Tinder Safe Meeting

1. Tinder Safe Meeting Log
2. How To Be Safe On A Tinder Date
3. How To Stay Safe When Meeting Someone From Tinder

Meeting new people is exciting, but you should always be cautious when interacting with someone you don’t know. Use your best judgment and put your safety first, whether you are exchanging initial messages or meeting in person. While you can’t control the actions of others, there are things you can do to help you stay safe during your Tinder experience.

1. A girl sent me a message and we struck up a conversation, she mentioned she might want to meet up but then tells me I have to register with this tinder safe dating website, with an address of Tinder-vcode.com. Everything looks normal until it asked for my credit card info, in order to verify 'that people are older than 18'.
2. Use your best judgment and put your safety first, whether you are exchanging initial messages or meeting in person. While you can’t control the actions of others, there are things you can do to help you stay safe during your Tinder experience. Never Send Money or Share Financial Information.

Let them know the name of the restaurant or bar. Tell them when you have arrived safely. Also, check in if the date is going on for a while. #3 Let someone know who you are meeting. The same goes for letting someone know the name of your Tinder date.

Online Safety

Tinder Safe Meeting Log

• Never Send Money or Share Financial Information

  Never send money, especially over wire transfer, even if the person claims to be in an emergency. Wiring money is like sending cash — it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace where the money went. Never share information that could be used to access your financial accounts. If another user asks you for money, report it to us immediately.

  For tips on avoiding romance scams, check out some advice from the U.S Federal Trade Commission on the FTC website.

• Protect Your Personal Information

  Never share personal information, such as your social security number, home or work address, or details about your daily routine (e.g., that you go to a certain gym every Monday) with people you don’t know. If you are a parent, limit the information that you share about your children on your profile and in early communications. Avoid sharing details such as your children’s names, where they go to school, or their ages or genders.

• Stay on the Platform

  Keep conversations on the Tinder platform while you’re getting to know someone. Because exchanges on Tinder are subject to our Safe Message Filters (learn more here), users with bad intentions often try to move the conversation to text, messaging apps, email, or phone right away.

• Be Wary of Long Distance and Overseas Relationships

  Watch out for scammers who claim to be from your country but stuck somewhere else, especially if they ask for financial help to return home. Be wary of anyone who will not meet in person or talk on a phone/video call—they may not be who they say they are. If someone is avoiding your questions or pushing for a serious relationship without meeting or getting to know you first — that’s a red flag.

• Report All Suspicious and Offensive Behavior

  You know when someone’s crossed the line and when they do, we want to know about it. Block and report anyone that violates our terms. Here are some examples of violations:

  • Requests for money or donations
  • Underage users
  • Harassment, threats, and offensive messages
  • Inappropriate or harmful behavior during or after meeting in person
  • Fraudulent profiles
  • Spam or solicitation including links to commercial websites or attempts to sell products or services

  You can report any concerns about suspicious behavior from any profile page or messaging window here. For more information, check out our Community Guidelines.

• Protect Your Account

  Be sure to pick a strong password, and always be careful when logging into your account from a public or shared computer. Tinder will never send you an email asking for your username and password information — if you receive an email asking for account information, report it immediately.

Meeting in Person

• Don’t Be In A Rush

  Take your time and get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or chat off Tinder. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to screen for any red flags or personal dealbreakers. A phone or video call can be a useful screening tool before meeting.

• Meet in Public and Stay in Public

  Meet for the first few times in a populated, public place — never at your home, your date’s home, or any other private location. If your date pressures you to go to a private location, end the date.

• Tell Friends and Family About Your Plans

  Tell a friend or family member of your plans, including when and where you’re going. Have your cell phone charged and with you at all times.

• Be in Control of Your Transportation

  We want you to be in control of how you get to and from your date so that you can leave whenever you want. If you’re driving yourself, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan such as a ride-share app or a friend to pick you up.

• Know Your Limits

  Be aware of the effects of drugs or alcohol on you specifically — they can impair your judgment and your alertness. If your date tries to pressure you to use drugs or drink more than you’re comfortable with, hold your ground and end the date.

• Don’t Leave Drinks or Personal Items Unattended

  Know where your drink comes from and know where it is at all times — only accept drinks poured or served directly from the bartender or server. Many substances that are slipped into drinks to facilitate sexual assault are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Also, keep your phone, purse, wallet, and anything containing personal information on you at all times.

