Dating Safety & Dating Advice

Meeting someone new should be exciting, enjoyable and positive. Most people who use dating websites are genuine, but it is still important to take sensible precautions when getting to know somebody online or meeting them in person.

MeetSomeone is a 100% free UK dating website, and we want every member to feel confident using the site. The advice below is designed to help you protect your privacy, recognise suspicious behaviour and make safer decisions when speaking to someone new.

Take Your Time

There is no need to rush when getting to know somebody.

Spend time exchanging messages and learning a little about the person before sharing personal information or arranging to meet.

If somebody pressures you to move faster than you are comfortable with, you are always entitled to slow things down or stop communicating altogether.

A genuine person should respect your boundaries.

Keep Early Conversations on MeetSomeone

It can be sensible to keep your early conversations on MeetSomeone while you are still getting to know somebody.

Be cautious if someone immediately wants you to move to another messaging service, social media platform or private telephone number.

Moving away from the website can make it harder to report inappropriate behaviour and may expose more of your personal information.

There is nothing wrong with exchanging contact details once you feel comfortable, but there should never be any pressure to do so.

Protect Your Personal Information

Think carefully before sharing information that could identify exactly where you live, work or spend your time.

In the early stages of getting to know someone, avoid sharing information such as:

Your full home address.
Your workplace address.
Your banking or card information.
Your passwords or security codes.
Copies of passports, driving licences or other identification.
Your National Insurance number.
Private financial information.
Information that could be used to answer your security questions.

Someone you have only recently met online does not need access to sensitive personal or financial information.

Never Send Money

Never send money to somebody you have met through a dating website, particularly someone you have never met in person.

Be extremely cautious if someone asks you for:

Money.
A loan.
Gift cards.
Cryptocurrency.
Bank transfers.
Help paying bills.
Money for travel.
Money for medical treatment.
Money because of an unexpected emergency.

Romance scammers can spend days, weeks or even months building trust before asking for money.

A person may claim to be stranded abroad, have a family emergency, need help travelling to meet you or suddenly have financial difficulties.

No matter how convincing the story sounds, do not send money or provide access to your financial accounts.

Be Careful With Investments and Cryptocurrency

Be suspicious if someone you meet through dating begins talking about investments, cryptocurrency, trading opportunities or ways to make money.

Do not transfer money into an investment platform simply because somebody you met online recommends it.

Do not give another member access to your banking, investment or cryptocurrency accounts.

Dating websites should be used to meet people, not to find financial advisers or investment opportunities.

Watch for Warning Signs

No single behaviour automatically means someone is dishonest, but certain patterns should make you more cautious.

Possible warning signs include someone who:

Claims to fall deeply in love unusually quickly.
Constantly avoids meeting in person.
Repeatedly refuses video calls without a reasonable explanation.
Has stories that frequently change.
Asks for money or financial assistance.
Asks for banking information.
Pressures you to keep the relationship secret.
Becomes angry when you question something.
Pressures you to send intimate photographs.
Tries to isolate you from friends or family.
Asks you to receive or transfer money on their behalf.
Asks you to receive parcels or goods for them.
Promises unusually large amounts of money or expensive gifts.

If something feels wrong, take it seriously.

Photographs Are Not Proof of Identity

A profile photograph does not necessarily prove that the person you are speaking to is the person shown in the photograph.

Photographs can be copied from social media, stolen from other websites or altered using modern technology.

Take time to get to know somebody and look for consistency in what they tell you.

If you become suspicious that somebody may be using another person's photographs or pretending to be someone else, report the profile to us.

Video Calls Can Help

A short video call before meeting can sometimes help you feel more comfortable and confirm that the person resembles their photographs.

However, a video call does not guarantee that somebody is trustworthy.

Continue to use your own judgement and do not share sensitive information simply because you have spoken to someone by video.

Your First Meeting

When you decide to meet somebody in person, take sensible precautions.

For your first meeting:

Meet in a busy public place.
Tell a trusted friend or family member where you are going.
Tell somebody who you are meeting.
Arrange your own transport.
Keep your mobile phone charged and with you.
Consider arranging a time to check in with a friend or family member.
Avoid giving your home address before you feel comfortable.
Do not feel pressured into changing the location of the meeting.

A café, restaurant or other busy public location can be a good choice for an initial meeting.

Control Your Own Transport

Whenever possible, arrange your own journey to and from a first date.

Avoid relying on someone you have just met to collect you from your home or drive you somewhere you do not know.

Having your own transport arrangements means you can leave whenever you choose.

Tell Someone Where You Are

Before meeting someone new, tell a trusted friend or family member where you are going and approximately when you expect to return.

You may also wish to tell them the name of the person you are meeting and the location of the date.

