Safety Tips

Connecting with new people is exciting, but your safety should always come first. We've put together these safety tips and best practices to help guide you through both online interactions and in-person meetups. Please take a moment to read these tips. While we work hard to keep Connections safe, you are the best line of defense in ensuring your own safety.

Online Safety Measures

Protect Your Finances: Never share your financial information or send money to someone you've met on Connections. This includes banking details, credit card numbers, wire transfer information, or cryptocurrency wallet addresses. No legitimate connection should ever require you to send them money. Be wary of any sob stories - scammers often impersonate people in urgent need (a medical emergency, a stuck traveler, etc.) to trick you into sending funds. Connections will never ask you for money and is not responsible for losses from fraudulent schemes, so please stay alert.
Guard Personal Information: Keep personal and sensitive information private until you fully trust someone. Do not rush to share things like your full name, home or work address, daily routine, phone number, email, or social media profiles with someone you've just met online. Scammers or ill-intentioned individuals can misuse these details. Use Connections's messaging platform to chat - that way your personal contact info stays confidential.
Stay on the Platform: Keep conversations on Connections while you're getting to know someone. Bad actors often try to quickly move to texting, messaging apps, or email where there's less oversight and they might more easily obtain your info or behave inappropriately. By staying on Connections, you can take advantage of our safety tools (like reporting and blocking) and give yourself time to evaluate the person. Plus, if something goes wrong off-platform, our ability to assist may be limited.
Be Wary of Long-Distance Schemes: Be cautious if someone claims to be from your area but is currently 'stuck' far away, or if you develop a connection with someone who consistently avoids meeting or video chatting. Scammers often pretend to be abroad (e.g., working on an oil rig, deployed in the military, or doing charity work overseas) to fabricate excuses for not meeting in person - and then they may ask for money to help them return home or resolve a crisis. If someone you haven't met in real life professes strong feelings quickly and pushes for a serious relationship without in-person interaction, consider that a red flag. Authentic connections take time and real-world verification.
Report Suspicious Behavior: If someone you're communicating with makes you feel uncomfortable or violates our policies, block and report them immediately. Trust your instincts. Examples of red-flag behavior include:
- Requests for money or donations (no matter how convincing the reason).
- Claims of desperate situations that require your financial help.
- Anyone who appears to be under 18. (All users must be adults.)
- Harassment, threats, or extremely manipulative behavior.
- Inappropriate or overly sexual messages that make you uneasy.
- Attempts to get your personal data (like asking weird questions about where exactly you live, work, or your IDs).
- Offers to sell you products or invest in opportunities.
- Any attempt to get you to click on external links or download files.
Connections provides in-app reporting tools on profiles and messages - please use them. You can also email us at connections@dating-universe.com with details. We take reports seriously; reporting helps keep the community safe. Don't hesitate - if you feel something's off, let us know.
Secure Your Account: Use a strong, unique password for your Connections account and do not share it with anyone. Connections will never ask you for your password or verification codes. If you ever receive messages asking for login information, do not respond. We also recommend enabling any additional security features we offer (like two-factor authentication, if available). Regularly review your account settings and privacy preferences. If you suspect someone else has accessed your account, change your password immediately and inform us.

