Stay Safe

Meeting new people is exciting — and it should also feel safe. This guide is not about fear. It is about equipping you with the awareness and habits that let you enjoy connecting with others while protecting yourself. Most people are decent. A small number are not. These practices help you tell the difference early and respond accordingly.

Protect Personal Information

In the early stages of getting to know someone, be thoughtful about what you share. You can build trust gradually — there is no reason to hand over your life story on day one.

Information worth guarding until trust is established:

• Your full name. A first name or nickname is enough for early conversations. Your full name, combined with other details, can make you easy to find online.
• Your exact workplace. Sharing your industry or the kind of work you do is fine. Sharing your company name, office location, or professional email is something to reserve for someone you have met and trust.
• Your home address. Do not share this before you have met and built genuine trust. Arrange your own transport for first meetings so there is no need for anyone to pick you up or drop you home.
• Your daily routines. Details about where you work out, which café you visit every morning, or your regular commute can reveal more about your location and schedule than you might realise.
• Financial information. Never share banking details, UPI IDs, credit card information, or any financial data with someone you have met through a dating platform. Ever. There is no legitimate reason for anyone to ask.

Check Profile Authenticity

Most profiles are genuine, but fake ones exist on every platform. Here are signs worth paying attention to:

• Inconsistent information. Someone says they live in Mumbai but their photos show a city you do not recognise, or their story about their job changes between conversations. Small inconsistencies add up.
• Refusal to video chat. In 2026, there are few genuine reasons to consistently avoid a quick video call. Someone who always has an excuse — broken camera, bad connection, "I am shy" for weeks on end — may not be who they claim to be.
• Photos that look too polished or generic. A single professional-looking photo, images that look like stock photography, or pictures that seem to show different people — these are worth noting.
• Pressure to move off the platform quickly. Someone who immediately wants your WhatsApp number, Instagram handle, or personal contact details before you have had a real conversation may be trying to bypass platform safeguards.
• Reverse image search. If something feels off about someone's photos, a reverse image search can help you check whether those images appear elsewhere on the internet under different names. This is a simple, free step that takes two minutes.

Avoid Financial Scams

Financial scammers target dating platforms because emotional connection can be exploited. Knowing the common patterns helps you recognise them early.

These are all red flags — disengage immediately if someone you have not met in person:

• Asks you for money for any reason — an emergency, a medical bill, a travel expense, a family crisis
• Requests gift cards or asks you to purchase anything on their behalf
• Asks for your banking or UPI details under any pretext
• Pitches an investment opportunity — especially cryptocurrency or trading schemes
• Shares a story of sudden hardship that requires financial help, often after building emotional rapport over days or weeks
• Sends you money first and asks you to forward it elsewhere — this can be part of money laundering

Scammers are often patient and skilled at building trust. They may talk to you for weeks before making a financial request. The pattern is consistent: emotional connection first, urgent financial need second. Recognise the pattern and you can spot it regardless of the specific story.

First Meeting Safety

A thoughtful approach to your first meeting helps you relax and enjoy it — because you know you have taken sensible precautions. Here is what works:

• Meet in a public place. A café, a busy restaurant, a popular bar, a shopping centre, a well-known park during daylight hours. Choose somewhere you already know or can easily research. Specific ideas: a CCD or Starbucks during the afternoon, a popular pub with good crowds, a restaurant in a busy neighbourhood like Bandra or Indiranagar or Hauz Khas — well-lit, well-populated places where you feel comfortable.
• Arrange your own transport. Drive yourself, take a cab, use the metro. Do not rely on the other person for transport, and do not accept a ride home on the first meeting. Being in someone else's vehicle puts you in a less controlled situation.
• Tell a trusted person. Let a friend know where you are going, who you are meeting, and when you expect to be back. Share the person's name and any details you have. Check in with your friend after the meeting. This is not paranoia — it is a simple safety habit.
• Keep it simple. A first meeting does not need to be a full evening. Coffee or a drink is ideal — it gives you an easy exit if things do not feel right, and it can always be extended if the chemistry is there.
• Limit alcohol. A drink is fine. Multiple drinks reduce your judgment and your ability to assess the situation clearly. Stay within a range where you feel fully in control.
• Keep your phone charged and with you. Make sure you have enough battery to call for transport or contact someone if needed. Keep your phone on your person, not left unattended on a table.

Consent and Boundaries

Consent is not complicated, but it is specific. Four principles make it clear:

• Freely given. Consent is a choice made without pressure, manipulation, guilt, or intoxication. If someone is too drunk to make decisions clearly, they cannot consent — and neither can you. Wait until everyone is clear-headed.
• Specific. Saying yes to one thing does not mean yes to everything. Consent to kissing is not consent to more. Consent last week is not consent today. Each new step, each new encounter — it all needs its own yes.
• Ongoing. Consent can be withdrawn at any moment, for any reason, and that withdrawal must be respected immediately. Someone changing their mind halfway through is not a rejection of you personally — it is an exercise of their right to decide what happens to their body.
• Reversible. Anyone can change their mind at any time. "I thought I wanted this but I do not" is a complete sentence. Stop, check in, and respect where they are.

These principles apply to you and to the person you are with — equally. Your boundaries deserve the same respect you give to theirs.

Sexual Health

Taking care of your sexual health is part of taking care of yourself and the people you are intimate with. It is not awkward — it is responsible.

• Get tested regularly. If you are sexually active, regular testing is a responsible habit — not something you do only when something feels wrong. Many clinics in Indian cities offer confidential testing.
• Talk before you are intimate. Have the conversation about protection, testing, and expectations before clothes come off — not in the heat of the moment. A clear-headed conversation leads to better decisions.
• Use protection. Carry your own. Do not rely on the other person to have it. Being prepared is not presumptuous — it is responsible.
• Be honest about your status. If you have an STI, disclose it before intimacy. It may be an uncomfortable conversation, but it is the right one. Everyone deserves the information they need to make their own choices about their body.
• No medical advice here. This guide offers practical suggestions, not medical guidance. Consult a healthcare provider for personalised advice about sexual health, testing frequency, and protection options.

Safety Checklist

Report Suspicious Behaviour

If someone makes you uncomfortable, crosses a boundary, or behaves in a way that feels wrong, you have options:

• Document what happened. Take screenshots of concerning messages or profile details. Note dates and what was said. This helps if you need to report the person or if the situation escalates.
• Block the person. You do not need to explain yourself or give them another chance. Blocking is not rude — it is a boundary. Use it without guilt.
• Report to the platform. Use our reporting feature to flag concerning behaviour. Your report helps protect the wider community. We review every report and take action based on our guidelines.
• Contact authorities if needed. If someone threatens you, stalks you, or makes you fear for your safety, contact local police. Threats and harassment are not just platform violations — they are legal matters.
• You are not alone. If something happened that has left you shaken, talk to someone you trust. You do not have to process it by yourself.

For the full picture on expected behaviour, read our Community Guidelines. If you need to reach us, visit our Contact page.