1. Never give your real name, address or phone number at the first few meetings. Make sure you know the person well before you start giving personal information. You have no idea what the other person is in real life, so don’t endanger your security by giving access to him/her to your home. If you are using a social networking site, then make sure you use the message options in those sites. Refrain from giving your email address; spammers use them to create a database of unsuspecting email addresses.
2. Similarly, never give your financial details under any circumstances to your online date. Be wary of the dates that ask for money after some meeting or two. If you know the person for long and he sends you an email asking for some monetary help, even then don’t send with out personally checking with him or her. There are many Nigerian frauds that have cheated people by such methods. If someone wants to meet you and then gives hints or directly asks for money to come to you, be careful. Offer to fly there yourself instead of the other way round.
3. It is also not wise to send intimate photos to your online date until knowing them very well. With the help of photo editing software, your photo may end up in sleazy websites and thereby ruining your reputation and prestige.
4. If you decide to meet your online date, meet him/her in a very public place like a popular restaurant or a bar. Never submit to offers of picking you up from home or office. While on the date, be careful of your drinks. It is better that you take your drinks yourself instead of your date bringing them to you. Also, if at any time you feel uncomfortable with your date, just apologize and walk away from him/her. It is also better if you don’t switch of your mobile and also return home alone (at least for the first few dates).
5. Your instincts can be right regarding how much you should trust the person. While you are communicating with him/her online, look out for little red flags. See at any time whether the person makes you feel uncomfortable. If he or she is asking too many personal questions too soon, then that is something to worry about. But that does not mean you should stop dating people online; just keep your cool, listen to your instincts and may be you will be able to find your soul mate through the Internet.
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