So, you've been communicating with someone within the safety of the website for awhile and you feel ready to meet in person. There are a number of things that you can (and should) do to stay safe when meeting someone in person for the first time.
- Get to know the other person before moving off site. CatholicMatch performs checks for behaviors common in scammers and others with malicious intentions, however, you can also learn more about a person by conducting a background check, searching for their name in a search engine or reviewing public records made available by government offices. Video chatting securely through our site is a great way to verify that someone appears to be who they claim to be!
- Always meet in public. Always meet for the first time in an area that is populated and where there is a lot of visibility. Never meet in a private, remote area, or at your date’s home or apartment.
- Stay in a public place. Even if the date seems to be going well, make sure to stay in a public place for the duration of your first date. If your date pressures you to go back to his or her place or to another private location, end the date and leave at once.
- Tell a friend. Let a trusted friend or family member where you’ll be going and who you’ll be meeting. Schedule a time to call after the anticipated end of the date to check in.
- Stay Sober. Keep a clear mind and ensure that you do not do anything that might cause your judgement to become cloudy or that you might do something out of character.
- Arrange your own transportation. Just in case things don’t go as planned, you’ll want to make sure that you aren’t stranded and that you aren’t forced into an uncomfortable position. If you don’t have your own vehicle, consider a taxi, Uber, or Lyft service.
- Keep your personal items with you at all times. You don’t want to risk having anything stolen from you, such as your identification, cards or money. Keep your drink with you at all times so that it can’t be tampered with.
- Don’t Overshare. Don’t give specifics about where you or loved ones live and work. Information about financial accounts, income level, social security numbers, investments and other personal assets should always be off limits.
For long distance meetings, we would also recommend the following:
- Stay in a hotel. Check into your own room and avoid staying in the other person’s home. If you can’t afford a hotel, you shouldn’t go.
- Use a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or rental car for transportation. Even if the person you’re meeting offers to pick you up, it’s important to secure your own transportation so that you aren’t stranded in the event that something doesn’t go as planned.
- Keep your lodging information private. The person you’re meeting should respect your privacy until you know each other a bit better.