Almost 50 million people have used an online dating site. And of those 50 million people, 50 percent admit to lying on their profiles.
While some of those people adjust their age, others may use fake photos to scam innocent people looking for love.
You may be looking for your soulmate, but online dating websites can be rife with scammers and worse. Keep reading to learn how to sidestep the risks of online dating.
Find the Right Site
Online dating involves a lot more than swiping right and finding your next soulmate. The first step to online dating is finding a safe dating website, and that’s why you should take a look at the most popular dating sites.
There are different dating sites out there geared toward interests, such as Catholic online sites or sites for dating later on in life.
First, identify which aspects of your life are most important to you. If you’re religious and want a religious partner, you can save yourself time and effort by only using a religious-based dating site.
Chat in Stages
To avoid the many dangers of online dating, chat with prospective partners in stages.
Start with only chatting through the online site. Never offer up your phone number or personal email right away. This will give you time to get to know the person better before inviting them into your life.
Once you’ve chatted for a while and get a better feel for the person, you can talk to them on the phone. Set up a Google Voice phone number so that they still don’t have your actual phone number.
If all goes well, you can give them your real phone number. Also, use a video call to make sure that the person you’re talking to matches the photos used on the dating site.
Do Your Research
Online dating safety involves doing your research on your potential date.
Find out their last name and do some searching. Follow these steps to do a background check before you get serious. Take some time to look at their social media sites.
Here are some commons signs of male predators:
- Conflicting facts on their personal social media and dating sites.
- A lifestyle that appears too perfect to be true.
- Frequent requests early on to meet in person.
If you’re in doubt about someone, trust your gut.
Meet in Public
Safe online dating will eventually lead to an in-person date. To stay safe, always plan your dates in a public place.
Let a close friend know when and where your date is. As an added safety measure, ask them to call you a half an hour into your date. If the date is going badly, you can answer the phone and use it as an excuse to leave.
Also, avoid drinking alcohol on the first date. While one social drink is fine, you don’t want to get drunk during your first date with a stranger.
Here are a few date ideas if you want to try something unique and different.
Beyond the Risks of Online Dating
Now that you know all about the risks of online dating, you’re ready to get out there and find your perfect match.
Remember to choose the right site for online dating and to communicate safely in stages. Once you get to know a person, do some extra research. And always meet in public for your first few dates!
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find the perfect partner immediately. Instead, focus on being happy and loving yourself. Check out this article for all the best self-care tips if you need some inspiration.
