Resources, guides, and emergency contacts.
Reverse image search is your best friend — drop any photo into Google Images or TinEye. Be wary of profiles with very few photos, all shot in the same place, or pictures that look “too perfect.” Check when the account was created; scammers spin up fresh profiles constantly. Trust the date stamps and the little inconsistencies.
Watch for whirlwind declarations of love, a refusal to video call, and a partner who conveniently “works abroad” (military, oil rig, overseas contract). The big one: any request for money, gift cards, or crypto — especially wrapped in an emergency or sob story. Mismatched grammar, recycled photos and rushing the chat off-platform are all red flags.
Meet in a busy public place in daylight. Tell a friend where you’re going and share your live location. Arrange your own transport there and back. Keep your drink with you and your phone charged. Do a live video call before meeting so you know he’s real — and trust your gut. You can leave at any time, for any reason.
Keep chats on-platform until you trust them. Don’t share your full name, home or work address, or daily routine early on. Lock down your social accounts and reverse-search your own photos to see where they appear. Consider a separate email and a free calling number (like Google Voice) for new connections, and strip location data from photos before sending.
Screenshot everything — messages, profiles, timestamps — before you block. Don’t engage; blocking and reporting is stronger than arguing. Report to the platform and to the police even if you think “nothing will happen”: you need the paper trail. Contact the NCMEC CyberTipline for image-based abuse. Most states now have cyberstalking laws on your side.