If your plans change during the evening, let someone know.

Do Not Feel Obliged to Stay

You are never required to continue a date simply because you agreed to meet.

If you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or simply decide that you would like to leave, you can end the meeting at any time.

You do not owe anybody an explanation for protecting your own safety.

Alcohol and Your Safety

If you choose to drink alcohol on a date, remain aware of how much you are drinking.

Do not leave drinks unattended and do not accept an opened drink from someone you do not know well.

Staying in control can help you make clear decisions and recognise when something does not feel right.

Consent and Personal Boundaries

Consent is essential in every relationship and at every stage of dating.

Agreeing to a date does not mean agreeing to physical or sexual contact.

Going to somebody's home does not mean agreeing to sexual activity.

Previously agreeing to something does not mean somebody must agree again.

Everyone has the right to change their mind at any time.

Never pressure another person into physical contact, sexual conversation or sexual activity.

Intimate Photographs

Think very carefully before sending intimate or private photographs to anybody.

Once an image has been sent, you may lose control over where it is stored or who sees it.

Never allow someone to pressure, threaten or manipulate you into sending intimate photographs.

Never share another person's intimate photograph without their permission.

If somebody threatens to publish intimate photographs or private information unless you send money or do something they demand, do not give in to the pressure. Preserve any evidence you safely can and report the situation.

Be Careful With Links

Do not automatically click links sent to you by someone you have only recently met.

A link could lead to a fake website designed to steal passwords or financial information.

Be particularly cautious if somebody sends a link asking you to:

Log into an account.
Verify your identity.
Enter bank or card information.
Pay a fee.
Download software.
Install an application.

MeetSomeone will never require you to pay another member in order to verify your identity.

Never Share Passwords or Security Codes

Never give another member your MeetSomeone password, email password, banking password or one-time security codes.

A genuine member does not need this information.

If somebody asks you for a security code sent to your phone or email, do not provide it.

Protect Your Account

Use a password that is difficult to guess and avoid using the same password on several different websites.

Do not allow other people to access your MeetSomeone account.

If you believe somebody may have accessed your account without permission, change your password as soon as possible.

Trust Your Instincts

You do not need proof that somebody is dishonest before deciding to stop communicating with them.

If something feels strange, inconsistent or uncomfortable, you can step away.

Dating should never make you feel frightened, threatened or pressured.

Speak to Someone You Trust

If you are uncertain about somebody you have met online, it can help to speak to a trusted friend or family member.

Someone outside the situation may notice warning signs that are easier to miss when emotions are involved.

Be especially cautious if somebody tells you that your friends or family cannot be trusted or tries to stop you discussing the relationship with other people.

Blocking Someone

If you no longer want somebody to contact you, you can use the blocking features available on MeetSomeone.

You do not need to continue communicating with somebody simply because you have previously exchanged messages.

If someone attempts to contact you from another account after being blocked, please report the account.

Reporting a Member

Please report profiles or behaviour that you believe may be unsafe, fraudulent, abusive or against our Community Guidelines.

You should consider reporting someone who:

Asks you for money.
Threatens or harasses you.
Appears to be using a fake identity.
Sends unwanted explicit content.
Attempts to scam you.
Uses stolen photographs.
Threatens to share private information or photographs.
Appears to be under 18.
Attempts to contact children.
Encourages illegal or dangerous activity.

You can also contact us if you need to report a concern.

Do Not Put Yourself at Risk to Gather Evidence

If somebody concerns you, you do not need to continue speaking to them simply to prove that something is wrong.

Your safety is more important than gathering information.

Where it is safe to do so, keeping relevant messages or screenshots may be useful if you later decide to make a report, but never continue an unsafe conversation simply for that purpose.

If You Feel You Are in Immediate Danger

If you believe you or somebody else is in immediate danger, contact the police or emergency services directly.

MeetSomeone is not an emergency service and reports submitted through the website should not be relied upon for urgent assistance.

Remember That MeetSomeone Cannot Guarantee Every Member

We work to provide a welcoming dating community, but we cannot guarantee the identity, intentions, background or behaviour of every person using the website.

Online profiles and messages should never replace your own judgement.

Take your time, protect your personal information and make decisions that feel right for you.

Enjoy Dating

Online dating should ultimately be enjoyable.

There are many genuine people looking for friendship, companionship, relationships and love. Taking sensible precautions does not mean approaching every person with suspicion. It simply means protecting yourself while getting to know somebody new.

Be yourself, be respectful, take your time and allow connections to develop naturally.

MeetSomeone is 100% free, with no subscriptions, no hidden payments and no swiping. We simply want to give genuine people across the UK a friendly place to meet someone.

If you have a concern about another member or need to report inappropriate behaviour, please visit our Contact Us page.