Module 7 — Online Dating Safety (Adults)
Verifying profiles, spotting romance scammers, planning safer first dates, and protecting your heart, money & safety.
Before you trust, check:
• Do their photos look natural & consistent? (Different settings, angles, time of year)
• Is their bio specific or very vague and generic?
• Do they avoid video calls and voice calls completely?
• Do they appear on other platforms under the same name?
Safer steps:
• Suggest a short video call before meeting
• Reverse-image search if something feels “too perfect”
• Be cautious of models, soldiers, oil-rig workers, or “too good to be true” profiles if they quickly talk money or drama
Be cautious if someone:
• Declares love or strong feelings in days
• Asks for your address, workplace or kids’ details very early
• Refuses basic questions or gives contradicting stories
• Pressures you to move off the app to WhatsApp/Telegram quickly
• Tries to isolate you: “Don’t tell friends, they’ll ruin this”
Healthy people respect boundaries, time and pacing.
Romance scammers build emotional connection first, then ask for:
• “Emergency” money (medical bills, flights, visas, business disasters)
• Help to release inheritance or locked funds
• Payment in vouchers, crypto, gift cards or bank transfers
Key patterns:
• They avoid meeting in person
• They always have an excuse for not video calling
• Crisis after crisis, always needing “just a bit more” money
Rule: If someone you’ve never met asks for money – it’s a huge red flag.
Catfishing is when someone uses a false identity (photos, name, life story).
Signs:
• Only 1–3 photos, all highly edited or “model-like”
• Photos that look like stock images or influencer ads
• They avoid tagging, stories, live videos or real-time activities
• Their life seems glamorous but strangely vague
Trust your unease. If their story doesn’t add up, you don’t owe them more time.
Higher-risk choices:
• Letting them pick you up from home on the first date
• Inviting them straight to your house or hotel
• Going to isolated locations (parks at night, quiet walks, their car only)
• Getting drunk or high with someone you’ve just met
Safer choices:
• Meet in a busy, public place with staff and CCTV
• Arrange your own travel there and back
• Tell a friend where you’re going and who with
• Set a check-in time or shared live location with someone you trust
Little details reveal a lot:
• Photos outside your house or recognisable street
• Your work uniform, ID badge or company logo
• Check-ins at the same café or gym at the same times
Safer habits:
• Don’t share your exact address until trust is built over time
• Turn off automatic location tagging on social media
• Delay posting location until after you’ve left
On a date you might feel:
• “I don’t want to embarrass them.”
• “They paid for dinner, I feel I owe them.”
• “We’ve been talking for weeks, they’ll be angry if I say no.”
Reality:
• You can change your mind at ANY time
• You don’t owe sex, intimacy or staying longer because they spent money
• A safe person will respect “no”, “not yet” or “I want to go home” without punishing you
Before you go:
• Screenshot their profile & username
• Tell a friend where you’re going & when you expect to be back
• Agree a “check-in” text or code word with a friend
• Keep your own drink with you – don’t leave it unattended
• Arrange your own transport home
If at any point you feel uncomfortable, you are allowed to leave.
Maybe they:
• Look nothing like their photos
• Hid a spouse or partner
• Lied about age, job, or major parts of their life
You can:
• End the date politely but firmly: “This doesn’t feel honest, I’m going to go.”
• Leave to a safe, populated area and arrange your route home
• Block and report them on the app afterwards
You are not overreacting by prioritising your safety.
Ask yourself:
• Did I feel heard and respected?
• Did they push my boundaries around alcohol, intimacy or time?
• Did anything feel “off” or too intense too soon?
• Do I feel pressured to see them again, or genuinely want to?
Your instincts are part of your safety system. If your body felt tense, scared or uneasy – listen to that.
You’ve been chatting for a few weeks. Their messages are funny, charming, attentive.
You meet in a busy bar. In person:
• They look slightly different to photos, but still them.
• They keep ordering you drinks, even when you say you’re fine.
• They make comments like “Don’t be boring, you’re safe with me.”
• When you mention leaving on time, they push for “one more place”.
Your gut starts to twist. You feel pressured and a bit trapped.
Safer choices:
• Go to the bathroom, text your check-in friend, ask them to call you with an “out”
• Say: “Thanks for tonight, I’m going to head home now.” Then leave.
• If you feel unsafe, go to staff or security and ask for help while you leave.
🚀 More Coming Soon
This module will grow to include printable first-date checklists, deeper scenarios, and city-specific safety tips to help you plan smarter, safer meetups.