• If You Feel Uncomfortable, Leave

  It’s okay to end the date early if you’re feeling uncomfortable. In fact, it’s encouraged. And if your instincts are telling you something is off or you feel unsafe, ask the bartender or server for help.

• LGBTQ+ Travel

  Be careful while traveling

  We recognize and believe in the importance of being inclusive of all gender identities and sexual orientations, but the reality is this: nowhere in the world is without potential risk, and some countries have specific laws that target LGBTQ+ people.

  Check out the laws around you when you travel to a new place and research what types of legal protection, if any, are available to you based on sexual orientation. In the event that you’re in unsafe territory, we suggest toggling off “Show me on Tinder” which you can find under the settings page.

  If you have added a sexual orientation to your profile and choose to be shown on Tinder, we will hide your sexual orientation from your profile until you leave that area.

  It’s important to exercise extra caution if you choose to connect with new people in these countries - as some law enforcement have been known to use dating apps as tools for potential entrapment. Some countries have also recently introduced laws that criminalize communications between individuals on same-sex dating applications or websites and even aggravate penalties if that communication leads to sexual encounters.

  Visit ILGA World to see the latest sexual orientation laws by country, and consider donating to support their research.

  Source: ILGA World, Updated March 2019

Sexual Health & Consent

• Protect Yourself

  When used correctly and consistently, condoms can significantly reduce the risk of contracting and passing on STI’s like HIV. But, be aware of STIs like herpes or HPV that can be passed on through skin-to-skin contact. The risk of contracting some STIs can be reduced through vaccination.

• Know Your Status

  Not all STIs show symptoms, and you don’t want to be in the dark about your status. Stay on top of your health and prevent the spread of STIs by getting tested regularly. Here’s where you can find a clinic near you (US only).

• Talk About It

  Communication is everything: Before you get physically intimate with a partner, talk about sexual health and STI testing. And be aware — in some places, it’s actually a crime to knowingly pass on an STI. Need help starting the conversation? Here are some tips.

• Consent

  All sexual activity must start with consent and should include ongoing check-ins with your partner. Verbal communication can help you and your partner ensure that you respect each other’s boundaries. Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and sex is never owed to anyone. Do not proceed if your partner seems uncomfortable or unsure, or if your partner is unable to consent due to the effects of drugs or alcohol. Read more about it here.

Resources for Help, Support, or Advice

Remember — even if you follow these tips, no method of risk reduction is perfect. If you have a negative experience, please know that it is not your fault and help is available. Report any incidents Tinder, and consider reaching out to one of the resources below. If you feel you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance, call 911 (U.S. or Canada) or your local law enforcement agency.

RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673) online.rainn.org www.rainn.org

Planned Parenthood
1-800-230-7526 www.plannedparenthood.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 www.thehotline.org

National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 www.humantraffickinghotline.org

National Sexual Violence Resource Center
1-877-739-3895 www.nsvrc.org

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678) www.cybertipline.com

How To Be Safe On A Tinder Date

Cyber Civil Rights Initiative
1-844-878-2274 www.cybercivilrights.org

VictimConnect - Crime Victim Resource Center
1-855-4VICTIM (855-484-2846) www.victimconnect.org

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
www.ic3.gov

LGBT National Help Center
1-888-843-4564 www.glbtnationalhelpcenter.org

Trans Lifeline
1-877-565-8860 (US) or 1-877-330-6366 (CA) www.translifeline.org

If you are outside the US:

• Click here for additional resources in many of the countries where we operate.
• Click here for information regarding international sexual orientation laws from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA).

We all have that one friend who has swiped right on Tinder more than they have had hot dinners.

Tinder is a dating app that matches users to other individuals based on geographic location. It works through a simple interface that allows users to swipe right to like or left to pass. If two users both like each other, it’s a match – and they are then able to chat through the app.

According to Tinder statistics, the app was processing one billion swipes per day by the end of 2014, and it has now risen to 1.6 billion swipes per day.

With more than 57 million Tinder users around the world in 190 countries, and 4.1 million paying subscribers, it is estimated that Tinder users go on one million dates per week. However, what precautions are in place to make sure that these dates are safe?

