Tips for Staying Safe Online
 
For most online dating sites you are most likely to meet another member who lives in your local area. Although we have a number of expat members on DateBritishGuys.com (such as British guys living in the US), you may be connecting with someone who is living many thousands of miles away from you.
 
Follow the below tips to make your online dating experience safe and enjoyable:
 
Protecting Yourself:
 
Recognizing an Online Dating Scam Artist
 
There are certain red flags to watch for that may indicate you're dealing with a scammer: Be aware of anyone who:
  • Presses you to leave the dating website you met through and to communicate using personal email or instant messaging
  • Professes instant feelings of love and/or shows signs of wanting to get married very quickly
  • Sends you a photograph of himself or herself that looks like something from a glamour magazine
  • Makes plans to visit you but is then unable to do so because of a tragic event; or
  • Asks for money for a variety of reasons (travel, medical emergencies, hotel bills, hospital bills for child or other relative, visas or other official documents, losses from a financial setback or crime victimization)
While using DateBritishGuys.com, be also aware of the following technique used by scammers who claim to be British:
  • Members who claim to be from the UK and are traveling or working overseas, and/or who claim they are of a different nationality but own property in the UK.
 
Fraud Awareness
 
NEVER share your personal or financial information with people you don't know. Make sure to follow these guidelines at all times when meeting new people online:
  • Do not ever send money to someone you meet online, especially by wire transfer. Keep in mind that wiring money is like sending cash: the sender has no protections against loss. Scammers often insist that people wire money, especially overseas, because it's nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Don't wire money to strangers or to someone who claims to be in an emergency (and wants to keep the request a secret). Scammers have also been known to request people to deposit large cashiers checks on their behalf as they are on a business trip or due to an emergency. The cashiers check then turns out to be counterfeit.
  • Do not give out your credit card number or bank information
  • Do not share your personal information, such as your social security number, address, phone, etc.
 
Practical Tips for dating online and off
 
Always exercise caution when communicating with any stranger who wants to meet you. You are in control of your online dating experience at all times, so we recommend remaining anonymous until you feel ready. Remember to always trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe or threatened, cease communication and report any misbehavior immediately.
 
Guard your identity
 
Don't share your real name, personal phone number, email address, home address, place of work or any other identifying information while emailing until you have established a reasonable level of trust with the other member. Do not post personal contact information in your profile or username.
 
Protect your online access information
 
Use caution when accessing your account from a public or shared computer so that others are not able to view or record your password or other personal information. If you share your computer with others, make sure you don’t save your username and password for DateBritishGuys.com.
 
Get to know the other person online before meeting them offline
 
Protect your anonymity to get to know someone before meeting them in person. If you would like more information about someone, we recommend researching online.
 
Block and report abusive users
 
“Blocklist” any member who behaves or treats you in an abusive way and report the behavior to DateBritishGuys.com immediately. By “blocklisting” someone (using the red trash can icon on a member’s profile) you are ensuring that they can no longer contact you, and will never again appear in your searches. Stop communicating immediately with anyone who pressures you for personal or financial information.
 
Report any violations of our terms of use
 
Examples of violations of our terms and conditions include:
  • Married people or minors using the service
  • Members sending harassing or offensive emails
  • Members asking you for money or donations
  • Members behaving inappropriately after meeting in person
  • Fraudulent registration or profiles
  • Spam or solicitation
  • Copyright infringement
  • Any other violation of DateBritishGuys.com’s terms and conditions
 
Please email info@datebritishguys.com to report any violations, suspicious activity or behavior.
 
Safety Tips for Meeting Offline
 
First meetings are exciting, however, always take precautions and use the following guidelines:
 
Always meet in public
 
Meet for the first time in a busy, public location such as a restaurant, coffee shop or shopping mall – never in a private or remote location.
 
Tell a friend
 
Inform a friend or family member of your plans and when and where you're going. If you own a mobile phone, make sure you have it with you.
 
Stay in control
 
Do not do anything that would impair your judgment, such as excessive alcohol consumption or drug use and cause you to make a decision you could regret.
 
Have a plan for getting to and from the first meeting
 
Just in case things don't work out, you need to be in control of your own ride – even if you take a taxi.
 
Don't leave personal items unattended
 
You don't want to risk having personal information stolen. If you're drinking, keep your drink with you at all times to it can't be tampered with.
 
Stay in a public place
 
You don't want to risk having personal information stolen. If you're drinking, keep your drink with you at all times to it can't be tampered with.
 
Long-Distance Dating
 
Many of our British male members are expats from the UK living abroad. However, most of them are Brits living in the UK, meaning that one of you may need to travel to be able to meet in person. This can pose special safety concerns which need to be considered before taking a trip to meet someone. Before doing so, ask yourself these questions:
  • Does this person seem just too...perfect? As mom said, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." A member who has several professional-quality photographs on their profile may have just taken photos of models from the internet and used them as their own.
  • Have I found out all I can about this person? Remember that doing your research and checking someone out before meeting them in person is not creepy; it is necessary for your personal safety.
 
Here are a few additional guidelines when meeting someone in person:
  • Stay in a hotel, bed and breakfast or other temporary accommodation. Do not stay in the other person's home.
  • Use a taxi or rental car to get to and from the airport.
  • Even if the person you're meeting volunteers to pick you up from the airport, do not get into a personal vehicle with someone you've never met.
  • Keep your hotel location confidential.
  • The person you're meeting should respect your privacy until you know each other better. If they do not, it may not be safe to continue dating them.
  • Remember to keep your family and friends posted about your whereabouts. Tell them who you are meeting, where you are going and when you will return.
 
DateBritishGuys.com features for online safety
 
DBG has certain special features to minimize the number of scammers using the site, and to empower our users to make the best possible decisions when communicating with other members.
 
Here are some of the ways we keep our members safe:
 
Member verification:
 
When members register with DBG, we give them the option to verify themselves. Any member who is listed as “verified” on their profile has submitted at least one photo to their profile, as well as a copy of their photo ID. As part of the process, we compare the photo on their ID and their profile picture to make sure they match. This way, we can also verify their nationality (so any British guy who’s verified has proven he’s 100% British), as well as ensure they are at least 18 years old.
 
“Blocklist” feature:
 
A great feature on DateBritishGuys.com is the “blocklist.” By adding a member who is contacting you and who you’re not interested in to your “blocklist” prevents them from contacting you again. Members who are on your “blocklist” will also not appear in your searches. To add a member to your “blocklist”, click on the red trash can icon on their profile page.
 
At DateBritishGuys.com, we care about keeping all of our members safe. Please therefore report any suspicious activity or behavior to us immediately by emailing info@datebritishguys.com. By reporting your concerns to DateBritishGuys.com you’re helping to keep our online community safe and enjoyable for everyone.