Keep your financial information private

No one should be asking you for money. Report them immediately. Don't give out your credit card number, bank information, or other important information such as your social security number.



Withhold personal information until you feel ready

Be careful about sharing your full name, phone number, email or address. Protect yourself until you get to know the person well enough and feel safe enough to share it.

Watch for red flags that might hint that you're dealing with a scammer. Some red flags are:

- Constantly sending links to third-party websites

- Quickly wants to talk outside of cougardatinghookup.com

- Asks for money

- Disappears and then reappears under a different name with the same picture

- Asks for your address

Click here to see what the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has to say about avoiding online scams.



Don't be afraid to report those violating our terms of use. Some examples are:

- Asking for money

- Anyone who looks like they're under the age of 18

- Users sending offensive messages

- Users behaving inappropriately when and after meeting in person

- Catfish, or people using fraudulent profiles

- Spam, such as people attempting to sell you stuff



When Meeting in Person

Get to know them before meeting them in person Make sure you get to know someone through the cougardatinghookup.com chat before you meet them in person. It's also a good idea to keep information like your last name, phone number and address private as well.

Do your research and be cautious.



Always meet in public, never at your home or apartment

Meet somewhere public and populated, like a busy coffee shop, for your first date. Make sure you're aware of your surroundings.



Drive yourself to and from your first meeting

It's important to be in control of your ride even if you're getting a Taxi or using a service like Uber. You don't want to be stuck in a car with someone who makes you feel unsafe behind the wheel.



Tell a friend where you are and when you expect to be home

Make sure you tell a friend or family member of your plans. Let them know where you're going and what time you'll be home. Inform them if you move places, for example, tell them if you're leaving the restaurant and getting dessert elsewhere. Have them call and check up on you or hang out somewhere nearby.



When Hooking Up - Use Protection

Use condoms and other forms of protection to help reduce your risk of contracting or passing on an STD. Make sure you're using protection consistently and correctly.



Communicate Open and Honestly

Have a conversation about sex before you have it. It's okay to discuss the number of partners each of you has had as well as the last time you were tested. Remember to be honest.



Vaccinate

There are vaccinations that help reduce your risk of contracting certain STDs.



Get tested, Know Your Status

If you're sexually active, make sure you're getting tested. It's important for your health to do so. There are plenty of places to get tested for free, so do your research. And if you are positive for any STD be honest and tell your partner before you have sex!