| While meeting the mate of your dreams from | | | | immediately. |
| the comfort and privacy of your personal | | | | 2) Never give out your personal information until |
| computer may be a welcome idea, it is not | | | | you are sure it is safe. |
| without its dangers. More and more cases of | | | | 3) Use a safe site; that is, one that is primarily |
| sexual predators, pedophiles as well as a host of | | | | concerned with the safety of its clients by |
| other vices are springing up by the day. | | | | enabling ways of weeding out potentially |
| Before getting too carried away with someone | | | | dangerous users say for example those with |
| you meet online, you may want to consider the | | | | previous criminal records. |
| following factors and rethink your situation. It | | | | 4) Do not give your personal contact details eg |
| should occur to you that the person may actually | | | | telephone numbers (even cellphone numbers), |
| be married, looking for some extra fun on the | | | | addresses etc. With todays technology finding |
| side; in this kind of a situation you only end up | | | | somebody through a phone number is a matter |
| feeling wasted and disappointed for having wasted | | | | of only a few clicks over a period of several |
| your feelings on people who have no space for | | | | seconds. |
| you legally in their lives. With intentions of varying | | | | 5) Learn some self defense skills. You might be |
| nature, women overseas run scams against men. | | | | accosted physically and these will come in handy. |
| They pretend to be attracted to them and ask | | | | 6) Do not talk about your kids online, post their |
| for money. Needless to say, they disappear the | | | | pictures or divulge any information about them, |
| moment they get the money. | | | | say for example what school they attend and the |
| The person you are chatting to online maybe | | | | likes. |
| anything as far as character is concerned. | | | | 7) When going out on a date for the with |
| Remember, you don't know them personally! | | | | someone you met online, ensure that you meet in |
| Mothers are making headlines daily with cries of | | | | a public place at a "safe"hour. |
| being stuck with pedophile partners who they met | | | | 8) Ensure that you have your own means of |
| on internet chat rooms and dating sites. Needless | | | | transport to and from the venue of the date. Do |
| to say we have all heard of the rampant cases | | | | not under any circumstances let the person drive |
| of date rapes and even kidnappings occuring | | | | you home. |
| when people meet strangers they thought they | | | | 9) Be wary of people who ask weird intrusive |
| knew well from the internet. With people like this | | | | questions and remember that you do not have to |
| lurking everywhere on the internet, it is | | | | answer anything that could put you in danger. |
| imperative that users be aware of measures to | | | | 10) If you have to meet outside your locality |
| avert possible dangers. Some of these measures | | | | take extra care especially if you are flying to a |
| include: | | | | place you have never been to before. Make sure |
| 1) Follow your instincts. If the general gut feeling is | | | | at least one person close to you knows the full |
| that the person you are talking to is suspicious, | | | | details of the plans to go meet the person and |
| trust this feeling and cut all communication | | | | also about the person you are meeting. |