The world of online dating can sometimes feel like a big, overwhelming place! It’s natural to get butterflies in your stomach the first time you IM with someone cute, or to feel anxious about an upcoming phone call with another JDater®, or to even go into full-blown panic mode when you’ve got a first date with someone you think could be “The One.”  But no matter how consumed you get with first-date jitters, your safety and security should always remain top priority.

JDate is the leading online community for Jewish singles to connect; and the JDate team takes tremendous precautions to protect the safety and privacy of its community members. Yet, no matter how hard we work to keep you safe, it’s ultimately up to you to stay aware and employ common sense both on, and offline. Think you’ve got “safety smarts?” Then take my online dating safety IQ test below and see how well you do!

1. What kind of personal information should you keep personal before meeting someone face to face?

A.   Your JDate username

B.   Your sign

C.   Your home address

D.   Your political preference

2. You should send money to someone you met online if they __________________.

A.   Inherited millions of dollars, but need around $10k to pay the legal fees

B.   Were mugged while traveling out of the county and now need your financial help

C.   Want to visit you, but need you to send them money so they can buy airfare

D.   NEVER! You should never send money to someone you met online

3. You should remain anonymous with anyone you meet online until ______________.

A.   You feel ready to meet in person and trust the person is who they say they are

B.   You’ve shown their picture to your dog and they passed the “pooch approval” test

C.   They pressure you into meeting before you are ready

D.   It’s New Year’s Eve (or some other holiday) and you’re desperate for a date

4. When it comes to planning a first date, you should __________________.

A.   Meet your date in a public place

B.   Tell a friend or family member where and when you’re going

C.   Drive yourself to the date

D.   All of the above

5. You should never meet a first date at a ______________________________.

A.   Coffee shop

B.   Restaurant

C.   Hotel room

D.   Movie theater

6. You should contact the JDate customer service department if______________________.

A.   Someone asks you for money

B.   Someone harasses you

C.   Someone makes you feel uncomfortable

D.   All of the above

7. While you’re on a first date, you should ___________________________.

A.   Check in with family and friends to let them know where you are

B.   Sneak away to the bathroom every five minutes to report live from the date via Twitter

C.   Call you mom and force your date to have a 20-minute conversation with her

D.   Text your ex to let them know where you are

Answers:

1. C

Never share your personal contact information with someone you just met online, or in your online profile. That includes your telephone number, last name, and home address!

2. D

Never, I repeat, never send money to someone you met online! JDate works hard to maintain the integrity of our online community, but sometimes fraudsters do get in and we want to make sure you keep you money where it belongs: in your wallet!

3. A

You can decide to remain anonymous until you’re ready to meet someone in person, you control the pace of the relationship, and you choose when it’s time to take your relationship offline.

4. D

When you decide to meet a match in person, pick a public place and provide your own transportation to and from the date venue.

5. C

While I don’t advise seeing a movie on a first date (you want to talk and get to know each other, don’t you?), the correct answer is that you should never meet at a hotel (or a private home) when meeting someone for the first time. Public places are much safer.

6. D

Protect yourself and other JDaters by reporting any kind of suspicious activity that makes you feel uncomfortable.  Simply email us at concern@jdate.com or call 1-877-453-3861

7. A

Check in with friends and family right before you go on a date to let them know where you are headed, and then text them when you leave to let them know you are safe. (And, keep your ex out of it!)

I hope this quiz helps you stay safe along the path to your Beshert! While looking for love may seem frustrating at times, this process should be fun, exciting and enjoyable. If you ever have any questions, or just need a few words of encouragement, you can always hit me up here! In the meantime, just remember to trust your instincts and then have fun with the right people!