5. Use neutral party check-ins to stay safe
When you decide to meet your online date in person, set up a safety net, so someone knows where you are and when you’ll be back. Whether it’s your roommate, best friend, or mom, tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll check in (by texting or calling).
There are also apps out there that can alert emergency services or your trusted contacts, if you turn it on. Think of it like a panic button. There are many of these on the market such as Kitestring or BSafe.
As a last resort, if you’re in a public space, don’t hesitate to let someone know that you don’t feel safe. If your date is making you uncomfortable, excuse yourself to go to the bathroom and notify the bartender, server, or other personnel that you don’t feel safe and need help to leave without making a scene.
Just knowing that someone else is watching out for you can make you feel more comfortable about making the leap to meeting people in person.
6. Do a background check
Catfishing and scamming are unfortunately becoming common issues in the online dating world. If something feels fishy, be sure to Google your new friend and look for some warning signs, as it’s possible they’re aren’t who they say they are. Ask yourself.

How many friends do they have on their social media account(s)?
Are those friends all men or all women?
Do they have multiple profiles on one social media platform?
Do they have profiles on multiple social media platforms?
Do they interact with friends online?
Use reverse image search to make sure their photos aren’t stolen from another profile
Look them up on Spokeo
Find out if they’re using a script to talk to you
Check to see if their profile images are altered

You can never be too careful. There are a lot of tools online for checking to see if someone is who they say they are. […]