1. When you first visit chat rooms, don't announce in the open room who you are and what you are looking for.
2. Don't give your real name, phone number or other personal information to anyone you've just met online. First names are sufficient in the beginning.
3. Never give your credit card information or your password to anyone under any circumstances.
4. When approached by a potential partner, ask questions. Get to know the person online as well as you can, and then discretely ask for references (or do some investigating). Heed any warnings you receive about an individual, but be sure you ask for more than one opinion.
5. If someone wishes to speak with you by phone and you don't yet have a basis for fully trusting them, offer to call them instead. You can disable any Caller-ID function they may have by punching in the disable code (contact U.S. West for the code).
6. Keep your first phone conversation brief and friendly.
7. Never go against your instincts.
8. If someone demands your name or phone number and you've respectfully and repeatedly told them no, perhaps it's time to close the door.
9. Even if you live close to someone you meet online, take your time getting to know them online and by phone. Speak several times by phone, and if you do agree to meet, set it up in a public place. A serious potential partner won't mind.
