Internet dating is becoming the easiest way to meet someone these days. There are a huge number of dating sites on the internet now, and many of us have tried it or know someone who has tried it. It is a very simple process to sign up with a dating site, and the only thing that takes time is the approval of your photographs and profile. And this can sometimes even be instantaneous with certain sites. That is the crux of this article - internet dating is so easy now that anyone can sign up - most sites do not screen their members, and as a result you need to be aware of a few safety tips before you start your online dating adventure.

1. Ask for a photograph.

A lot of internet daters are shy about uploading a photograph of themselves to a publicly viewable internet page. However there is no excuse for not emailing a photograph of themselves once you have started communicating. You can usually get some sort of impression of a person just by looking at a photograph.

2. Study their Online Communications

If you are getting to know someone on the dating site, pay very close attention to their emails and other written communication. If they are telling lies then it becomes difficult for them to maintain consistency the longer your online relationship goes on. Ask more questions (but don't be too intrusive), and get them to provide you with more information on themselves.

3. Speak via Telephone

Just as a photograph can tell you a lot about a person, a telephone conversation can do likewise. Arrange to call the person you are thinking of dating - you can tell a lot from a person's voice and communication skills as to whether they are genuine or not.

4. Don't give out personal info

This is a fairly obvious one. Don't give out any information that may give a clue as to where you live, work, or socialise. If you want to exchange emails and your main email address is your work email, then sign up for a free Google or Yahoo email address. Your work email will have the domain name of your employer, and it would be fairly easy for the email recipient to track you down with that information.

5. Stretch out your Online Relationship

The longer you can delay meeting the person in an offline situation, the better opportunity you have to get to know them in the safety of the online context. Make plans to go away for the next few weekends, so you have a great excuse for not meeting the person. This means you will have a much better knowledge of the person you are thinking of dating prior to meeting them in the flesh.

Online dating can be fun, but there are a few minor risks. There is probably slightly more chance of meeting a dodgy character through online dating as there is in the conventional way. Follow my five tips to Internet dating safety above, and you will minimise any risk to a great degree.

About the Author

Julie Westbrook is an expert in the field of Internet Dating, and has recently launched a new site at http://www.Internet-Dating-Lowdown.com which aims to cover all aspects of the online dating experience for both men and women. Can't decide which dating site to go for? Why not try http://www.best-internet-dating-site.com