Internet Dating is now well established as one of the most effective ways to find people with similar geographical locations, interests and values that are also looking for someone to love. A few safety precautions are essential to protect you from people that are determined to spoil the fun. Here are a few internet dating safety tips that are worth a close look.

1. Keep your personal information personal. Do not give out your last name, address or home phone number to people that you chat with on the internet. Giving out a little too much information can leave you wide open for harassment, stalking, identity theft or worse. When you feel ready to move from communicating by email to talking by phone use a cell phone not your land line phone at home. Using a cell phone gives you the opportunity to get to know someone with out giving up your home address.

2. If you decide to meet in person, do not have your date pick you up at your house. Plan to meet in a public, well populated and well lit place. Always conceal your address until you are confident that your new friend is safe.

3. Consider taking a friend with you on your initial meeting or have them check in with you on your cell phone. Set up code words that will let them know that you are either OK or need help to get out of there. At the very least, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. Give them the name, phone number, address and description of your date.

4. Don't go to your date‘s home or invite them to your home until after several public meetings have taken place. Also, drive separately.

5. Trust your gut. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable or uneasy, there is probably a good reason. Don't trivialize good old fashioned instinct and dismiss it as nerves. If you don't feel comfortable end the date early, don't divulge any personal information and do not arrange a second date.

6. Don't let your email give you away. For greater anonymity only use the email account that came with your internet dating service membership instead of your personal email address. Also, don't use your first or last names in the from line on your emails.

7. Be alert to married people masquerading as singles. Dating these individuals will often lead to heartache for both you and their families.

8. Request a recent photo. It should raise a big, fat, cautionary, red flag If you meet the person and they do not match their photo or you can tell that the photo is very old.

9. Read between the lines. When you chat or exchange emails with a potential date, do they avoid certain questions, seem controlling or display other characteristics that may not be desirable?

10. Use a paid internet dating service. Free services often do not require a credit card or other verifiable information that would make it possible to identify a problem member.

These common sense internet dating tips should help you protect yourself from online predators. There are many great people out there who are fun, honest and safe so don't let a few bad apples stop you from finding the love of your life.