Talking online can feel like a safe and secure way to meet people, whether you're looking for a romantic connection or friendship. You don't need to go to places like the pub to try and meet someone and you have time to think of a great response – plus you can chat while in your PJs.

In fact, it is really easy to feel completely relaxed when talking to someone on the internet, which is both a good and bad thing. No matter how well you get on with the person you're talking to, you need to remember that certain precautions need to be taken.

To help you stay safe, here's what you need to remember:

Never give out bank or card details

You might think that this goes without saying, but you'd be surprised how many people happily give out their details to people online. No matter how long you've been talking to someone for and how much you trust them, keep your bank and card details to yourself.

If you happen to talk to someone who comes up with a reason as to why they need to know your details, you may want to question why they are talking to you and be wary about chatting to them in the future.

Be anonymous

The point of a username is to add a sense of anonymity to your profile. This is why you should choose one that doesn't include your last name or anything too specific about where you live. It is also important to only put your first name on your account, as this makes it more difficult for people to track you down on other sites. 

As well as keeping your profile anonymous, you should avoid giving anyone your last name, at least until you've gotten to know them a bit better. This just helps to keep you safe and protects against anyone using your identity.

Keep contact details private

You should avoid handing out your phone number, address and other contact details when talking online as these can also be used for fraud. People may also want to take a relationship further than you do, so details like this can be used for harassment, which you definitely don't want.

If you do want to give someone another way to get hold of you, start off with your email address until you get to know them better. When things get more serious, you can be a bit less guarded, but you still need to be safe. 

Be cautious 

Most importantly, you should be cautious. It really is better to be safe so if you don't get a good feeling or if you don't want to give certain information, then trust your gut. You don't need to rush into anything, that's the joy of online chat, so take your time, get comfortable and get to know people slowly. This makes it more fun and ensures you are happy and safe.

This isn't to say that you should be so cautious you don't talk to anyone – that totally undermines the point of being online in the first place – but a bit of extra care will ensure you are always in control of the situation.

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