Online dating is the best possible way to meet fantastic people who share your interests and passions. Every year, hundreds of people get married as a result of meeting on an online dating service. Millions of people are doing it and, in general, online dating is regarded as a safe medium for meeting potential dates. Your online dating safety begins with educating yourself on how to improve your experience and be safe doing it.

At the Beginning:

Check out the dating sites and choose a reputable one:

Look for adequate customer support, a listed phone number, and full address. Make sure the site you connect with, has strict security, privacy and safety policies.

Look specifically for safety features such as the ability to block members (without being penalized), and make sure that your email or chat correspondence is contained on the site and not sent directly to your private email address.

Do not trust free online dating websites:

Remember the saying “you get what you pay for” for several reasons. Online dating sites that you have to pay for, usually turn out to be safer ones. There’s no way for users to be traced because they haven’t even had to provide so much as a credit card. And for paid services, those who are serious about dating are going to be willing to pay the fee, which could be a little steep.

Set up a special email account:

While your online dating service shouldn’t reveal your own personal email account, it’s a good idea to set up a new email account, specifically for online dating purposes. This email address should have only your first name – both in the email address itself and in the name/from field. If at some point you decide to correspond via email, you should have a special account set up strictly for this purpose.

Never give out too much personal information:

By “personal information,” we don’t mean as personal as your social security number; we’re talking basics—do not disclose to the person your home phone number, your address, your work place or your last name. Stick to first names only, no matter how much you might immediately like and trust someone.

Ask for a few recent photos:

Insist on a recent picture, the one you are looking at of a handsome but senior gentleman, could turn out to be an overweight, unemployed and possibly married man with whom you have been corresponding. Rule out anyone who has not posted a recent photo or will not provide you with one from the start. Asking for a few different photos might also help discourage someone from sending you a phony representation.

Save copies of your correspondence:

Keeping a record of your emails and or instant messenger conversations is always helpful. Name each file as the date of your conversation. Seem overboard? Well, not only could it really protect you down the road, but you might start noticing inconsistencies in what someone is saying, and with everything documented, you’ll be able to go back and easily check.

On the Phone:

Even when your “online” relationship moves to the next level, i.e. do not disclose your home phone number. Use a cell, a payphone (initially at least), or an anonymous phone service. Be sure to block your phone number whenever you call from home if you do not have a cell phone.

Meeting for the First Time:

First and foremost, don’t call it a first date. Make it a meeting – and a casual one. Make your meeting a light one, like for coffee, during the day in a busy and public place. If possible, take a friend along to be introduced to your potential date, and then arrange a time and place to meet back with your friend. Make sure to let a family member or a friend know exactly where you will be and approximately when you plan to be back. Also leave the phone number of the person you are meeting.

Do not go back home with the person you’re meeting, invite him/her over to your house, or get a ride home. Do not place yourself in vulnerable situations, for example, by getting into an automobile with someone you just met, much less bring them home with you, if you do so, you leave yourself wide open to a can of worms that might turn out more difficult to put a lid on than you anticipated.

Above all – trust your instinct. We have instincs that warn us when something does not feel right, listen to it whenever you feel it. You should be very cautious, slow down, or back off altogether. Listen to your instincts or inner voice, they usually are on the money when it comes to screening someone.