Online chatrooms are great places to meet new friends, and perhaps potential partners. The advantage of this online dating service is that us girls don’t not have to dress up, fix our hair, wear make-up, and be scrutinized to enjoy great conversations. And if a conversation does not seem to work out, you can just leave the chatroom or move on to another guy.

However, the chatroom also poses some risks for online daters especially women. To be able to protect yourself from the possible dangers that online dating could bring, you should protect your identity. There are a lot of nice men around who are looking for a date just like you and only have good intention but you need to protect yourself from men with no good intentions to keep you form getting hurt.

When a guy you met in one of the online chatrooms asks you for your home phone number, do not give out. You barely know the guy, and you are not too sure on his real intentions. Do not give your address and your workplace either. Because giving him your home phone number is like handing him your home address indirectly. He could easily look up your number in one of the directories, you know.

Listen to your instincts. If you got a feeling that the guy you are chatting with is somehow creepy or he does not want to reveal much of himself but is very eager to know you, then, you better change your e-mail and nickname. You could also switch to other online chatrooms if you feel that’s not enough.

But even if you found someone you feel you have chemistry with, it is still best that you know him further before planning to meet up in person. And when you do go on a date meet and stay in a public place where people can see you. If you still like him and feel he’s who he says he is you can always go on a second date. When you give him your phone number now make sure it’s your cell phone number.

Online dating should be fun and most of the time it is but no site can prevent people with bad intentions to join their site so it’s good to keep these precautions in mind when you chat to men online.

An extra benefit is that these big and well known sites have many active members which means plenty of choice for you.