Safety Tips

While on the site:

Online dating is safer than dating in usual places like bars and clubs as you can get to know the people you're interested in from a distance until you are ready to actually meet and can have some background information about them before starting a chat. However, there are some tips to keep in mind when dating online:

Like in any interaction with other people, if it sounds too good to be true it probably isn't. Trust your impression, if you feel there is something not right with a person you are interacting with, just tell him/her/them politely that you're not interested anymore. If this doesn't work, you can always block the person.
Avoid misleading others by filling erroneous characteristics on your profile. Let's be honest, you don't want to be misled yourself. If you happen to meet someone who looks quite different from his/her/their profile description, you can report it to us and we can ask the person to correct the information.
Post at least one public picture of you, two or more is even better. If you want to have pictures with family or friends, make sure they cannot be identified by masking their eyes or faces using a simple picture drawing software (included in almost any computer or laptop now, or download an app to do it). This is your profile, not theirs. We won't accept pictures with children.
Make sure no personal details are recognisable in the pictures, for example your house, street, car plate, place of work, gym...
Stay anonymous for as long as you deem appropriate: you can communicate on the site without giving your email address or number for as long as you want. If you do give them make sure your full name cannot be found out by checking how the emails you send appear to the recipients (send an email to yourself first).
Any talks about your financial situation should be seen as highly suspicious: there shouldn't be any need for that. If someone asks you for financial help directly or indirectly (to fund a charitable act, travel costs, healthcare costs…), stop corresponding with them and report them immediately to the site.
If someone tells you they are "blocked" abroad in some far away country and requires assistance, this is a scammer. We normally block the IP addresses from all the countries we don't operate in so they shouldn't even be on the site, but this can always happen as sophisticated scammers use softwares to go around those blocks.
Don't provide information or pictures you don't feel comfortable providing or agree to meet someone until you feel totally ready to. If you have doubts, go back to the first advice of this list, or ask for recent pictures of the person holding a piece of paper with today's date in good lighting.
Remember that nobody is "madly in love" with someone he/she has never met before.
When fully ready to meet, follow the advices below.

When meeting face-to-face:

Whether you are a first time online dater, an experienced dater or returning from a failed relationship, there are some rules about meeting someone you met online for the first time for real that you should never forget, however excited you feel:

Don't give any personal information that can help someone locate you like personal or employer's address unless you feel comfortable doing so.
ALWAYS meet in a neutral PUBLIC PLACE for the first few dates, in view of other people.
Tell a friend about your date, where it is and to check on you by messaging you from time to time. Agree on an excuse your friend can provide you if you feel you need to leave.
If you feel that there is no chemistry or something is not right, excuse yourself to the bathroom and ask your friend to provide you with the agreed excuse.
Plan for your own transportation to and from the date venue. Try to choose it close to a tube stop convenient for you and your date to go home easily.
If you use a cab booking app, try to avoid showing your address to your date and book it yourself. If someone does it for you he/she/they will receive a receipt with the place of arrival.
If you share a cab together, try to be the last one to get off or get off a bit before your home to avoid revealing your full address.
Ensure your phone has sufficient battery and credit to be used. Take an external battery with you if needed.
We are not your parents but it's still worth saying: don't drink too much alcohol so as to stay in control.
Finally, keep in mind that your date is probably as nervous as you are so don't try to convince him/her/them into doing things he/she/they seem(s) reluctant doing. You will probably regret it and it will lower your chances of going on a second date.