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in the UK alone, the number of Tinder-related police reports has doubled in the last three years alone.

In an article in the Daily Mail, It is estimated that the police now receive more than 20 reports a week linked to Tinder, whereas in 2015, only eight reports a week were filed with a total of 442 reports a year. Figures highlight in 2018, the number has risen to an estimation of 1,087 Tinder-related reports a year.

The nature of the crimes have not been listed; previous research done in the past has found a third of crimes involving dating apps are sexual assaults and rapes.

There is also a worry of fraudsters, rapist, and murderers using the app and imposing as other people to pry for victims. It is otherwise known as cat-fishing.

More than 20 police reports a week are linked to Tinder crimes

Chloe Smith 25, used to be a regular Tinder dater, who has had more bad experiences than good. “I’ve met several guys from Tinder who on the app seem to be perfect, everything I am looking for until I meet them and they are not what they seem. From my experience of the app they all want to have sex and are very possessive and controlling,” she explains.

“It is horrifying because over the phone they look and act differently but when you meet them, it’s actually the complete opposite. In a way, when you look at it, you fall for whatever persona that person has created via the phone and not who they really are. The worst date I had was when this one guy said he was 6ft 5in and when we met he was smaller than me and looked nothing like his profile picture and was a complete creep,” she says.

“In a way, I felt violated because I had been lied to so many times and reality got distorted between these fake worlds and lies which I was manipulated to believe, but it was also a wake-up call for me to stop playing on apps like this because it can be really dangerous,” concludes Chloe.

In November 2018 Netflix released a true crime series called Dirty John, which is based on real-life events. John Meehan, the protagonist of the show, meets Debra on a dating app where he manipulates her into believing he was Mr Perfect and ended up being nothing but a liar and a psychopath. The show is a prime example of the unthinkable dangers surrounding internet dating.

Online relationships present problems (Pixabay:Geralt]

In an interview with The Guardian, Jeremy Wright, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, said: “I will be writing to these companies asking what measures they have in place to keep children safe from harm, including verifying their age. If I’m not satisfied with their response, I reserve the right to take further action.”

Freedom of information requests were sent to every police force in the UK. Many police forces did not respond to the request, meaning the true nature of Tinder related crimes has not been exposed yet, and this suggests the problem is likely to be even worse than expected.

So far it has been revealed that Devon and Cornwall have the most Tinder-related call-outs in the UK. With 86 reports filed in a year to December 10, 2018, it was estimated that this would have risen to 91 by the end of the year. Essex and the West Midlands were very close behind with 84 and 83 retrospectively.

The changing face of dating – and the associated risks – have prompted some innovative responses by police. Avon and Somerset’s police placed its own lonely hearts listing on Tinder in 2015 – using the name Bobby – to warn users to stay safe when meeting strangers.

A prime example of Tinder-related crimes in the UK is the case of Kris Lyndsay, a serial con-artist, from St Austell in Cornwall, who is now nearly at the end of a four-year sentence.

Lyndsay was convicted in 2016, for using Tinder to lure women. He would use the sob story of him having lost his wife and daughter in a car crash to win their trust and boast about his fictitious businesses. He managed to con his victims out of a quarter of million pounds.

“The Sunday Times revealed there had been 60 further cases of child sexual offences via online dating services”

In 2017, Jonathan Frame was jailed for 18 months following a similar scam. The 32 year-old from Swinton in Greater Manchester, would take control of his partners’ bank accounts to fund a lavish lifestyle. He admitted defrauding two women of just over £10,000.

Other data, released to The Sunday Times under Freedom of Information laws, revealed that there had been 60 further cases of child sexual offences via online dating services, including grooming, kidnapping, and violent sexual assault.

How To Stay Safe When Meeting Someone From Tinder

The youngest victim was said to be eight years old. The statistics come after teaching assistant, Anna Rowe, 44, revealed how she went to the police after being duped into an affair with a married father she met on Tinder.

After the release of these statistics, it is evident that more needs to be done actively by the authorities to protect Tinder users, especially with the high footfall of users that the app has.

It could be argued that the issue itself lies within the poor safety and security screening of the app where users should be appropriately verified to help prevent Tinder crimes, or maybe the problem itself lies with authorities for not having enough safety measures for such crimes.

Featured image by Tumisu via Pixabay