For Your Dating Online Safety

Take care when online dating.  Use the same precautions you would follow when meeting a blind date for the first time.  Be sure to trust your instincts and use common sense just like you would offline.

MatchWise goes to great lengths to keep its community sleaze free and scam free.  We block all foreign registrations (where most scams and spam originates) and constantly update our list of blocked members, which we can identify and block through their internet location.  We cooperate with other services to get their lists of blocked addresses so we can block them, too.  We also do our best to monitor and block emails of anyone who uses profanity, or is not serious about finding a relationship.

For your safety, keep all contacts onsite so your email address remains confidential. Never reveal your location, name or telephone number until you are absolutely sure of this other person.

Things to Remember

While MatchWise is a Christian community and our staff endeavors to prevent scammers from approaching you, there are some hints to ensure your online and offline safety:

1. NEVER, NEVER consider sending money to another member!  Never accept any money order or other financial transaction from another member, no matter how good the deal sounds or how enticing the person is.  Some common scams include asking for money for a needed operation or a huge inheritance is just waiting to be cashed in but they ask you for the funds to pay the attorney.  Other scams involve money orders.   Remember, you’re using the site to find a mate. ANYTHING else is not only in bad taste, but it should be a red flag to you. Cut off contact with that person immediately, no matter how nice they seem, and please report them!  We’ll then check them out.  If they are a scammer, we’ll be able to read their communications with other members as well and see what they may be up to.
2. Remember that you are in control at all times. You can and should remain completely anonymous until you feel ready.  Don’t allow another member to bully or coax you into revealing anything that would compromise your safety. 
3. Remember that nowadays, revealing your telephone number is the same as giving your home address.  Go to the Google search and type in your telephone number and you’ll see what we mean.  That is why we offer the special telephone service where your telephone number is cloaked.
4. You are also in control when it comes to taking an online relationship offline. Exercise that control.  You have an advantage online in MatchWise because you can get to know each other before you meet. Remember that you don't need to take anything further than the computer until you feel completely at ease. Go at your own pace!
5. When you do decide to meet face to face, pick a public place not near your home and provide your own transportation to and from. Tell a friend where you're going and check in when you return home, or better yet, take the friend along. 
6. Never include your personal contact information in your profile, especially telephone numbers, email, home address or your last name, and only give them out when your instincts tell you this is someone you can trust. It's okay to take your time.
7. Set up an email account just for online personals.
8. Ask a lot of questions and watch for inconsistencies, broken English, or if the other member is too forward or appears to have an agenda.  These are red flags.
9. Stay away from members who won't take no for an answer or pressure you for any kind of personal information. Serious daters will respect your space and allow you to take your time.
10. If someone gives you a phone number with a strange area code, check it out to make sure it's not a charge number before you make the call.
11. Using your own good judgment is your best bet because ultimately you are responsible for your personal dating experience. Trust your instincts and then have fun with the right people!
12. Use the free background check service before you agree to meet with another member.

TO PREVENT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS…NEVER SEND MONEY AND NEVER AGREE TO MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME AT YOUR HOME OR WORK.

Please report any apparent scams. Reports are by far the only way to fight it. We need feedback from our members to detect scammers and take measures against them.  We can do little without your help, since we cannot monitor every communication.

Remember that any type of soliciting and spamming and/or fraudulent transactions from an account at MatchWise.com, will lead to an immediate termination of that account.  Sending another member money or revealing your identity may put yourself at risk.  Once you do, it is out of our hands and we can do nothing to block that member from contacting you.

We thank you and appreciate your attention; it is for your own safety.