You can often depend on larger, more reputable sites — like Tinder, Harmony, and Bumble to protect your private information. Still, you should always proceed with caution. Most of these online dating services require a membership fee, so choose wisely. Also, once you stop using it, make sure you delete your profile.
“There’s a difference between being cyber savvy and cyber secure,” says Michael Kaiser, former executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance. Any potential dates will likely run your name through a detailed internet search. They may find your office location on LinkedIn, your address tagged in an Instagram post, or your phone number linked to an online ad.
Never post any identifying details on your profile — this includes your address, phone number, or personal email. Make sure you also limit the information posted on other platforms. Set all your social media accounts to private, and never authorise an app to post your location.
It’s important to verify your suitor is who they say they are by checking where else their photos are posted. Perhaps their dating profile image is the same as their Twitter profile picture. People tend to be much less filtered on social media sites like Twitter, and you could discover some unsavoury personality traits.
In McAfee's Modern Love study, 42% of people said they have come across fake profiles and/or AI-generated photos on dating websites or apps. Doing your detective work can reveal whether or not the profile is real or AI-generated.
Copy the profile picture of a potential match into the Google Images search bar on your computer or use reverse image search on your phone. Google will search for that image using facial recognition, landmark identification, and photo binary data to verify the source of the photo. "Do a reverse-image search of any profile pictures your love interest uses. If they’re associated with another name, or with details that don’t match up, it’s likely a scam," said McAfee CTO Steve Grobman.
If you’ve clicked with someone and would like to meet in person, choose your location wisely. Never meet at your home or office where they could easily find you again, and never choose a secluded location — immediately end the date if you feel pressured into doing otherwise.
Before you leave, tell a roommate or friend who you are meeting, where you are going, and what time you plan to be home. Consider planning a “safe call”: arrange for a friend to call you during the date to make sure you feel comfortable. Always drive yourself to and from the date, instead of relying on someone you met online for a car ride home.
Respected dating sites will encourage users to report any shady activity. These sites do not tolerate behaviour that is aggressive or illegal. Most dating sites include the option to block an individual user if your interactions make you feel uneasy.
If someone is harassing or extorting you, contact the dating site’s customer service immediately.
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