Internet Dating Safety Tips/Suggestions:

The internet is becoming an increasingly popular way to make new friends.  However, just like other methods of meeting new people, there are risks that require your attention and caution. If you use common sense and take proper precautions your experience can be safe and rewarding. The following are a few guidelines and suggestions to help keep your experience as positive as possible.

1. Protect your privacy
   Make sure that anyone in whom you have an expressed interest provides you with their personal identity information before you provide any information about yourself.  
2. Check them out
   Be aware that others may misrepresent themselves on the Internet. After you have secured their name and other identifying personal information, if you choose to, you can go to search engines and find out all you can about the person's background. For a nominal fee you may also elect to do a legal background check. If you are planning on meeting the person, you may want to hire a private investigator prior to the meeting. 
3. Be careful meeting people
   Make sure that if you do meet with someone you met via the net, you take several people with you and/or let people know where you are going with this potential new friend. Bring a cell phone and have one or more of your friends call you during the date. If your date is driving, you can get their license plate number and after the date contact the Department of Motor Vehicles for information about the plate. Also make sure that your friends are given pertinent information derived from the driver’s license plate. Do not go on a solo date for several weeks and/or months.   Bring some form of self-protection, such as pepper spray, in the event of an emergency. 
4. Trust your feelings and intuition
   If you feel uneasy about someone you've met online, trust your gut and hightail out of there. Your safety and welfare are worth more than the threat of hurting someone’s feelings and/or a missed opportunity.
5. Beware of scams
   Criminals occasionally use Internet dating sites for scams. If, for example, you ever receive a message asking for help getting large sums of money out of a third world country, or are asked to sell a product, or for any other commercial purpose, do not respond to the message. Instead, send a copy of the message you received to the proper authorities.
6. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety.
   Some dating Internet services and practices are better than others. While most are fairly good, it is really up to you to carefully screen new people before you bring them into your life.