This can be a good way to help ensure your match is who they claim to be in their profile. If they strongly resist a video call, that could be a sign of suspicious activity. Let at least one friend know where and when you plan to go on your date. It may also be helpful to arrange to text or call a friend partway through the date or when you get home to check in. Meet in a public place. It may make both you and your date feel more comfortable to meet in a coffee shop, restaurant, or bar with plenty of other people around.

Avoid meeting in public parks and other isolated locations for first dates. It's important that you are in control of your own transportation to and from the date so that you can leave whenever you want and do not have to rely on your date in case you start feeling uncomfortable. Try to keep your limits in mind and do not feel pressured to drink just because your date is drinking.

It can also be a good idea to avoid taking drugs before or during a first date with someone new because drugs could alter your perception of reality or have unexpected interactions with alcohol. Enlist the help of a bartender or waiter. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, it can help to find an advocate nearby. You can enlist the help of a waiter or bartender to help you create a distraction, call the police, or get a safe ride home. Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts and feel free to leave a date or cut off communication with whoever is making you feel unsafe.

Do not worry about feeling rude—your safety is most important, and your date should understand that. If you felt uncomfortable or unsafe during the date, remember you can always unmatch, block, or report your match after meeting up in person which will keep them from being able to access your profile in the future.

Always trust your gut. Be wary when someone you meet on social media wants to quickly move to a private mode of communication email, text. If trying to set up an in-person meeting, be suspicious if they always have an excuse to not meet. Never send intimate photos or video of yourself.

The scammer may try to use these to blackmail you into sending money. Be cautious when conversing with an individual that claims to live close to you but is working overseas. Never under any circumstance send money for any reason. The scammer will make it seem like an emergency, they may even express distress or anger to make you feel guilty but DO NOT send money.

This is usually a form of money laundering which is a criminal offence. If you suspect a loved one may be a victim of a romance scam — based on any of the above points — explain the concerns and risks to them and help them get out of the situation. what they tell you; Watch for poorly written, vague messages, sometimes even addressing you by the wrong name — often scammers are working several victims at once; If you have transferred money, stop the transaction if possible.

Here are a few things you need to know before you we get started. First, you are not alone. We are here with you in this crazy world of online dating.

Second, online dating can be safe as long as you follow some safety guidelines to keep things on the up and up. Some of the tips we talk about may seem like common sense while some may be new to you. The threats on the internet are changing every day and becoming more evolved. If you have any friends or family that date online or might be looking to give it a try, we highly recommend you send them this guide so they can be safe too. What kind of information do you put on your online dating profile?

Well, you put your name…your location…your interests…photos of you around town and maybe at your house…photos of your car…Basically, you are putting A TON of personal information out there about yourself.

While this is necessary to give potential matches a better picture of who we are, we need to be careful about what all we put out there. Here are the instructions to make sure your Facebook is safe from being searched by your email or by your phone number.

Just make sure when you create your profile that you are aware of what information you are putting out there. A lot of times people forget that their dating profile photos might have sensitive information in them.

For example, the one we see all the time is people taking pictures in front of their house with their address showing or in front of their car with their license plates showing.

One of the best ways to stay safe when dating online is by sticking to reputable and trusted online dating sites and apps. We refuse to recommend a site that is unsafe or not on top of their security. The first reason you need to be with a reputable site is that the site will have safeguards in place to make sure you are more protected.

All of these are big no-nos, and we refuse to recommend a site that engages in any of these practices. You might be shocked how often it happens in the online dating industry.

All rights reserved. Online dating websites and smartphone apps have become a leading way for people to find their next romance. But, as with any interactions online, whether it's buying and selling items, social media accounts or even banking, users need to understand the risks that can be associated with online dating.

They aren't always staying online. Some build that trust with their victim by meeting in person and even going to the extent of moving in with their victim.

Once this trust is built, that's when they ask for financial assistance. Created by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada , Social Smarts is a great comic to teach your social media savvy children how to be safe online! Skip To Content. If you are suspicious of someone report them to the app or website. If they have other social media accounts, be sure the details of these accounts match up with what they have told you about themselves. Ask yourself questions- do they have the social media presence you would expect?

Meet in public, stay in public. Meet at the public location instead of accepting a ride from the person you are meeting. Tell someone you trust where you are going and who you are meeting. If you become uncomfortable with the date or the person, leave. Always trust your gut. Be wary when someone you meet on social media wants to quickly move to a private mode of communication email, text. If trying to set up an in-person meeting, be suspicious if they always have an excuse to not meet.

Never send intimate photos or video of yourself. The scammer may try to use these to blackmail you into sending money. Be cautious when conversing with an individual that claims to live close to you but is working overseas. Never under any circumstance send money for any reason. The scammer will make it seem like an emergency, they may even express distress or anger to make you feel guilty but DO NOT send money.

This is usually a form of money laundering which is a criminal offence. If you suspect a loved one may be a victim of a romance scam — based on any of the above points — explain the concerns and risks to them and help them get out of the situation. what they tell you; Watch for poorly written, vague messages, sometimes even addressing you by the wrong name — often scammers are working several victims at once; If you have transferred money, stop the transaction if possible.

Report it: If you did send money or share financial information, report it to the financial institution used e. your bank, Western Union, MoneyGram, Equifax and TransUnion. and contact your local police. File a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — or www. Notify the dating website or social media site where you met the scammer. Scammers usually have more than one account. Be proactive; tell family, friends, coworkers and neighbours about your experience to warn them about romance scams.

Ask yourself questions- do they have the social media presence you would expect? The end goal of online dating is to meet someone in person and hopefully hit it off. For the most part, the sites mean well. If they have accounts on social media, you can find various ways to help determine if they are who they say they are, such as:. Let at least one friend know where and when you plan to go on your date.

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