When you’re dating online, the last thing that you’re thinking about is your identity. Well, maybe you are. But it’s not in the same way as everyone else on the Internet might be thinking of it.

There are thieves out there. Lots of them. On the Internet, where everyone can be an anonymous as they want to be, you are taking a risk when you go online to meet people.

And I’m not just talking about basic online safety either or trying to prevent meeting up with stalkers or violent criminals.

Identity theft is becoming more and more common on dating sites. When you’re giving our your personal information, many people are able to see it, see your picture, and see how they can use this information to get into your credit cards, bank accounts, and more.

But what can you do? You can’t lie about who you are because that defeats the whole purpose. You would have to head back to the bars to date again. Sigh.

Here are some quick tips for staying safe and staying online:

• Don’t list last names that are visible to the public
• Change your birthday slightly – like the year, for example
• Don’t identify where you work or where you went to school

In short, don’t have a profile that’s filled with personal information. You can even list your address as near to the city that you actually live in, then reveal the real location when you are comfortable. Read more about dating safely.

Safety Bars, Identity, Meet People, Online Safety, Risks, Stalking, Violence

While it might seem that online dating safety tips are the hot topic for discussion these days, are you paying attention?

The Internet is a faceless world and because of that anonymity, it can be difficult to spot someone who might not have the best intentions for a relationship – or who might be truly dangerous. You don’t have the opportunity to see their eyes or listen to their tone of voice – and honestly, you don’t really know if their name or their picture is really them.

Is online dating doomed then? Not by a long shot.

Here are some tips that you can use to make sure that you’re staying safe as you search for the right match.

• Don’t give out personal information (address, last name, workplace)
• Don’t meet up with someone too quickly
• When you do choose to meet up in person, have a friend come with you or choose a public place
• If you feel like something’s wrong, it probably is – discontinue talking to the person
• Don’t believe everything you see/hear
• When you feel that you are being harassed, let the online dating site monitors know – they can alert other members
• Establish a long running communication with a person before you decide to meet up – become friends first and then decide if you trust them enough to take it to the next level
• Be honest in your profile – don’t write things that you don’t meet (you can attract the wrong person!)

While this might all seem like common sense, the faceless nature of the Internet can make everyone seem like a great person, but this isn’t necessarily the case.

When in doubt, be safe first. There are plenty of honest people who go to online dating sites; you just have to be patient and find them.

Safety Anonymous, Dangers, Harassment, Internet, Online Safety, Photo, Trust