Securing your account with a strong password is the first step of ensuring your safety. Choose a strong password and be careful always when accessing your account using public Wi-Fi or shared computers. Scammers may attack your account and hack it if it\u2019s easily accessible. This is common when using public Wi-Fi or shared devices to log in to your accounts. If you receive a message or email asking for your account details, it may be an attempt to hack your account. Report this immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Report any offensive and suspicious behavior.<\/strong> The only way you can be sure to stop an individual from hurting others is by reporting them so that they can be blocked from using that dating site. If you encounter a person who violates terms on dating sites, don\u2019t hesitate to block and report them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of violations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n