Skip to content

Home › Dating safely

Dating safely

Safe hookups: the grown-up rules of play

Casual should feel easy, not careless. Clear consent, safer sex, a sensible first meeting and zero patience for scammers. Here’s how, and what the site does in the background to help.

Consent · Sexual health · Meeting up · Scams · Our safety tools

A smiling woman with a drink at a busy rooftop bar at night, city towers lit up behind her, chatting with a man in the foreground
Sexual health

Safer sex, without the awkwardness

  1. Bring protection, and use itCondoms with every new partner. Bring your own rather than counting on theirs.
  2. Talk about it before you meetWhen you were last tested and what protection you’ll use. It’s easier in chat than in the moment.
  3. Get tested regularlyMany sexually transmitted infections have no symptoms. Regular checks are just part of an active sex life.
  4. Ask a professional what else fitsA doctor or sexual health clinic can talk you through options such as vaccinations and PrEP.
  5. If something goes wrong, act fastA split condom or a risk you regret? Emergency contraception and post-exposure treatment (PEP) work best the sooner you get them.
Meeting up

Meeting a stranger, the smart way

Chemistry online is a great start. A few habits make the first meeting relaxed instead of risky.

  1. Chat on the site firstKeep the conversation here until you’re comfortable. Your number, surname and address can wait.
  2. Do a quick video callTwo minutes on camera confirms they’re the person in the photos.
  3. First meeting: somewhere busyA bar or café with people around. If the spark is there, you can go somewhere more private later.
  4. Tell a friendWho you’re meeting, where and when. Arrange to text them when you’re home.
  5. Keep your own way homeYour own transport, your phone charged and your drink in sight.
  6. Leave whenever you likeYou don’t owe anyone the rest of the evening. If you feel unsafe, call the local emergency number.
Scams

Spot a scammer before they spot you

Scammers go where people are looking for connection. These are the moves to watch for.

  • Never send moneyNot for a ticket, a fee, an emergency or an “investment”. No gift cards, no crypto. Genuine people don’t ask.
  • Watch for the quick exitSomeone in a hurry to move to WhatsApp or another app is a classic warning sign. The site warns you when it spots it.
  • No video, no meetIf the camera is always “broken”, assume the photos aren’t theirs.
  • Keep intimate photos for laterDon’t send explicit images to someone you haven’t met. If anyone threatens to share yours, don’t pay: stop replying, keep the evidence and report it.
  • Too good to be true?Instant devotion, a dream job abroad, a sad story with a price tag: slow down and ask questions.
  • Look for the badgeA verified badge means that member chose to prove they’re a real person. No badge isn’t proof of a scam; a badge is a good sign.
Our side

The safety tools built into the site

What runs in the background while you flirt. Most of it you’ll never notice, which is the point. For everyday features, see how it works.

Know who you’re talking to

Optional checks that show who has proved they’re real.

ID verification

Optional: verify with a government ID and a blue-tick badge appears on your profile.

For you: a quick sign someone is genuine, and less risk of being catfished.

Video verification

A live video check with a moderator confirms someone is who they say, without any documents.

For you: proof of a real person, without handing over ID.

Age assurance

Age is estimated automatically, with extra checks where the law requires them.

For you: helps keep under-18s out.

You decide who gets close

What other members see, and who can reach you, is up to you.

Safe usernames

Other members see your username, not your real name or email address.

For you: harder for anyone to trace you to your social media.

Location privacy

Other members see your nearest town or city, not your address or live location.

For you: where you live stays private.

Instant blocking

Block someone and they can no longer contact you or see you.

For you: you control who gets to talk to you.

Easy reporting

Report a member or a piece of content quickly, from inside the site.

For you: our team can act on abuse and bad behaviour.

Keeping each other honest

Members help each other read the room.

Member ratings

Each member has a reputation score built from their behaviour and other members’ feedback.

For you: a quick read on who’s trustworthy before you reply.

One-click feedback

Rate an interaction up or down with a single click.

For you: good manners get noticed and bad experiences get flagged early.

Off-site contact alerts

Spots attempts to move your chat to outside apps such as WhatsApp, and warns you.

For you: a heads-up about one of the oldest scam moves.

Moderation in the background

Automated checks and human moderators working alongside each other.

Behaviour monitoring

Automated systems look for unusual or suspicious activity patterns.

For you: helps spot scammers, bots and bad actors early.

Content screening

Images, videos and text are screened when they’re uploaded, using AI and human review.

For you: helps keep harmful or inappropriate content off the site.

Explicit image protection

Images that may be sensitive are blurred, with a warning, until you choose to view them.

For you: you decide whether you see it.

Fast takedowns

Requests to remove unauthorised or harmful content get a rapid response.

For you: less exposure if your photos or details turn up where they shouldn’t.

Who’s behind it

Experience, support and standards

100M+members across our dating network
20+ yearsof experience running dating sites
24/7moderation and human support
  • Human support, day and nightA real support team, reachable through our support form and chat assistant.
  • Safety tips where you need themTips and reminders are built into the site, online and for meeting in person.
  • Secure infrastructureHosted on PCI-compliant cloud infrastructure with full SSL encryption.
  • Industry standardsWe follow best practice through our involvement with the Online Dating and Discovery Association.
If something’s off

Report it to us, and to the people who chase scammers

Use the report option on the profile or message, or our support form (choose “Report a member”). If you’ve lost money or shared bank details, call your bank first, then report it where you live:

In immediate danger? Call your local emergency number first.

Questions

Hookup safety: your questions

Are members verified?

No. ID and video verification are free and optional, so look for the badge. A verified member has proved they’re real; an unverified one simply hasn’t done it yet.

Do you run background checks on members?

No. We don’t run criminal background checks, so use the habits on this page with everyone you meet.

Someone I’m chatting with has asked for money. What now?

Don’t send it, whatever the story. Stop replying and report them from their profile or through our support form.

Someone is threatening to share my photos.

Don’t pay and don’t send anything else. Keep screenshots, block them, report them to us and to the police. Paying rarely makes it stop.

Can other members see where I live?

No. Your profile shows your nearest town or city, never your address or live location.

What if I change my mind on the night?

Then you’ve changed your mind. Say so, leave if you want to, and block or report anyone who doesn’t take it well.

Questions or worries?

Our support team is there 24/7 through the support form. And when you’re ready: count me in, it’s free.