Your Safety Matters

Protect Your Personal Information

• Don't share your last name, home address, workplace, or specific location details until you've met in person and feel comfortable
• Keep your phone number private initially—use Pare's messaging system
• Avoid sharing financial information, bank details, or account numbers
• Be cautious about sharing photos that reveal your home, car license plate, or other identifying details
• Use a Google Voice number or similar service when you're ready to share a phone number

Recognize Red Flags

Watch out for these warning signs:

• Too good to be true: Excessive flattery, professing love too quickly, or seeming "perfect"
• Pressure: Pushing to move off the platform immediately or pressuring you to meet before you're ready
• Inconsistencies: Stories that don't add up or details that change
• Requests for money: Any financial requests, no matter the story (emergency, travel, business opportunity)
• Avoidance: Refusing to video chat, constantly canceling meetups, or avoiding basic questions
• Inappropriate behavior: Sending unwanted explicit content or making you uncomfortable
• Isolation tactics: Trying to isolate you from friends or family, or discouraging you from taking safety precautions

Research Before Meeting

• Google their name and photos (reverse image search can reveal if photos are stolen)
• Check their LinkedIn or other professional profiles if they've shared them
• Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it probably is
• Video chat before meeting in person to confirm they match their photos

Always Meet in Public

• Choose a busy, well-lit public place like a coffee shop, restaurant, or park
• Never agree to meet at their home, your home, or a secluded location for a first date
• Avoid dates that involve traveling far from populated areas
• Pick a location you're familiar with or have been to before

Tell Someone Where You're Going

• Share your plans with a trusted friend or family member
• Tell them who you're meeting (name, profile info), where you're going, and when you expect to be back
• Share your live location with a friend during the date
• Check in with your friend before and after the date
• Establish a code word or signal that means you need help

Arrange Your Own Transportation

• Drive yourself or use a ride-share service
• Don't accept rides from your date until you know them better
• Don't let them pick you up from your home on the first date
• Have a backup transportation plan in case you need to leave early
• Keep your phone charged and have emergency contacts readily available

Stay Sober and Alert

• Limit alcohol consumption so you can stay alert and make good decisions
• Never leave your drink unattended
• Order your own drinks and watch them being made when possible
• If you feel unusually impaired, tell a staff member and call someone you trust

Trust Your Instincts

• If something doesn't feel right, it's okay to end the date early
• You don't owe anyone an explanation for leaving if you feel unsafe
• Don't feel obligated to continue a date out of politeness
• It's better to be safe and potentially "rude" than to ignore warning signs

Take Your Time

• Don't rush into physical intimacy—move at your own pace
• Multiple dates in public places help you get to know someone before becoming vulnerable
• It's okay to wait weeks or months before becoming intimate
• Anyone who pressures you or doesn't respect your boundaries isn't right for you

Sexual Health

• Have open, honest conversations about sexual health and STI testing
• Use protection and practice safe sex
• Get tested regularly and encourage partners to do the same
• Don't assume someone is monogamous or exclusive unless you've discussed it

Setting Boundaries

• Communicate your boundaries clearly and early
• Pay attention to how they respond to your boundaries
• It's a red flag if someone repeatedly tests or ignores your limits
• You can change your mind at any time—consent is ongoing

Protect Your Digital Footprint

• Review your social media privacy settings before dating
• Consider making your profiles private or friends-only
• Be cautious about connecting on social media too quickly
• Don't share intimate photos or videos until you deeply trust someone
• Remember that anything sent digitally can be saved and shared

Photo & Video Safety

• Be aware that nude photos or videos can be used for blackmail
• Never send intimate images that show your face if you're concerned about privacy
• Be cautious of requests for compromising photos—this is often a precursor to sextortion
• Know that "disappearing" photos can still be screenshot or recorded

During a Date

• If you feel unsafe, go to a public area and call for help
• Alert restaurant staff, security, or other people nearby
• Call 911 if you're in immediate danger
• Use your predetermined code word/signal to alert your emergency contact
• Don't hesitate to leave—your safety comes first

Report Concerning Behavior

Report to Pare immediately if someone:

• Requests money or financial assistance
• Sends threatening or harassing messages
• Shares explicit content without your consent
• Appears to be using fake photos or information
• Pressures you into uncomfortable situations
• Violates our Community Guidelines

Use the in-app report feature or email us at safety@paredating.com

If You've Been Scammed

• Stop all contact with the person immediately
• Report them to Pare so we can remove them and warn others
• Report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov)
• Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• Contact your bank or credit card company if you sent money
• Don't feel embarrassed—scammers are sophisticated and this happens to smart people

Emotional Support

Dating can be emotionally challenging. If you need support:

• Talk to trusted friends or family
• Consider professional counseling or therapy
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673