Is Online Dating SAFE? Common Warning Signs

Stay safe while trying your luck in finding love online

Is online dating safe?

Many people have come to ask this question whenever they become interested in the idea of finding love over the internet. While it is normal to have doubts about this platform, especially with all the romance scams nowadays, it is also a good way for you to ensure a positive and successful experience.

Sometimes, the best places to meet people are all the way outside your home country, thus, online dating makes it easier for you to communicate and interact with those who live on the other side of the world.

If you’ve gotten tired of dating locally and wish to take your chances with beautiful foreign women, a legitimate dating site or app may just be what you need. Men who can’t find a date in their own locality usually turn to this option to have better opportunities when it comes to love and a long term relationship.

It is, therefore, not a question of online dating being a safe option for you — it’s about knowing how to stay safe during your venture.

As such, here are some of the most common warning signs and red flags to watch out for when dating someone online:

1. There is no assurance that profiles have been verified.

It is the company’s job to do a background check on each of their members to assure everyone of their safety. If you can easily put up a dating profile with fake information and pictures, that means there is no verification process done or needed. As a result, people can use fake identities and say whatever they want to scam fellow members on the site.

2. You can’t find any contact details of the company/website you’re on.

This is probably the most important thing to consider before anything else. It’s possible that you will have questions and concerns about how certain services work and how you can reach out to the women you’re interested in, but if there is no way for you to ask for assistance on the site you’re using, you could end up being scammed.

3. Women profess their love to you after just having met you.

One of the dangers of online dating is falling prey to people who take advantage of those who are experiencing low self-esteem and extreme loneliness. They will try to victimize you by telling you what you want to hear and making you feel like you’re this perfect version of someone they’d ideally want to be with.

That’s why it’s incredibly important to take the time in getting to know someone before you make any kind of commitment, the same with familiarizing yourself with the online dating services offered by a particular website.

4. There are too many negative reviews.

This applies to experiences previous members have had. Although too many bad reviews don’t necessarily mean that a dating app or site is no good, they still play a part in knowing if you can trust it to help you in your search for love. As much as possible, consider every detail you encounter until you can come up with a final decision.

5. Only professional photos are being used.

These are the kinds of photos people use when they want to make a good impression, but most of the time, genuine and verified profiles will have some casual photos as well. However, if all you see are professional ones, it could mean that they were easily grabbed from the internet and used to scam people.

To make sure you’re talking to the real person behind the pictures you see on their profile, run their photos on Google image search or check their social media accounts to see if they match.

6. There is no information on the profiles.

How can you engage in a conversation with someone if you don’t have anything to start with? Basic information about one’s personality is necessary for you to be able to gauge their interest. For instance, you can’t just reach out to a woman just because she looks attractive in her photos, right? You would definitely want to know a little more about her.

This is so you can avoid wasting your time trying to make a connection with someone who isn’t compatible with you.

7. They will ask you to communicate outside of the dating website.

This is especially important if the site you’re on is a legitimate one. Doing this will mean that the site will no longer be able to protect you from any kind of fraudulent activity or scam.

If you do get the chance to communicate with someone you really like, and you both agree to take your relationship offline, be sure to meet in a public place. From there, you can determine if you were talking to the actual person on the site, and if they are serious about finding a romantic partner.

Learn to spot warning signs when you meet people through online dating

The Importance of Staying Safe Online

The best way to meet people online is when you feel comfortable and safe. Remember, anyone can register as a member and put up a profile to get your attention. If they can do that, there’s no telling what else they’re capable of.

Keep in mind that it’s not just the dating site’s responsibility to look after your safety, it’s yours as well. You are equally at fault when you don’t take the time to review what information has been provided to you before you begin dating someone you met over the internet. It’s never good to take these things lightly, let alone in a rush.

Set aside your excitement and nervousness about finding a potential partner for now, and focus on what matters first — your safety. In the end, even if you had an incredible time conversing with someone who checks all the right boxes and matches your ideal preferences, it will all be a waste if you end up losing money from your bank account, or worse, having your personal information stolen.

So, is online dating safe? It really depends. If you do it right, there’s less room for you to make mistakes. Most of all, there’s less chances for insincere people to victimize you. Take note of the things you’ve learned here, and hopefully, you can look forward to having not just a successful experience, but a memorable one as well.