Staying safe while dating online
To stay safe, meet in a public place, keep it time-boxed, use your own transport, tell a friend, and follow our online dating safety guidance.
Keep private details gradual: share only what’s needed at first, and be cautious with photos, workplaces, and financial info. In DeKalb, business parks and residential neighborhoods mix, so choose simple public meet points and keep your plan predictable.
Pressure is a red flag—especially requests to move off-platform fast, to send money, or to “prove” yourself. If anything feels off, step back, block, and report; you don’t owe anyone extra chances.
Do
- Keep early chats respectful and consistent, then verify basics before meeting.
- Share personal details gradually and keep private accounts private at first.
- Choose a public-first plan and keep the first meet short and time-boxed.
- Use your own transport and control your arrival and exit.
- Tell a friend where you’ll be and check in after.
- Trust your instincts and pause if anything feels pressured or strange.
Don’t
- Don’t send money, gift cards, or “travel fees” for any reason.
- Don’t move off-platform quickly if someone pushes or guilt-trips you.
- Don’t share home address, employer details, or financial info early on.
- Don’t accept sudden urgency, secrecy, or inconsistent stories.
- Don’t ignore boundary testing—block and report when needed.
- Don’t meet in private for a first meet, even if the chat felt great.