3. Don't divulge personal information on your dating site profile: This means your name, phone number, physical address, work address, website address, or e-mail address. Mr. Wrong could find you and things could go horribly wrong.
4. Talk through the dating site only: Most dating websites have their own e-mail services and chat lounges. Take it slow. If he"s curious, he will want to get acquainted and will want you to be comfortable. A good one can wait. Will you be able to?.
5. Get a Yahoo or Hotmail e-mail account when e-mailing in private to your new dating interest. Save copies of your e-mail communications should something suspicious develop. Trade photos. Study him from numerous angles should he cruise through your neighborhood or appear on your doorstep out of the blue.
6. Let your first phone call to him from a pay phone: Make it difficult if not impossible for him to find you. Engage in phone infatuation in the beginning. Conversation and tone of voice speaks volumes. Question him about his family, friends, work, hobbies, hopes, dreams, disappointments. Take notes if you have to. It may seem a little extreme, but your safety is of the utmost importance. Listen for warning signs: Irrational explosions of anger, unrealistic requests or demands, controlling attitudes, derogatory remarks.
7. Do a background check: See if he is who he says he is. Check his marital status. The place where he says he works, the college he says he attends. Wouldn't you like to know if he has a criminal record or lied on his profile?.
8. Tell a trusted friend of your plans: Even in the early getting-to-know-you phase. You don't have to describe every little detail, but do let someone know you"re using a dating site should something go wrong. If your new online love interest seems to be Mr. Right and you two plan to meet somewhere in person, let your confidante know who Mr. Right is, and even supply her with the notes you"ve taken about him.