Dating safely
Most people you meet are exactly who they say. These habits protect you from the few who aren’t.
Protect your privacy if you're not out
Use an email address just for dating, and think about a second phone number. Pick photos with plain backgrounds that don't show where you live or work. Remove location data from photos, and check your privacy settings.
Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation: Security tips for online LGBTQ+ dating
Meet in public, and know where to get help
Meet somewhere public first, tell a friend where you're going and keep your phone on. Screenshot a profile if you're worried, as it can be deleted. If someone threatens to out you, robs you or blackmails you, it's not your fault. In the UK, Galop's helpline is free and confidential, and it can talk through your options whether or not you want to go to the police.
Source: Galop: Helpline
Never send money, and report scams
Never send money or gift cards to someone you haven't met. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, report fraud to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. In the US, report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov.