Online dating safety: practical steps before you meet

Protect information that can identify or locate you

Use the app’s messaging tools while you establish trust. Avoid sharing your home address, workplace schedule, financial information, identity documents, passwords, or private verification codes. Review photos for badges, street signs, or documents that reveal more than intended.

Recognize pressure patterns

Scams and coercion often rely on urgency, secrecy, isolation, or an emotional crisis. Be cautious when someone quickly requests money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, account access, explicit material, transportation, accommodation, or help receiving funds.

• Never send money to unlock a meeting or prove affection.
• Do not share intimate images under pressure or threats.
• Treat requests involving minors, trafficking, violence, or exploitation as urgent safety reports.

Plan a meeting you control

Meet in a populated public place, share the plan with someone you trust, keep your phone charged, and arrange independent transportation. Limit alcohol or anything else that could reduce your ability to make decisions. You may leave at any time.

Block, report, and preserve useful evidence

If someone violates boundaries or platform rules, stop engaging when it is safe to do so. Use block and report controls and include the profile, message, date, and a concise description. Preserve relevant screenshots for your own records. Contact local emergency services when anyone faces immediate danger.