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When it comes to online dating, honesty is the best policy. Fronting who you are and what you are like is very important. Being liked for someone who you are is what you want. Because it is a long distance relationship, trust is required. Truth is the road to this trust. It has to be kept in mind, however, that there had been numerous victims of pretenders who portray a different self than who they really are on the Internet.

The online arena is a beautiful place to meet new friends and get that perfect someone. It has its down sides, but it doesn’t mean you can’t try it. Follow these suggestions to keep you safe:

• DATING ONLINE IS LIKE DATING IN REALITY. You first strike a conversation, make friends, and if it all feels right, falling in love begins. Just like real life, your expectations should not be set too high. Don’t expect Mister or Miss Right to be the person on the first date you go on. There are some persons that would not turn out the way you wanted them to. Remember: you have a wide variety of options so go ahead and explore.

• PROCEED SLOWLY WITH CAUTION. Don’t give your address and office or school location right away. Remember that there are a lot of dangerous persons who mean harm so caution is essential. Start with small things in chatting like looks, favorite things, television program preferences, etc. Once you are sure, that is the right time to move on to the big things like where you go to school or work. By the way, your telephone or cellular phone number is a big thing—stalkers can trace your location using either of the two.

Don’t disclose personal information right away. If someone tries and forces you to do so, use the Internet benefit of putting that person on your ignore list or walking away. Take time to build friendships and trust. There is no shortcut to a successful relationship.

• BE SAFE AND SURE. Thank heavens for what you call JPEG or GIF. Ask for a picture to check if the person is who he or she says he or she is. If you find inconsistencies, walk away. An even better idea is to talk to the person using a webcam. If the person is evasive and keeps making excuses, you know what to do.

Finding the right one is never easy. But with patience, time and trust, it should be a piece of cake overtime. Go ahead and explore the world with a click of a button and a beat of the heart.