If you’ve gone through those warnings signs and not experiencing them with someone you met online and you’re looking at going on a date, here are some things to keep in mind before meeting in-person:

• Consider video chatting first. This is a safe way to see if someone really is who they say they are. If it’s a different person than the photos on their profile or if they won’t turn on their camera, then this is not someone you should meet. However, if the person matches up to their profile photo and information, multiple video chats are a great way to get to know each other better before meeting in-person.

• Be sure to tell someone what you’re doing. If you’ve agreed to meet someone in-person, tell a friend or someone you trust – and be sure to include the time, place, and who you’re meeting. If you need to leave the situation, your friend would be aware of where you are and can help you promptly.

• Meet in public and be sure to drive yourself. For the first date or even several times after, drive yourself. Until the relationship is established as being safe, it’s safest not to have someone know where you live. Plus, if you’re meeting in public, having others around will often keep you safer.