Meeting new people can be very exciting, however it can also be dangerous. By taking a few precautions you can help make sure that your dating experience is a positive one.
Don’t Provide your Personal Information Too Soon
Do not forget that this new person you are interacting with is a “stranger”. Would you give your personal information to someone that walked up to you in the street, so don’t do it when dating until you feel comfortable doing so. With just a few pieces of personal information such as your name and phone number someone can dig up quite a bit of information about you, such as where you live, and if you own a home, how much you paid for it, etc.
Use a Free Email Account
Again, privacy is key until you are comfortable. All too often today personal email addresses are your name and birth year (i.e. johndoe74@somehost.com). Setup a free email account to protect your identity and use it for your online correspondence. There are many free email services available to you (i.e. yahoo.com, gmail.com, hotmail.com).
Use Paid Online Dating Services
Don’t get caught up with all the hype of free online dating services. There a lot of people trolling these services with the sole purpose of getting your personal information or tricking you into sending them money. Once someone has made an investment into the dating site, it shows that they are serious about meeting new people like you.
Request a Recent Photo
We all want to look good to new potential partners and the temptation is all too great to use a photo from 10 years ago, when we think we looked just a little better. Using an old photo can do more harm than good, since if you get to the stage of actually meeting the photo is going to have be explained especially if it falls below expectations. Also, if the person you are corresponding with is unwilling to produce a recent photo, it may be a red flag that this person is either married or otherwise involved with someone else.
Always meet in a Public Place for your First Meeting
Well, the time has come and you are finally going to meet the person you have been interacting with. Always let a friend know where you are going to be and with who. Be sure to meet in a public place such as a coffee shop or restaurant. Don’t let the other person pick you up at your home as this will reveal your address to them. Always err on the side of caution, as it always better to be safe than sorry.