Safety Tips

GreenSingles wants your online experience to be pleasant and safe. In both the online and real worlds, common sense is your best safety tool. We've complied these Safety Tips to help you reach these goals.

Take Your Time
If someone seems too good to be true, they probably are! Start by first communicating solely by our anonymous messaging. Watch out for odd behavior or inconsistencies. Pay attention to your correspondent’s words. The person at the other end may not be who or what they say. It's always best to trust your instincts. Walk away from anything that makes you uncomfortable.

Protect Your Anonymity
All correspondence done by our anonymous messaging system will not reveal any personal contact information about you. You control the flow of information. Be cautious about revealing your personal contact information. If you decide to correspond through your own email program start out by using an anonymous name. Never include your last name, real email address, personal Web site URL, home address, phone number, place of work, or any other identifying information in your initial emails you exchange with other members. Stop communicating with anyone who pressures you for this information or attempts in any way to trick you into revealing it. Take all the time you need to become comfortable with someone before revealing any personal information. Ask questions and make sure you are satisfied with the answers. Trust your instincts, move cautiously and be selective.

Practice Caution and Common Sense
Careful, well-thought decisions generally lead to better results in dating, and this is certainly true with online dating too. Suitors must earn your trust gradually through consistently forthright behavior. Your job is to take all the time you need to test for a trustworthy person, and pay careful attention along the way. Take a relatively conservative approach to trusting anyone you meet online. If you think someone is lying, it is likely that they are, so act accordingly. Move on to someone you can eventually trust. Conduct yourself and your romances in a responsible manner. Don’t fall in love at the click of a mouse. Don’t become prematurely intimate with someone, even if that intimacy only occurs online.

Ask for a Photo
A photo will give you a good idea of the person's appearance. In fact, it’s best to view several images of this person in a variety of settings: casual, formal, indoor, outdoors. If he or she continuously comes up with an excuse, it may be because that person has something to hide. GreenSingles will scan in a photo for free, so there really aren't any good excuses for not doing it. A person can also send you a photo of somebody else. Be cautious.

Pick up the Phone
A phone call can provide valuable insight into a person’s communication and social skills. Do not give out your personal phone number until you get to know someone better. Protect your privacy by dialing *67 before dialing a phone number and your caller ID number will be blocked for that call.

Only Meet When Ready
The advantage of meeting and interacting online is that you can gradually collect information about your potential partner before making the decision to meet in person. There is never an obligation to meet anyone and you can always change your mind if you do decide to arrange a meeting!

Meeting for the First Time
Never arrange for your date to pick you up at home. Use your own transportation and choose a suitable public location where many people are present. It's also a good idea to take a friend with you. Be sure to tell someone where you're meeting and at what time you'll be returning. Provide this person with your date’s name and telephone number. A coffee house or restaurant is always a good place to meet. Activities such as bike rides or hiking may begin in public locations but wind up in a remote setting so these activities should be avoided until trust is established.

Travelling Outside Your Area
Always use your own transportation. Never allow your date to make the arrangements or pay your fare. Be wary of anyone asking for money. Avoid meeting at locations that seem unsafe, awkward, or inappropriate. Do not leave without informing a friend or family member where you're going and who you're meeting. Leave your contact information and take a cell phone with you if you can. Always trust your gut instincts and immediately return to your hotel if you sense something isn't quite right.

When in Doubt, Get Out
Its always better to be safe than sorry. When presented with an unsafe situation just leave. Don't worry about what another person may think of you. Your safety is obviously more important.

Warning Signs
Stay away from people exhibiting behavior such as demeaning, disrespectful, or physically inappropriate comments. Anger and intense frustration may be attempts to pressure or control you so ignore these people as well. A few more things to watch out for:
•Demands or pressures for you to reveal your personal email address or other personal contact information.
•Provides inconsistent information on physical and personality characteristics.
• Refuses a phone conversation after establishing an online relationship.
• Will not provide direct answers to direct questions.
• His or her online persona is significantly different than in person.
• Refuses to introduce you to friends, co-workers or family members.
• Someone who asks for money. Never, ever give money or accept packages on behalf of anyone. Do not accept offers to transfer funds or cash money orders.

Report Problems
In both the online and real worlds, common sense is your best safety tool. Please report any uncomfortable or abusive behavior to GreenSingles at abuse@greensingles.com or call us at 1-877-669-0633