What Are Safety Concerns In Online Dating?

What Are Safety Concerns In Online Dating?

In this digital age, it seems we’re doing everything online. From banking and food shopping to doctor’s visits, and yes, even finding a date.

Online dating can be fun. It’s certainly convenient, and there’s much less pressure than having to go in public and try to meet someone. But it does have its drawbacks.

One of the biggest is safety. There have been some real horror stories reported by online date seekers, from low level rudeness to Dateline level stalking and  worse.

So, while it’s possible to meet the person of your dreams, you need to take precautions so you don’t end up with a nightmare. Read on for some things to be concerned about and ways to protect yourself from online dating terrors.

1. Scams

Unfortunately, scammers will use dating sites as a means to their greedy ends. These dastardly daters will gain the trust of unsuspecting people, through charm, compliments, and usually a sad story. Then they’ll bring up needing money for something.

This is a huge red flag! No person on a dating app has any business asking strangers for money, or even relaying stories about needing money. Do not ever give anyone money or banking information on a dating app.

2. Fake Sites

Be careful when choosing what sites to join. Look at reviews and check with the Better Business Bureau before signing up. A lot of sites are only out to get your membership dues and have no intention of providing the service.

3. Fake Profiles/Catfishing

Always be on the lookout for fake profiles. They are usually pretty easy to spot. They’ll look like stock photos from the internet or magazines. Make sure the age matches the photo. Granted, some people don’t look their age, but, realistically, if they say they’re 50 but the photo looks like they’re 20, something is likely not on the up and up. Often these fake profiles are only interested in promoting a product or just stringing you along.

4. Harassment And Unsolicited Messages

About 57% of women have reported getting unwanted messages and explicit photos. If those, 19% of those women say that they also received physical threats by people they’d communicated with on dating apps. 

5. Stalking

37% of dating app users report being stalked by someone they communicated with online, either at their home or at work. They inadvertently gave too much information about themselves and the stalker Googled them to get information readily available to the public.

Warning Signs 

• they ask for money
• say they’re “out of the country”and cannot meet in person
• vanish from the site and pip back up with a different name
• claim to be widowed with children 
• give vague answers to your questions 
• want to move the conversation off the app
• adk for your home or work address 
• ask for explicit photos
• send abusive or explicit messages 
• tell dramatic, over the top stories
• they can only chat at certain times of the day

Tips For Staying Safe

It’s easy to get carried away when chatting online with a potential date. It’s fun, exciting, and you may find yourself really connecting with someone. However, the important thing to remember is to keep your head on straight.

Keep in mind, that this person is a stranger and could be up to anything behind that computer screen. Follow these tips to help keep yourself safe when trying out online dating sites.

• don’t use your last name, exact location, or any other information that can be used to track your address 
• use a photo that is not on any other of your social media platforms 
• don’t link your social media accounts to a dating site
• limit your location settings
• use a trustworthy site/app. (well known sites are more likely to have serious date seekers)

If you decide to meet someone for an in-person date, be sure to:

• tell someone where you are going
• share your location on your phone with friends and family 
• meet during the day in a public place 
• use separate vehicles

The bottom line is be aware and trust your instincts. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.