CONFA-TIPS FOR SEPTEMBER

Here we are rocking along then suddenly we are single again either by divorce or the death of a spouse. Sooner or later (for us older folks any way) we get tired of watching "Lucy" re-runs while drinking an energy drink and start to think about dating again. Wow that is a big step! For me, the last time I went on a date Jimmy Carter was in the White House, a mouse was something the cat brought home half dead, and a web was what a spider wove. We did not worry about locking our doors at night and had never heard of cable TV. My, how things have changed! Some singles join clubs and others choose an online dating provider such as E Harmony or Match.Com, to name a few, but there are hundreds of them on the Internet. Regardless of the method you are most comfortable with, you have to be very careful. Unfortunately there are criminal and predators lurking on the Internet just waiting for you to make a mistake. Well let them wait because I am going to give you a few tips so you can have fun while protecting yourself and your identity.

Never give any personal information in you profile such as your full name (select a user name or a nick name) where you live or work, your date of birth, your phone number or address. Yes there are people who use these web sites to get enough information to steal your identity. If someone pressures you for this information, stop communicating with them. Many of the web sites have a place where you can report abuse, don't hesitate to use it. If you decide to meet this person, here are a few steps for men and women you might want to consider:

• Arrange to meet in a very public place at a time that YOU are comfortable with.
  
  
• Drive yourself. This puts YOU in control of when you leave and, if this person has the personality of a squid, you can leave when you want to.
  
  
• Tell a friend or family member of your date plans, when and where you are going to meet and have this person call you about an hour in to the date. This is for safety reasons but, if your are board to death, gives YOU an excuse to leave.
  
  
• Gentlemen, do not leave your credit card information laying on the table if you should take the lady to dinner. A good identify theft needs only a small bit of information to steal your identity and make your life miserable.
  
  
• Consider having a "pre-date" background check done just to be sure the person you are about to meet is not a criminal and is who they say they are. Hey, you are here....so get that mouse and join us.

No matter is you are a young dater, a not so young dater, or a "been there, done that" dater, dating can be blissfully fun if you just use common sense and follow these easy steps.