Top 12 Safety Tips for Dating (Including Online)
If you feel unsafe dating, that’s fair.
The online dating world is filled with wonderful potential partners, but it also has its fair share of red flags. Scammers, fraudsters, and people with bad intentions exist, but that doesn’t mean you should live in fear.
Healthy relationships start with smart choices, and that includes making sure your first date and beyond are safe experiences.
Here are my top dating safety tips to help you navigate the dating world with confidence:
1. Trust Your Instincts: If It Feels Off, It Probably Is
If something doesn’t add up, trust your gut—it’s a huge red flag. If your potential date is being overly secretive, hesitant about meeting in a public place, or reluctant to share basic information, that’s your cue to walk away. Plenty of other people are out there who will be upfront and transparent and see the value of it, both ways..
2. Always Get a Video Chat Before an In-Person Meeting
One of the best ways to ensure you’re dealing with a real person who’s interested in finding lasting love is to schedule a video call before agreeing to meet in person. Online dating apps make it easy to fake an identity, but a real-time video chat can verify who they truly are.
A video chat allows you to:
See if their online profile matches reality.
Gauge their body language and confidence.
Weed out scammers and those with fake accounts.
Determine if the person takes finding a suitable match seriously and considers you a worthy prospect.
3. Do Your Research Before Meeting
Before your first meeting, do a closer look at their background. Use a reverse image search on their profile picture, check their social media accounts, and confirm they exist outside of the dating site.
If they have little information available or seem too good to be true, trust that warning sign. A number of my clients use inexpensive background checks to learn more about their potential dates.
4. Never Give Away Personal Information Too Soon
In the early dating process, keep your personal information private. Never share the following before you have established appropriate levels of trust:
Last name
Home address
Social security number
Bank accounts or financial information
Phone number
Many dating scams revolve around gaining your trust and then requesting financial help. Until someone earns your trust over time, your private information should stay private. You have to right to keep your financial information and social security number a mystery indefinitely! Why would anyone need that?
5. Meet in a Public Place—Always!
For at least the first couple of dates, pick a well-lit, public place like a coffee shop, restaurant, or park. Never agree to meet at someone’s home or invite them to yours before getting to know them well and even meeting other people in their life.
Getting together in public places means:
A safe environment in case things go wrong.
The ability to leave easily if you feel uncomfortable.
Plenty of other people around for security.
Decreasing your chances of rushing to physical intimacy too soon
6. Let a Trusted Friend or Family Member Know Your Plans
Before your in-person date, tell a trusted friend where you’re going and when you expect to be back. You can add these additional measures if they make you feel safer:
Share your location in real time using your phone.
Agree to check in at a certain time.
Have a safe word to text a friend in case you need help.
7. Use Your Own Transportation
Having your own transportation gives you control over when you leave. Never accept a ride from your date, especially on a first date. If you feel unsafe at any point, you should be able to leave immediately.
8. Limit Alcohol and Substances
Drinking lowers your inhibitions and makes you more vulnerable. Most people attribute their bad choices in dating to too much alcohol. There are other ways to limit your anxiety.
If you choose to drink, limit yourself to one and always keep an eye on your glass. Be aware of date rape drugs, and if you feel dizzy or disoriented, seek help from a bartender or someone who looks helpful as soon as possible.
9. Never Send Money, Provide Financial Assistance or Invest
One of the most common online dating scams involves con artists gaining your trust and then asking for financial help. No matter how convincing their story sounds, never:
Wire money or send cash.
Give out credit card details.
Invest in cryptocurrency or financial ventures based on their advice.
If at any point a person you’ve gotten to know, and trust, suggests investing in specific stocks or cryptocurrency, he is a scammer and you should cut contact immediately.
This is a well-known and widespread technique called “pig butchering”. This highly unethical ploy requires gaining your trust before getting you to invest increasingly large sums of money into scams until your retirement savings are used up, then ghosting you.
10. Stay Educated on Common Romance Scams
Scammers are getting more sophisticated in the dating world. Be aware of romance scams, where con artists build emotional connections before asking for money. If someone:
Avoids video calls or in-person meetings, they might be hiding something.
Moves too fast, calling you their “soulmate” within days or weeks.
Has an elaborate excuse for why they can’t meet in real life.
They might be trying to scam you. If in doubt, report them and move on.
11. Don’t believe the reported sexual health data.
Your sexual health is important too! Even with the best intentions, some people get their sexual health data wrong wrong wrong. Either see a dated/current STD test or go to the clinic together.
Otherwise do not rest assured that you know the facts.
12. If They Dismiss Your Safety Concerns, They’re Not the Right Person
Any potential partner who truly cares about you will respect your safety concerns. If they mock your caution, get defensive, or pressure you to ignore safety measures, that’s a red flag. The right person will want you to feel comfortable and secure. These tips are a great way to weed out someone who isn’t as respectful as you deserve. If you need more support finding someone who is right for you, watch my free webinar: “3 Secrets to Finding And Maintaining Healthy Love.”
Prioritize Your Safety, Always
Dating should be fun, exciting, and safe. The key to a healthy relationship is open communication, trust, and mutual respect. If you ever feel uncomfortable or sense a potential risk, remove yourself from the situation.
By following these safety tips, you’ll be able to navigate online dating websites and in-person dates with confidence. Your safety matters, and there’s no shame in taking extra steps to protect yourself.
This wasn’t meant to scare you, it was meant to put you in the driver’s seat of your own safety and make you more empowered to get to know new people and find love!
Now, go on, get out there!