There are often articles in the news about people being duped by internet scammers, so some level of wariness when it comes to your online interactions is always a good idea – safety first, safety second! However, as with all areas of life, if you take care of yourself and are aware of any potential problems, everything will run smoothly. Here are a few tips that will help you have a fun, enjoyable and, above all, safe dating experience.

Of course you’ll have to do a bit of initial messaging, but we recommend keeping it to the messaging system within MSF and swap numbers when you’ve actually met.

But on the other hand, as more and more dating apps give you the option to integrate your social media profiles into your online dating profile.

I thought about it this time last year, but all I managed to do was repeatedly download and then delete the Tinder and OKCupid apps on my phone — usually while I was sitting on the toilet. That said, since the Pew Research Center reports that 15 percent of American adults use online dating sites — and most of those adults are millennials like me— I felt like it was worth my time to learn all that I could about staying safe while dating online.

I spoke with online dating expert Laurie Davis to find out more. So if you want some expert advice on how to stay safe while dating online , read on. It may sound ridiculous, but according to eFlirt dating coach Laurie Davis, you need to Google yourself so you can “Know what is out there about you. As Davis put it, “Once someone has your full name, what will they find?

Based on what comes up, you may want to wait a date or two. I Googled myself just now and found images and info galore. As Davis told Bustle, “one of my clients found that her town posted the sale of her house on their website, and it came up on the first page of Google. Not only would a date now know her address, but they also would know how much she paid for her home.