Meeting in Person

Take Your Time: Don't rush into an in-person meeting. Take the time to chat and get comfortable via messages or video calls first. Don't feel pressured to meet if you're not ready. Ask questions and pay attention to any inconsistencies in their stories. If anything doesn't add up or you feel uneasy, it's okay to postpone or cancel a meetup. Your safety and comfort are more important than being polite.
Meet in a Public Place: For the first few dates, always meet in a public, populated area - such as a cafe, restaurant, or other busy venue. Never agree to meet at someone's home, and do not invite them to yours, especially for initial meetings. Avoid isolated locations. If the other person suggests a very private setting or tries to lure you somewhere secluded (like 'let's go on a hike in this remote area' for a first date), insist on a public spot. If they push back, that's a bad sign - you can cancel the date.
Tell a Friend or Family Member: Before you go out, let someone you trust know the details: who you're meeting (share the person's name and any other info you have), where you're going, and when you expect to return. If possible, arrange to check in with that friend during or after the date. For example, you could plan to text them by a certain time to confirm you're okay. Some people also share their live location with a trusted contact via their smartphone as an extra precaution.
Have Your Own Transportation: Be in control of how you arrive and leave. Use your own transportation - drive yourself, take a trusted rideshare/taxi, or public transit. Do not allow your date to pick you up from your home, and do not get in their car if possible. Having your own transportation ensures you can leave whenever you want. If you feel uncomfortable, you can depart without depending on your date. Also, plan your route home in advance; if you drove, park in a well-lit area. If you took a taxi, note the pickup spot for your return. If things are going well and you choose to continue the date elsewhere, still consider using your own transportation rather than hopping into theirs.
Stay Sober and Alert: It's important to stay in control of your faculties. We urge you to go easy on alcohol or avoid it entirely on the first meeting. Alcohol and drugs can impair your judgment and reaction time. If you do drink, keep it moderate and never leave your drink unattended. If you need to step away (to use the restroom, for example), either finish your drink or take it with you if appropriate. Accept drinks only from the bartender or server - not directly from your date if you didn't see the drink poured. Unfortunately, drink spiking (slipping drugs into beverages) is a real threat. Watch your drinks and keep your belongings (like your phone and wallet) secure at all times.
Mind Your Limits and Boundaries: You know your personal limits best - whether it's about alcohol, physical intimacy, or any other activity. Don't do anything you're not comfortable with just to appease the other person. If your date is pressuring you to drink more, take drugs, or do anything that makes you uneasy, stand firm and decline. A respectful partner will understand and back off. If they don't respect your 'no,' that's a sign to end the date. It's better to cut things short than to push yourself into an unsafe situation.
Have an Exit Plan: Always have a way to leave. In addition to having your own transportation, you might also carry a small amount of cash as backup (in case your phone dies and you can't use a payment app for a taxi, for example). If you feel uncomfortable at any point, you are allowed to leave - even if it's in the middle of the date. You do not owe anyone your continued presence if they are disrespecting your boundaries or giving you bad vibes. In public venues, if you ever feel in immediate danger or extremely uncomfortable, you can also seek help from staff. Many bars and restaurants are aware of code words or signals people use to discreetly ask for help (like asking a bartender for 'Angela' or a specific non-existent drink as a signal). Don't hesitate to alert someone if you need assistance.
If You Feel Uncomfortable, Leave: It's okay to end a date early if something doesn't feel right. You do not have to endure rudeness, creepy behavior, or anything that puts you off. Trust your instincts. If your gut is telling you something is off, politely (or firmly, if needed) end the encounter. You can say you're not feeling well or have another obligation - you don't need a perfect excuse. Once you're safely away, you can decide if you want to continue any communication with that person. If their behavior was alarming or violated our guidelines, make sure to block and report them on Connections so we can review the situation.

Sexual Health & Consent

Protect Yourself from STIs: If your relationship becomes sexual, always practice safe sex. Use protection such as condoms or dental dams to greatly reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, herpes, chlamydia, HPV, and others. Remember that some STIs can spread via skin-to-skin contact (not just through intercourse), so even if you're using a condom, avoid direct contact with any sores or lesions. It's a good idea for sexually active individuals to get regular health screenings. Using protection is not just about pregnancy prevention - it's about health and peace of mind for both you and your partner.
Know Your Status & Communicate: Ideally, have open and honest communication with your partner about sexual health before becoming intimate. It can feel awkward, but discussing when you each last got tested, and agreeing to use protection, shows maturity and care. If you or your partner have an STI, inform each other so you can take appropriate precautions. Never pressure someone to forgo protection. Likewise, if someone resists using protection, that's a big red flag - you have the right to insist on it or refuse to engage.
Consent is Mandatory: All sexual activity must be consensual. Consent isn't just a one-time question - it's an ongoing process. Both partners should enthusiastically agree to what's happening, and you can both change your minds at any time. If you're not sure if something is okay, ask. Silence or lack of resistance does not equal consent. And consent for one activity (like kissing) does not automatically extend to another (like sex). It's each person's responsibility to ensure their partner is comfortable and willing at every step. If your date says 'no' or 'stop,' or seems unsure or unresponsive - respect that immediately. Pressuring or guilt-tripping someone into sex is not consent; that is coercion and is not acceptable. The same goes for you: if at any point you feel uncomfortable or just not into it, you have the right to withdraw consent. No one should ever make you feel obligated to engage in any sexual act.
Respect Boundaries: Set your personal boundaries and communicate them. If you only want to go so far (for example, you're okay with kissing but not going beyond that on a first date), it's perfectly fine to say that upfront. A good partner will appreciate and respect clear communication. Similarly, listen to and respect your partner's boundaries. If either of you says something like 'I'd rather not do that' or 'Let's slow down,' take it seriously.
Take Things at Your Own Pace: There's no rush or timeline you must follow. Some connections progress quickly, others slowly. Do what feels right for you. Don't let anyone (including the other person or even well-meaning friends) pressure you into moving faster than you're comfortable with, whether that's meeting in person, getting physically intimate, or defining the relationship.

NOTE: You are solely responsible for your interactions and decisions on and off Connections. While we work to provide a safe platform and give you advice, ultimately you must exercise caution and good judgment in all situations. Connections does not conduct criminal background checks, so always keep in mind that the person you're chatting with is essentially a stranger until you've built real trust. Take things step by step. If anything does happen that makes you feel unsafe or violated, remove yourself from the situation and seek help.

We care about you and want your experience to be positive. By following these guidelines and listening to your intuition, you can focus on forming meaningful connections while staying safe. Happy dating, and remember: safety first, always!