Dating safety and reporting

Protect personal information

Use a broad neighborhood, keep contact details off public cards, and never send money or login codes.

Plan a public first meeting

Choose a populated place, tell someone you trust, arrange your own transportation, and leave if the situation does not feel right.

Recognize common warning signs

Pressure, inconsistent stories, requests for money, investment pitches, urgency, threats, and refusal to respect a boundary are reasons to stop the conversation. Read the FTC guidance on romance scams.

Close and report

Close a conversation to stop messages and report harassment, explicit content, impersonation, spam, or another safety concern. If money or financial information was involved, contact the payment provider or bank promptly and use the FTC’s ReportFraud service.

Prepare before the conversation starts

Review how to write a safer dating post and send a respectful first message.