A safer way to start an online friendship

New connections should feel comfortable, mutual, and unhurried. Before moving a conversation to WhatsApp or another private messenger, look for consistency over time and make sure the other person respects your boundaries.

• Take your time. You can keep chatting on the original platform until you feel comfortable.
• Check consistency. Notice whether basic details and behavior stay reasonably consistent across conversations.
• Protect personal information. Avoid sharing your home address, identity documents, passwords, payment details, or private account information.
• Never share verification codes. A new online friend should not ask for one-time passcodes or account recovery codes.
• Do not send money. Treat requests for loans, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or urgent transfers from a new contact as a serious warning sign.
• Respect your own boundaries. You can say no, slow down, block, or report a contact at any time.

Pause if someone pressures you to move platforms immediately, demands secrecy, becomes angry when you set a boundary, repeatedly changes their story, sends suspicious links or files, or introduces a financial emergency early in the relationship. One unusual detail may have an innocent explanation; a repeated pattern of pressure is a stronger reason to step back.

Stop replying if you need to, block and report the account on the platform where you met, and save relevant evidence if you believe you are being scammed or threatened. If you have shared a password or verification code, secure the affected account immediately. If there is an immediate threat, contact the appropriate local authorities.

This guide is general information, not a guarantee that any profile is genuine. No single photo, message, or video call can prove a person’s intentions.