Dating safety guides
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Setting Boundaries and Communicating Consent Safely in Online Dating
Conversations about consent and boundaries can feel like they belong to the in-person part of dating, but the reality is they start much earlier — in the messages, calls and early meetings that make up online dating. Getting comfortable communicating boundaries clearly, and recognising when someone isn’t respecting yours, is a genuine safety skill, not…
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Long-Distance Online Relationships: Extra Safety Precautions When You Can’t Meet in Person
Genuine long-distance relationships that start online are common and can absolutely work — but distance also happens to be one of the most useful tools a romance scammer has, since it provides a ready-made explanation for almost every safety check you’d normally apply. Knowing where the line sits between ordinary long-distance dating and a manufactured…
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Military and Overseas Romance Scams: A Specific Tactic to Recognise
Among the many variations of romance fraud, one particular tactic shows up so consistently that it’s worth recognising on its own: a profile claiming to be a member of the armed forces, typically deployed overseas, building an emotional connection before eventually asking for money. Understanding exactly how this specific version of the scam is engineered…
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Dating App Safety Features: Panic Buttons, Location Sharing and Check-In Tools Explained
Major dating apps have quietly built a surprising amount of built-in safety infrastructure over the past few years — features that go well beyond the block and report buttons most users are already familiar with. Knowing what’s actually available, and how each feature works, means you can use them properly rather than assuming they exist.…
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Video Call Verification Before Meeting: Why and How to Do It Right
Photos on a dating profile can be old, filtered, stolen, or in the worst cases, someone else entirely. A real-time video call closes most of that gap in a way that messaging and even phone calls can’t — which is why UK police forces consistently recommend it as a standard step before meeting anyone from…
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Recovering After a Romance Scam: Reporting, Support and Next Steps
Victim Support and Action Fraud guidance on the practical and emotional steps to take after a romance scam, including free specialist support services.
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Sextortion in Online Dating: How It Happens and What to Do
NCSC guidance on sextortion scams: how they typically unfold in online dating contexts, and the practical steps to take if you’re targeted.
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LGBTQ+ Dating Safety: Extra Precautions and Where to Get Support
Galop, the UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, highlights specific safety risks LGBTQ+ people can face when dating online, and the support services available.
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What to Share and What to Withhold: Safe Messaging in Early Online Conversations
Get Safe Online guidance on pacing personal disclosure in early dating app conversations, and why staying on-platform matters more than it seems.
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Catfishing Explained: How It Differs From Romance Scams and How to Spot It
Get Safe Online and Action Fraud guidance on catfishing: how a fake identity differs from a full romance scam, and the checks that reveal a false profile.