If someone gives you the eerie vibes or pushes you to send uncomfortable selfies, stop immediately. You do not have to comply. Never send them anything that could be used against you. Report the profile immediately to admin if things escalate.
It can feel scary to stop talking to someone. You may fear retaliation. This happens when you are not very experienced with dealing with online dating. You do not have to be afraid to unmatch someone. You don’t owe anyone anything. If someone doesn’t make you feel comfortable, it is fine to leave.
Keep all conversations and chats on the platform. Do not give out your personal information or take the chat to a third party. Criminals will likely ask you to take the conversation somewhere else.
Taking the conversation off-record is very dangerous. The most important reason to keep everyone on the platform is to have digital traces officially. If you continue the chat somewhere else, in the off chance that the person turns out to be bad, you have no way of proving it or reporting it to the platform or the police.
Also, trust your instincts. If someone feels off or feels too mature to be a teen, perhaps he really isn’t. There are criminals stealing photos of random teens online and pretending to be them. But there are things they can’t pretend like the way millennials talk and act. You know your generation the best. Don’t hesitate to move on if something doesn’t add up.
Finally, always tell your trusted friends and family when you are about to meet someone or you have been talking to someone for a while. This is extra security for you as you should have someone close by who knows about your dating life. Seek help when necessary. Never be ashamed of using online dating sites.
For those who are not experienced with online dating, it can be difficult to spot fake profiles. Some fake accounts are as obvious as the shining sun, but others are well-hidden with clear camouflage.
The first and the easiest way to discover a fake profile is to do a reverse image search. Drop all the photos on a profile on the search engine to see what results come up. If there is nothing, that is a good sign as it usually indicates the photos are authentic and have never been published on the internet.
It is a major red flag if you find the photos on stock photo sites. That means the photos are stolen from there and you are not talking to a real person. There is almost no chance that someone would use their own stock photos on their dating profiles.
Then, once you have found the person on social media, check to see if the information and name match. Most criminals would steal the photos and give the person a new name and information. If you find a totally different person online, there is a big chance that you are talking to a catfish.
You can question your date all you want, but the answer is obvious. The more you talk, the more likely he will lure you back into the trap.
When you are on any online dating site, you always have to power to instantly unmatch and block that person
The best thing to do when you spot something fishy is to report it to the authority and leave. Don’t waste your time arguing with them. Do your duty and let the platform investigate further.
Summary
Young teens should not be excluded from the online dating world. There is a way to meet new people for everyone.