User safety is a high priority at Lifestylerz! While many people have positive and rewarding experiences with online dating, using caution is the best tool at your disposal. Never take for granted that what someone is telling you is true, simply because they say so. It may sound like a negative way to approach dating, and we hope you are never harmed by another user. But let’s be frank, people are not always who they say they are. Ultimately, your safety should always be a high priority, like it is for us here in helping to keep you safe.
Here’s a few tips for you to help keep experiences that can be applied online and off safe. These tips can also be applied to your every day use of the internet, not just for online dating!
Protect Your Personal Information
Never give personal information such as your social security number, credit card number or bank information, or your work or home address to people you don’t know or haven’t met in person.
Protect Your Finances
Never respond to any request to send money, especially overseas or by wire transfer, and report it immediately – even if the person claims to be in an emergency. Wiring money is like sending cash: the sender has no protections against loss and it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. For more information, click on the video below to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s advice to avoid online romance scams, also available here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0004-online-dating-scams.
Trust Your Gut
If what someone is telling you is setting off alarms, trust your instincts! Ask important and pointed questions. Listen carefully to the answers you are receiving. Fact check whenever possible!
Anti-Virus Software
Protecting your computer is still a vital part of day to day activity. Many people purchase software to help protect them from phishing scans, malware, ransomware, and of course viruses. But did you know you can also purchase a multi-license package to help protect your mobile devices? We encourage all users to investigate their options to help keep your devices safe.
Remote Assistance & Tech Calls
Companies like Apple© and Microsoft© will never directly contact you with a report of your computer being infected with a virus. Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone attempting to contact you via telephone or a message through your computer. It’s not real! A contact number on your telephones caller ID may suggest it’s one of these companies but based on their published policies, they openly state it will never happen where they initiate contact. These elaborate scams are designed to trick users into giving their debit or credit card information, then used to make unauthorized charges with it that you may not be able to get back.
Giving remote access to your computer or devices to someone you do not know personally is also a big no no! By granting this access to an unknown person or company, you are allowing them to make changes, steal your information, and hold hostage that device until you pay to have it unlocked, or restored.
In the event you have accidentally authorized such access, contact your trusted, local repair shop or carrier immediately for assistance.