Guess what? There are scary people out there on the internet and the world of online dating. There are dishonest, creepy people who prey on the lonely and the vulnerable. Goodness me, that internet! It's just like the real world, really. Millions of amazing people with whom you could be perfectly happy, but the few unsavory people and incidents get all the press.

So if you are ready to move on with your life and start meeting some great people to date, read on and pay attention to these tips.

Online Dating Safety Tips

Pick a reputable dating service. The bigger, the safer. Hey, big brand names have the not to lose from lawsuits so they are going to do the best job of safe guarding their members. Cynical? True, none the less.

Don't share personal information on your profile, dummy. Come on now, don't we know better than that? Actually a lot of people don't. Their online profile name is actually their first and last name, they list where they work in their profile. All the kind of stuff you tell your teenage children not to do. The time for sharing personal information is when you have had contact with someone for a while and are exchanging personal emails or texts, not publics ones.

Trust your instincts. Most people slightly embellish their online dating profiles to show themselves in the best light. There's a difference between that and being totally dishonest. If something seems not quite right with someone, trust your instinct. if their profile seems too good to be true, maybe it isn't true. If someone is pushing you to meet, or share your phone number before you are comfortable and ready, that might be a red flag.

Google is your friend. There was a recent case where a young woman was tragically a victim of date rape with a man whom she met through an online dating service. Reportedly she googled the man’s name immediately following the attack and found out he was a registered sex offender. I am extremely sorry for experience. But my policy when online dating was google the guy’s information before I met him. In fact, the first two men I dated were teachers and I chose them based on the pure fact that I know they had to have passed a criminal background check to get their credential. That’s not guaranteed, but it’s a good start. Does the person or live work where they say they do? You can find out a lot on the internet.

Pick a public place to meet. Make sure that your first few dates are in a place with lots of people around. Take separate cars if you start a date at one location and move to another. Make any valid excuse you need to make it seem like a legitimate need, as you don’t want to offend someone. But it’s just common sense not to get into a car with someone who is, after all, a stranger.

Have a virtual chaperone. Technology is a great thing. When I dated I had a friend who was my virtual chaperone. She always knew who I was meeting, where, what time and when I expected to be back. I texted her when I got home or whenever my plans changed. Listen, if you live alone it can be awhile before someone notices you didn’t come home or didn’t show up for work or school. Sad but true and it’s sensible to protect yourself.

So you can see that these are just some common sense practical steps you can take to ensure your safety when using an online dating service. Hundreds of thousands successfully date and ultimately find their true love through online dating services every year, please don’t be scared off by the few bad incidents that make the press. To set yourself up for online dating bliss, follow safety and other tips in the best free online dating success guide. Use your common sense and trust your instincts.