How to be safe when dating online

REJECT ANY REQUESTS FOR MONEY It’s a neon red flag whenever anyone seeks cash, gift cards, merchandise or anything else of value. If an online dating match makes that ask, report it to the

dating site and stop all communications with that person, Nofziger advises. KEEP CONVERSATIONS ON THE DATING PLATFORM Scammers will quickly try to move the conversation to email or text,

saying their subscription is about to end or they don’t log onto the dating app frequently.  But once a user goes off a legitimate site, it’s risky terrain. Dating sites and apps have

systems to uncover con artists, says Megan Murray, editor in chief of _The Date Mix, _the online magazine for dating site Zoosk. “If a scammer can get you to talk to them outside of the

dating app you're on, then they're less likely to get caught.” DO SOME BASIC RECONNAISSANCE Google a potential suitor, VandeWeerd suggests. Among the things to check, according to

the Better Business Bureau: profile name, email address and phone number. A Plenty of Fish “Safer Dating Report” also recommends using the people-focused search portal Pipl to do a

background check. INVESTIGATE THE IMAGES Many fraudsters cloak their real identity by using photos swiped from other sites. To discover where else a picture may have appeared, upload it to

web-scouring sites that use image recognition technology. The BBB recommends tineye.com or images.google.com. If an admirer’s photo is associated with other people and shows up on unexpected

sites, be wary. SET UP A PREDATE VIDEO CHAT This can give you a feel for the person you are meeting — and can be done from the safety of your home, VandeWeerd notes. Be sure to remove any

personal or identifying information that could show up in the background. PICK A PUBLIC SETTING FOR THE FIRST DATE A remote hike? No. Starbucks? Yes. “Have a video chat, and then progress to

something like coffee that can happen in a public space and doesn't take a lot of time,” VandeWeerd advises. “That’s a good way to pace the process and make sure that you're

staying safe.” MAKE SURE YOUR CELLPHONE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED, experts say, in case you need to call someone for assistance. And always provide your own transportation to and from the

date; don’t get into someone else’s car. INFORM FRIENDS OR FAMILY OF YOUR WHEREABOUTS “Let trusted friends and family know where you are going to be and who you are going to be with,”

VandeWeerd says. “Check in after the date is over so there's someone who can come looking for you immediately if something doesn't go the way that you might expect.”