Watching Out for Red Flags When Meeting Someone Online

Less than 10 years ago, the thought of dating someone you met online might have been considered absurd. Today, it is no longer viewed as being abnormal in any way. In fact, a growing number of singles are deciding to turn almost completely to the Internet in order to find their perfect companions.

While the Internet is a great resource for finding someone special, there is still the possibility that the person you have met has less than honorable intentions. The harsh reality is that there are many predators prowling around online that are looking to take advantage of an innocent single person looking for love. This includes those that are looking to rape or kidnap someone to those that are married and are not being honest about their marital status. Therefore, in order to keep yourself safe, it is important to watch for certain red flags that will alert you steer clear of certain individuals.

Red Flag #1: Asking Too Many Personal Questions

When you first meet someone online, it is best to avoid giving away too many personal details about yourself. There really is no reason for a person you just met to know where you live, where you work, or where you went to school. In fact, this information should be kept to yourself until after you have had several conversations with that person. If he or she is really persistent about personal information and won’t seem to let it go, politely excuse yourself from the conversation and block that person out from future correspondence.

Red Flag #2: Falling "In Love" Quickly

Although there are many singles online that are looking for love, it is best to avoid those that seem to fall in love too quickly. While many believe in the power of love at first sight, feeling these emotions after just one conversation is not the sign of a healthy person. Either you are dealing with someone that emotionally fragile, which can lead to some serious long-term problems, or you are dealing with a person that is trying to force a bond with you in order to take advantage of you in some way. If you feel uncomfortable with how quickly a person professes his or her love to you, trust your instincts and break off the relationship.

Red Flag #3: Asking for Money or Help

There are many predators on the Internet that try to win over the hearts of lonely singles in order to rip them off. For these scammers, the goal was never to find love. Rather, the goal was to trick someone into falling in love with them so they could empty out their bank accounts.

Don’t fall for the “damsel in distress” scammer that wins over your heart and then claims to be in trouble in some way. If you think you have made a connection with someone that is truly having problems in his or her life, offer to lend an ear rather than to lend a dollar. If you have made a love connection, that person will certainly understand your position.

Red Flag #4: Wanting to Meet in a Non-Public Place

When you finally do decide to meet an online companion in person, it is wise to meet in a public place. This way, you can get to know the person better in a safe environment. If the person insists upon meeting in a non-public place, cancel the meeting and move onto someone else. A person that wants to meet in a non-public place may already be involved in a relationship and doesn’t want to be caught on a date. Or, worse yet, that person may want to cause you harm in some manner. Either way, you don’t want to pursue the relationship further.

Red Flag #5: Lack of Contact Information

Once you have finally met with the special someone that you met online, it may be time to exchange additional contact information so you can take the relationship to the next level. If your new flame doesn’t want to give you anything more than an email address or his or her IM, it is a sign that he or she is playing games with you. A person that doesn’t want to give out contact information is usually already in a relationship or possibly even married. Don’t waste your time with someone that can’t commit to you or that cannot be honest about seeing other people. There are too many singles out there to spend your time playing second fiddle.