1. When placing an ad consider using a free email address service, especially for pen pals. Doing so protects your own email address and your personal information. High quality pen pal or dating websites usually provide such a FREE email address service. We do!

2. When composing your ad, give only general information about yourself.

3. When you start getting responses to your ad use extreme caution whenever someone brings up the subject of money.

Anytime someone on the internet starts talking about money be very suspicious. However, plausible people might be: NEVER GIVE ANYONE YOUR BANKING ACCOUNT NUMBERS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, HOME ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR CREDIT CARD NUMBERS!

4. Think very carefully before arranging to meet anyone in person, you have met online.

5. Finally, should you receive an email from someone asking for money you may want to consider contacting the authorities. The people sending out this kind of email are criminals. If you follow these guidelines, pen palling and online dating will be great fun!

Many people ask, "is it safe to meet someone online and start dating them"? The answer is that one should use the same good common sense and judgement when you meet someone online as you would if you met them anywhere else.

Meeting people online has become common in our new digital age. On some websites (e.g. singles sites), people are willing to offer a lot of information about themselves by creating a profile and making it available to others.

A quality profile is great because one can quickly learn a lot about another person's interests, favorites, etc. However, don't assume that everyone is completely honest when they create a profile or write an email to you.

Meeting people online has one major advantage/disadvantage, and that is the ability to 'hide your identity'. This is great in the sense that you don't have to give someone else your true identity until you want to.

But the other side of the coin is that other people can also hide their true identity from you. Again, use good common sense and judgement when communicating.

Here are some more good rules to follow: * Don't give out your personal phone number, address or email address. If you use 'singles websites', it is wise to use those that have anonymous email systems. * Don't respond to anyone who is lewd or crude or in any way or makes you feel uncomfortable.

On the Singles Online website (and some others), you can 'block' emails from anyone you wish. Simply go to Your Profile in the Main Menu to block emails from any other member. *

If you decide to start communicating by telephone with someone you met online, you should call them (instead of giving out your number) and make sure you know how to block your phone number from being recognized by a 'Caller ID' device.

(many people have Caller ID) *

If you decide you want to meet someone in person, meet in a public place and if possible with a group of your friends. * If you meet in person, don't give out a lot of personal information about yourself until you feel comfortable and know that other person. If you don't want to be seen on the Internet by anyone except those that you decide to write to first, you can hide your profile on some websites.

Finally, It is very inexpensive for you to purchase a 'background check' on anyone if you have any concerns. There are several companies on the Internet that offer such services. If the other person won't give you a real name and date of birth, it may be a red flag that they have something to hide

• Go with the flow. You may be making all the right moves and saying all the right things, but sometimes things just don’t work out. Be prepared for both positive and negative outcomes. Learning to let things happen and going with the flow is the best way to keep flirting fun.

• Carry rejection-protection. Unfortunately, not every flirting scenario is filled with champagne and roses. You will inevitably be shot down by someone you admire. When rejection rears its ugly head, think positively – at least you got away before you invested time and money into a miserable relationship.

• Remember, context is crucial. You see your crush smooth her skirt. Is she doing it while she shyly chats with you or before she enters the boss’ office? Make sure you pick up on the right signs to avoid embarrassment.

• If at first you don’t succeed... Get involved in social situations where you have to interact with potential romantic interests. Experience is the best way to reduce anxiety and improve skills.

• Find a flirting mentor. Unhappy with your unsuccessful flirting attempts? The best thing you can do is watch, listen and learn from someone successful. Pay attention to their behaviors and the social cues involved. Then you can fine-tune their ideas and try them yourself.

• Cyberflirting is a form of play for adults – but be careful. The way in which you flirt online will affect what kind of offline relationship you develop,if the opportunity arises. Think about the consequences of stretching the truth or presenting a more sexualized persona online than you are comfortable with living out.

Advice for the Ladies:

• Attitude, not beauty, is the driving force. Studies show that average-looking women who artfully indicate openness and interest achieve more success in attracting male attention than beautiful women who maintain an aloof and disengaged attitude. 

• You might have to say it more than once. Don’t be afraid to flirt with a man in many ways over the space of an evening if he doesn’t respond to your first signal. Men sometimes look for verification when trying to determine whether or not a woman is interested in being approached.  

Advice for the fellows:

• Wait for it, w-a-i-t…f-o-r…i-t! Let her make the first move when it comes to even the slightest physical contact. This gives women the control they need to feel secure. You have a better chance of avoiding a rebuff if you refrain from touching her until after she touches you first – even a slight brush on the arm makes all the difference.  

With 43% of the U.S. population being single and with so many singles on the Internet, why not place free profiles with all the top dating services? Don't be ashamed or afraid, learn the best and safest way to use the Internet to take control of your life and find the person you deserve!

There is nothing wrong with wanting to find someone special, or at the very least make some new friends, so why not use every resource available to you?

You do not get extra points for meeting someone in a bar or while waiting for dry socks at the Laundromat.

Does it matter to you how you met the important people already in your life? You probably barely even think about it.

By setting up a personal profile and a list of likes and dislikes, you invest time in yourself. More importantly, you are taking action by trying to improve yourself and your situation. You are putting yourself out there and taking control by refusing to be lonely and isolated.

PerfectMatch.com - site review Utilizing a scientific matchmaker approach Perfect Match is literally a dating site that will focus on your preset criteria to search compatible singles that coincides with your individual personality and lifestyle.