· Remain anonymous. You should avoid being identified when you're online dating. Never give out your real name, phone number, or address in chat rooms or in personals ads.

· Be honest. Be truthful in your personals ad and in online conversations. Make your intentions clear. Being honest can prevent disappointment for both you and your potential date.

· Always pay attention. Listen to your intuition – it's your best defense. Use common sense. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Pay attention to habits and moods. If something doesn't feel right, feel free to stop communicating with that person.

· Wait until you're comfortable to call. When he or she asks for your number and you're not ready to give it out, politely say "no," but ask for a number you can call when you're ready. If you decide to call, pay attention to who answers the phone and the background noises you hear.

· Take it slowly. Spend as much time communicating electronically as is necessary for you to feel comfortable enough to actually meet the person. Don't be coerced into meeting face to face. If someone really wants to meet you, he or she will wait till you're ready.