Love and marriage that starts from simple online chat or a personal ad is not impossible in the cyberspace.

But of course, you will never know who you are dealing with online, so your heartbreak may not be a simple heartbreak but you can also be a victim of the so many scams online that will only drain your pocket.

Online dating is meant to be a fun and convenient way to meet other people, so always remember to be safe and enjoy yourself.

Here are some online dating safety tips that you might find useful in finding love online.

1. Always trust your instincts

Get to know the other person a bit before agreeing to a meeting or date and if something seems to be a little “off,” trust your feelings and back off or proceed with caution. That is the beauty of online dating – If at any point in time during these early contacts something doesn’t seem right, then you can safely discontinue contact with the person without ever meeting them.

2. Bring the dating offline!

Even if you have been communicating online for several months, it does not mean you are safe. You should never agree to be picked up at your home for your first date, also, the first date should never be at each others homes. For example, having dinner at a their home for the first date is a definite no-no.

3. Never send money online

Of course, scammers exist because they get money from their unscrupulous doings. Don’t be blinded by the gorgeous pictures of women and their sweet words, you may be dealing with a scammer.

Most of the scammers will often ask you money for travel documents, passport, visa etc, or money for any other reason – money to pay for a loan, or for a family member who is ill, taxes and even money for luxurious gifts and items like cell phone. If your online relationship involves money, be extra cautious about it.

Before you get started, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind.

Helpful Hints for Common Sense Online Dating

• Remember that you are in control of your online experience at all times. You can remain completely anonymous until you feel ready.

• You are also in control when it comes to taking an online relationship offline. Plus, you have an advantage online because you can get to know each other before you meet. Remember that you don’t need to take anything further than the computer or phone wires until you feel completely at ease. Go at your own pace!

• When you do decide to meet face to face, pick a public place and provide your own transportation to and fro. Tell a friend where you’re going and check in when you return home.

• 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.

• Set up an email account just for online dating.

• Ask a lot of questions and watch for inconsistencies.

• Stay away from members who won’t take no for an answer or pressure you for any kind of personal information. Serious cyber-savvy daters will respect your space and allow you to take your time.

• Even with our strong effort to ensure the quality of our sites, we cannot guarantee perfection in the system. To deal with this, we have a 24 hour customer care staff hotline, and we ask members to call toll free if they see anything strange so that we can research it.

• If someone asks you to go to their personal web site or asks you for money, use common sense not to oblige and then report the situation to us.

• 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.

• 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!