6 Simple Online Dating Safety Tips You Should Know Today

Online dating apps and websites are among the top avenues for finding a romantic partner in many parts of the globe. Malaysia is slowly, yet steadily catching up. While most Malaysian men and women still prefer the traditional method of meeting a potential partner face to face and going out on dates to start a relationship, online dating is fast becoming a popular alternative.

One recent survey done by a British online market research and data analytics firm found that nearly three in ten Malaysians have used online dating platforms to find dates. Moreover, more than half of those surveyed know at least one couple who have successfully connected online.

Perhaps you plan to use an MY dating app or website to find a potential partner. This method can indeed be very helpful at fostering meaningful connections among people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. However, as with other online interactions, you need to be careful about the risks that come with looking for a romantic partner in the digital space. To help you safely navigate the world of online dating, from the initial encounter online until you decide to meet someone in person, consider the following tips:

Safeguard Your Personal Information

Guarding your privacy is fundamental to protecting yourself when looking for dates in cyberspace. Remember, hundreds of users can see your profile on a dating app or website, and there is no guarantee that all of them have good intentions. For this reason, it’s best to be cautious of the information you share on these platforms.

Never disclose your full name or use your real name as a username, and don’t share your home and work address or your financial information. You should also give your photos a second look before uploading them to ensure that you’re not unintentionally revealing sensitive information, like your apartment unit number or your car’s license plate number.

Conduct a Bit of Research

A 2021 survey by a Japan-based market research firm found that around 35 percent of dating app users in Malaysia fabricate their online profiles. To avoid dating such people, you may want to cross-check the info you receive from the dating app users you interact with to see whether they’re being truthful about themselves.

For starters, here are a few things you can do:

Do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture to verify whether the photo has been taken from somebody else’s online account or from a stock image website.

Look through the social media accounts of the people you match with to see if there are any discrepancies in their social media profiles and the details they share with you.

Pay attention to how the other person responds to your questions. If the answers are vague or irrelevant, there’s a chance that you’re chatting with a robot and not a real person. Online fraudsters usually set up several fake or bot accounts to lure and manipulate legitimate dating app users for financial gain.

Keep Interactions on the Dating Platform

Dating app users with malicious intentions will always try to invite you to move your interactions outside the dating platform. They will come up with various excuses to continue your conversation through text, email, or other private means, probably because reputable dating apps and sites have systems to uncover scammers.

That said, make it a point to keep your conversations on the dating app or website until you have enough evidence to trust the person. If an admirer keeps asking you to communicate elsewhere or send money for whatever reason, block the user and report the incident to the online dating platform at once.

Meet and Stay in Public

When you decide to meet a potential partner in person, make sure you choose a public location for your first date. Coffee shops, bars, restaurants, or similar places are great options because there will be plenty of people who can see you, and this will discourage a bad actor from engaging in any suspicious behaviour. You should also remain in public for the duration of your date, as it’s always wise to keep your guard up with someone you’ve just met—even if you feel good about how your date is going.

Share Your Date Plans with a Trusted Friend or Family Member

Before you go out on a date with someone you met online, remember to share your plans with a trusted friend or a family member. Show them a screenshot of your date’s profile and tell them where you’re going and when you expect to be home. And because you can’t be too careful when it comes to your safety, it may also be a good idea to ask your emergency contact to call you at a specific time during your date to check up on you. You can also ask them to wait for your call once you’re back at your place so that they know that you’re safe and sound.

Trust Your Instincts

Lastly, never dismiss your gut feeling about someone you’ve met online. If you’re in any way uncomfortable during your date, don’t hesitate to excuse yourself and leave. Try not to feel bad about hurting the other person’s feelings. Keep in mind that you’re under no obligation to have a meal or conversation with anyone—especially if they make you feel uneasy. Again, it is always better to err on the side of caution.

Online dating is an easy and convenient way to meet potential romantic partners, but there’s always some risk involved when interacting with strangers in the digital space. That’s why you have to be extra careful about protecting yourself and your personal information. Take all the necessary precautions and make safety your top priority from the get-go.