Is it safe to meet someone from a dating app for the first time?
It can be, if you take ordinary precautions: meet in a busy public place in daylight, arrange your own transport, tell a friend where you are and who you are meeting, and keep your drink and your phone with you. Do the checks on the person before the date, not after.
Most first dates are fine. The risks people in South Africa report are being robbed after being lured to a quiet place, having a car taken, or being pressured for money once trust is built. A video call before the date and a quick check of the photos and number remove most fake profiles.
Before and during the date
- Video call first. Someone who refuses every call is a reason not to meet.
- Choose the place yourself: a busy café or restaurant, not their home and not a car park.
- Share the person's name, photos, number and the location with a friend, and check in afterwards.
- Use your own transport and keep enough airtime and data to call for help.
- Check the photos, number and name for scam reports before you go.
Frequently asked questions
- They want to pick me up at home. Is that a problem?
- For a first meeting, yes. Do not give your home address to someone you have not met.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you're chatting to? Veritaza checks the photos, the messages, the number, the email address, the name and the ID document, for R99.
Check a person