More Online Dating Tips
We recently taught you about catfishing scams, but we realized there was more content we should cover when it comes to online dating and safety.
Here are a couple more ideas to help ensure you stay safe in the wild wild world of digital romance!
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Use an alias.
Don’t use your real name on your dating profile. Instead, use a pseudonym. Avoid using nicknames or abbreviations that your friends and family use. You may also want to consider using a slightly different age or location in your alias to protect your identity.
This will help to protect your identity from people who may be looking to scam or blackmail you. In many cases, your real first and last name is all someone needs to find out your address, place of work, and family information.
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Use a Google Voice number for texts and calls.
When you first start talking to someone on a dating site or app, it’s a good idea to use a free Google Voice number. This will allow you to communicate with the person without giving them your personal contact information.
To do this, you will need to provide Google Voice with your real phone number. You can make and receive calls and texts that forward to your mobile phone without revealing this information from the people you are communicating with.
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Don’t reveal your place of work right away.
It’s important to be careful about what personal information you share with people you meet online. Don’t reveal your place of work until you’ve met the person in person and feel comfortable with them. (Unless you want to do a lot of explaining about why a mysterious stranger is stalking you in the work lobby, that is.)
It’s also good to be vague about the industry you work in, as this information makes it very easy to find your business if they also have your real name.
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Ask for their last name so you can do a background check.
This tip is especially important for women: Before you’ve decided to meet up with someone you met online, ask them to reveal their real first and last name. You can then use this information to do a background check on them.
Most of these services charge a small fee (don’t pay more than $50 for a simple one-time check). When choosing a background check service, be sure to read the reviews carefully to make sure that you are using a reputable website.
If your prospective date won’t reveal their name, don’t assume they are untrustworthy. After all, you should also be keeping your real name private until you’ve met in person. Just make sure you follow our additional tips below:
- Meet in public places for first dates.
- Tell a friend or family member where you’re going and who you’re meeting.
- Bring your own transportation to and from your date.
- Trust your gut. If you feel uncomfortable with someone, end the date early. Here’s one no-conflict way to leave a date: Arrange for a friend or family member to call you with an “emergency” if they receive a coded text message from you.
Click here for more tips on online dating.
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