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Internet Safety

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Smart Social Networking and Communication Tips

Precautions to take when meeting people face to face

As we get to know people online, there may be times when we want to meet them in person in the real world. It is extremely important that we take precautions before meeting face to face with someone online. Criminals and fraudsters can easily fake their identities and pretend to be someone else while online in order to lure victims into meeting with them in person.

Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn the basic steps every person should use, whether you are meeting an online date, purchasing an item from a Craigslist seller, or just getting together with a buddy from a gaming site.

Bring a Friend

Bring a friend with you, and if you feel comfortable, they can leave. However, you should always arrange to meet or call your friend at a specific time after the meeting.

If you are meeting someone for buying and selling, always bring a friend and make sure they stay with you until the transaction is done.

With online dating, it may not be convenient to bring someone with you on every date, but always tell someone the time, place and name of the person you are meeting and then arrange to check in with them after the date.

Tell Someone

Tell someone you trust that you are planning on meeting someone you met online and give them the details you have regarding this person.

Research the Person

Request the person's full name and conduct a search for them on Google. If you need help, learn how in our Googling Yourself lesson.

If you have children, you may consider doing a more extensive background check before introducing a person to your family.

Meet in Public

Meet in a crowded, public place like a coffee shop or restaurant in a mall. Do not choose a place that you would frequently go to, since you would not want someone finding you there if things go badly.

Do not leave together or let the person see you get into your car. You do not want them to follow you or obtain your car tag numbers.

Repeat Until Safe

Meet a person a few times using these precautions until you are comfortable with who they say they are. Do not get lazy about second and third visits as many criminals count on you becoming more relaxed with familiarity.

Also, avoid revealing any personal information about yourself and do not go anywhere alone with a person until you are sure you can trust them.

Protect Your Identity

Do not include any personal or identifying information in your profiles or communications. Your last name, school, place of work and cell phone number can all be used to find you in person.

In addition, make sure photos or videos do not reveal any of this information in the background.

You can also chat with a person on the phone before meeting in person, but be careful to block your caller ID or use an anonymous phone service like Skype. Never use your home phone or give out your phone number because this information can be used to identify and locate you.

Warning signs

Review the following tips to avoid running into trouble with people you meet face to face.

Wary woman at laptop
  • Trust your instincts, and pay attention when something doesn't feel right. Watch for "red flags" and questionable characteristics. Are the people you talk to controlling? Do they talk badly about others? Do they avoid certain questions? Are they quick to get mad? Your gut instincts are a good measure of whether you should proceed with someone or end things right away.
  • Take your time, and maintain control. At any time if you feel uncomfortable, you have the right to walk away and end communications without any need to explain. Do not allow someone to persuade or badger you into moving forward before you are comfortable with doing so. If a person is genuine, he or she will understand your need to take things slowly.
  • End things with someone who brings up "sex talk" too soon or asks about money. These people are almost always insincere and could end up scamming or harming you.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol before or during your meeting, as this can impair your ability to judge another person and the safety of the circumstances.

Additional resources

Visit these websites for additional resources for online dating and online buying and selling:

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