Okay, time for the unsexy but extremely necessary part: safety. Romantic energy tends to override risk assessment, and scammers know that.
Your Basic Safety Checklist
Before meeting or sharing personal info, check:
| Safety aspect | Good practice |
| Personal info | No address, workplace details, or full routine early on |
| Social media | Delay adding on private accounts |
| Money | Never send money or financial info |
| Intimate content | Share only what you’d survive being leaked (worst case) |
| Meeting IRL | Public place, tell a friend, your own transport |
Common Scams and Red Flags
- “I need money urgently” — family emergency, hospital bills, ticket to visit you.
- Investment schemes — crypto, trading, “I can help you make money”.
- Pressure for nudes — especially very early, combined with emotional manipulation.
- Moving off-platform too fast — insisting on WhatsApp/Telegram immediately and deleting the profile.
If someone mixes romance with money, stop. That’s not love, that’s a con.
Handling Intimate Content Smartly
No moral judgment here. People share spicy stuff, it happens. Just… be strategic.
- Avoid showing your face + unique tattoos / birthmarks in the same picture.
- Don’t send anything while angry, drunk, or trying to keep someone from leaving.
- Assume that once it’s sent, you can’t fully control it anymore.
If someone threatens to leak your content, that’s sextortion. Do not negotiate or pay; instead, document everything and report (Top online dating services and platforms + authorities where applicable).
Saying “No” Without Apologizing
You’re allowed to say:
- “I’m not comfortable sharing photos like that.”
- “I prefer to keep money and dating separate.”
- “No, I don’t give out my address until I know someone better.”
If they react badly, congratulations, they just disqualified themselves.
Your boundaries don’t make you “paranoid”. They make you an adult.
