🛡️ Safety Center

Reverse image search is your best friend. Upload any photo to Google Images or TinEye. Look for profiles with very few photos, all taken in the same location, or photos that seem "too perfect." Check when the account was created — scammers often create new profiles monthly. Trust the date stamps.

Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion per year. Key patterns: he professes love within 2 weeks, can never video call ("camera is broken"), works an overseas job (military, oil rig), has "emergencies" requiring money. Once money is sent it is almost never recovered. Never send gift cards.

Always meet in public. Tell a friend exactly where you're going and share your location. Arrange your own transportation — never get in his car on a first date. Have a check-in time and a code word. Keep your drink in sight at all times. Trust your gut — if something feels wrong, it is.

Never share your address, workplace, or daily routine early in dating. Avoid letting someone know when you'll be home alone. Use a Google Voice number before sharing your real number. Check that your social media location data is off. Be careful what's in the background of your photos.

Document everything — screenshots with timestamps. Block but save the evidence first. File a police report even if you think "nothing will happen" — you need the paper trail. Contact the NCMEC Cyber Tipline for image-based abuse. Most states now have cyber stalking laws.