Mix
your own drinks/Don’t leave drinks unattended:
Getting you drunk or giving you knockout drops is an easy way to cloud
your judgment.
Find
out who your date is:
Ask for your date’s first name, where they work and live, what
they like and do not like. Ask around if anyone knows the person.
Introduce
your date to others:
Introduce your date to your friends or the bartender. Tell a friend
where you are going. Make sure your date knows you spread the word
about them.
Protect
your valuables:
Do not carry extra cash. If you bring someone home, do not leave your
wallet, cash or valuables in sight. Your possessions and the person
you brought home could all be gone while you are in the shower or
sleeping.
Online
Safety Tips - Keep yourself safe:
Protect
your security. Never give anyone else your password. No matter
why they say they need it or who they say they are, they don’t.
If someone asks you for your password, report them to your online
service provider. If you think someone knows your password, change
it.
Protect
your privacy. Surfing the ‘net seems anonymous, but Web sites
you visit may gather your e-mail address or other information, or
record which sites you’ve visited in a "cookie" which
they or another site can retrieve later, without your knowledge or
consent. Learn about the privacy and security features of your Web
browser, and use them. For example, you may want to get a warning
if a site tries to give you a cookie, or disable cookies altogether.
You can customize your Web browser’s e-mail settings to use a
pseudonym instead of your real name, and a blank or false e-mail address.
If you want to give someone your real name or e-mail address, you
can give it to them in your message.
Be
cautious about revealing information that could identify you.
For example, if you give someone your listed phone number, they can
get your real name and street address.
Remember
that when you meet someone you've chatted with online, you're really
meeting them for the first time. When you’re online you don’t
have non-verbal cues such as voice inflection or body language to
guide your judgement of their honesty or intentions.
For
your first meeting, pick a place that’s public and neutral.
If you’re traveling to visit them in their town or neighborhood,
you should pick a place you’re comfortable with when you arrive.
Read
our safe dating tips above for other safety tips to keep in mind
for that first date.
Report
it. If you're in the New York area, call the AVP hotline at 24-Hour
Hotline if you're harassed online or victimized by someone you've
met. All of AVP's services are free and confidential.
Elsewhere
in the United States, to find the nearest anti-violence program,
you can review the AVP
list, or call (212) 714-1184. You don't have to deal with it alone.
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