Dating Safely

Online

A

lthough you may never have thought
about using the Internet to find a partner,
the fact is that millions of people use online
dating services — or less formal online social
settings — to meet a mate. Seniors aren’t to be
left out of this; they use dating and social net-
working sites targeting seniors. These sites
often host chat or other ways to connect, flirt,
and discover others.

In this chapter, you find out how to use online
dating services safely as you search for the love
of your life (or a casual date), how to be aware
when you’re exposing your emotions, and how
a criminal — whether he’s after your money or
you — might take advantage.

How Online Dating Works

Here’s how you can jump into the world of
online dating:

➟ Choose a reputable dating site. (See the

section, “Select a Dating Service,” later in

this chapter).

9

In this chapter...

➟How Online Dating

Works ..............................181

➟Guidelines for Safer

Online Dating ..................183

➟Select a Dating Service ......186

➟Avoid Emotional

Exposure ..........................187

➟Understand How Criminals

Groom Victims ..................189

➟

Chapter