1. Take it slow

There are a lot of nice people online but there are also some bad ones who just want to take advantage of others. To be sure if the person you’re corresponding with is for real or just playing games, it is best to look out for inconsistencies. If at any time you feel doubtful or there’s something wrong, then it’s best to stop and move on.

2. Don’t give out personal information

Since you don’t have any idea who this person actually is, it is best not to give out any personal information such as last name, real email address or contact numbers. If the person you’re corresponding with keeps on pressuring you on this issue, it is best to stop making contact with that person.

3. Ask for a photo

Some people say it doesn’t matter what’s on the outside but what’s on the inside that matters. Physical appearance believe it or not does matter. To authenticate that the person you’re talking to online is real it’s best to ask for a photo. For your own safety and security reasons it’s best to ask for multiple pictures in various settings. If the member is not able to do this, then one should stop making contact with this person.

4. Proceed with caution

It takes time to get to know if you can trust someone, it doesn’t happen overnight. By taking the time necessary to get to know more about a person, you’ll be able to see if you should go on further or be better off meeting someone else.

5. Meet only when ready

Even if a certain level of trust has been established, it’s best to only decide to meet when you’re sure you’re ready. Just like meeting someone for the first time, one should take it slow.

6. Choose a public area

Before meeting the person, it is best to tell others like friends and family where you’re going. In the interests of safety and security, it is also best to meet in a public place. The more people around, the safer it will be in case the date does not workout.

Meeting people online may be a little different from meeting someone new through friends. The similarities in both situations are; it takes time to know a person and there is nothing wrong being too careful especially with matters of the heart.