Dating safety Safety Tips for Dating

Meeting new people is exciting, but you should always be cautious when interacting with someone you don't know. Use your best judgment and always keep your safety in mind, whether you're exchanging initial messages or meeting people in person. While you can't control others' actions, there are certain things you can do to keep yourself safe during your DatingXMatch experience.

 

Online Safety

Never send money or share financial information.

You should never send money, especially not via bank transfer, even if the person claims to be in an emergency. Transferring money is like sending cash — it's nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace where the money was sent. You should never share information that could be used to access your financial accounts. If a user asks you for money, you should report it immediately.

 

For advice on how to avoid romance scams, you can read some tips from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on the FTC website.

 

Protect Your Personal Information

 

You should never share personal information, such as your social security number, home or work address, or details about your daily routine (e.g., that you go to a specific gym every Monday) with people you don't know. If you're a parent, you should limit the information you share about your children on your profile and in early communication. Avoid sharing information such as your children's names, where they go to school, or their ages or genders.

 

Stay on the Platform

 

Keep conversations on the DatingXMatch platform when you're getting to know someone. Users with bad intentions often try to move the conversation to SMS, messaging apps, email, or phone calls right away.

 

Be cautious with long-distance and overseas relationships.

 

Beware of scammers claiming to be from your country but stuck elsewhere, especially if they ask for financial help to come home. Be skeptical of anyone who refuses to meet in person or talk on the phone/video call—they may not be who they claim to be. If someone avoids answering your questions or pushes for a serious relationship without first meeting you or getting to know you, that's a red flag.

 

Report any suspicious and offensive behavior

 

You know when someone has crossed the line, and when they do, we want to hear about it. Block and report anyone who violates our terms. Here are some examples of violations:

 

Requests for money or donations

Underage users

Harassment, threats, and offensive messages

Inappropriate or harmful behavior during or after a real-life meeting

Fraudulent profiles

Spam or solicitations, including links to commercial websites or attempts to sell products or services

You can report any concerns about suspicious behavior from any profile page or message window here. For more information, see the Community Guidelines.

 

Protect Your Account

 

Make sure to choose a strong password and always be cautious when logging into your account from a public or shared computer. DatingXMatch will never send you an email asking for your username and password—if you receive an email asking for account information, you should report it immediately.

 

Meeting someone in person

There is no need to rush

 

Take your time and get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or chat on a platform other than DatingXMatch. Don't be afraid to ask questions to spot warning signs or things that are important to you. A phone or video call can be a useful screening tool before meeting someone in person.

 

Meet each other in a public place and stay there.

 

Meet each other the first few times in a populated, public place—never at your home, your date's home, or any other private location. If your date pressures you to go to a private location, end the date.

 

Tell your friends and family about your plans

 

Tell a friend or family member about your plans, including when and where you're going. Make sure your cell phone is charged and with you at all times.

 

Arrange your own transportation

 

We want you to have control over how you get to and from your date so you can leave when you want. If you're driving yourself, it's a good idea to have a plan B, such as a rideshare app or a friend who can pick you up.

 

Know your limits

 

Be aware of how drugs or alcohol affect you—they can impair your judgment and your attention. If your date tries to pressure you into taking drugs or drinking more than you're comfortable with, speak up and end the date.

 

Don't leave drinks or personal belongings unattended

 

You should always know where your drink came from and where it is at any given time—only accept drinks poured or served directly by the bartender or server. Many drugs used to facilitate sexual assaults are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Also, remember to keep your phone, purse, wallet, and anything containing personal information about you on you at all times.

 

If you feel unsafe, leave your date

 

It's okay to end the date early if you feel unsafe. In fact, it's recommended. And if your gut tells you something is off, or you feel uncertain, ask the bartender or server for help.

 

LGBTQ+ community abroad

 

Be cautious when traveling

 

We recognize and believe in the importance of including all gender identities and sexual orientations, but the reality is this: there is no place in the world without potential risks, and some countries have specific laws targeting LGBTQ+ individuals.

 

Check the laws around you when traveling to a new place and research what types of legal protections, if any, are available to you based on sexual orientation. In case you find yourself in an unsafe area, we suggest turning off "Show me on Tinder," which you can find on the settings page.

 

If you've added a sexual orientation to your profile and choose to be shown on DatingXMatch, we will hide your sexual orientation from your profile until you leave that area.

 

It's important to be extra cautious if you choose to contact new people in these countries—as some law enforcement authorities use dating apps as tools for potential entrapment. Some countries have also recently introduced laws criminalizing communication between individuals on dating apps or websites for gay men, and laws that even result in harsher penalties if such communication leads to sexual intercourse.