Calm, practical precautions
Dating safety
If money enters the conversation, pause
Never send money, gift cards or cryptocurrency to someone you have only met online. Do not move money or receive parcels for them. Urgency, secrecy and a crisis that only you can solve are serious warning signs.
Keep early conversations private
Avoid sharing your home address, financial details, identity documents, passwords or security codes. Staying on the dating service’s messaging system at first gives you time to decide what you are comfortable sharing.
Make first meetings easy to leave
Meet in a busy public place, arrange your own transport and tell somebody you trust where you are going. Keep the first plan short. Call 999 if you are in immediate danger.
Read the full guide
Our sourced guide explains a simple pause, check and share routine, common romance-fraud patterns and what to do if you have already paid.
Read Online Dating Safety After 50