Safety Tips

Being a user of the Ohlala platform is exciting, but you should put your safety first, whether you are exchanging initial messages or meeting in person. The good news is, while you can’t control the actions of others, there are many actions you can take to stay safe during your Ohlala experience.

First of all, be sure to pick a strong password for your personal account. When logging into your account from a public or shared computer never save your personal credentials. In general, never share your username and password information with any other person.

In any case, Ohlala will never send you an email asking for your username and password information. In fact, if you receive an email asking for account information, report it immediately to [email protected].

Never share personal information with people you don’t know. This applies not only to your home address but also to your daily routine (e.g. that you go to a certain place on one specific day of the week).

Limit the information that you share about underaged family members on your profile and in your communications. Avoid sharing details such as their gender, ages, children’s names, or where they go to school. Also avoid sharing information about particularly wealthy family members like an aunt, uncle or grandparents.

Most of the Ohlala users are decent members. However, romance scams occur on many dating platforms. Therefore, never share information that could be used to access your financial accounts. If another user asks you for money, report it to us via [email protected] immediately.

Moreover, you should never send money, especially over a wire transfer, even if the person claims to be in an emergency. Especially sending money is dangerous since it is nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace where the money went.

In order to stay safe you should keep conversations on the Ohlala platform. Users with bad intentions often try to move the conversation quickly to messaging apps, email, or phone right away. We advise you to use the Ohlala messaging service only.

Pick your contacts carefully. The easiest way to do so is to look out for the blue verified badge. The blue verified check mark on a user’s profile lets people know that an account is authentic. To receive the blue badge members need to complete the Ohlala verification process.

Watch out for romance scammers who are not located in your home country, especially if they ask for financial help. If someone is pushing for a serious relationship without meeting or getting to know you first you should avoid any contact.

Take your time to ask your potential dating partner questions in order to screen for any red flags or personal dealbreakers. The Ohlala chat can be a useful screening tool before meeting up in person.

We advise you to meet in a populated, public place for the first time. Do not meet at your home, your date’s home, or any other private location. If you feel like your date pressures you to go to a private location, put your safety first and end the date quickly.

In case you meet in a place you have never been to before research what types of legal protection if any, are available to you. This is especially important when you are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Try to be extra cautious as some countries have laws that criminalize communications on same-sex dating and aggravate penalties if that communication leads to sexual encounters.

Before you meet for the first time charge your cell phone and have it with you at all times when meeting your dating partner. Use a tracking app to send your location data to a person you trust.

Before you go on a date for the very first time ensure you are in control of how you get to and from your date. This will make it easier for you to leave whenever you want. If you are driving yourself have a backup plan such as a rideshare app or a friend to pick you up.

If your date tries to pressure you to take drugs or drink more than you’re comfortable with, end the date immediately.

Many substances that are slipped into drinks to facilitate sexual assault are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Therefore we advise you to end the date immediately if you realize any discomforting physical changes such as dizziness, severe fatigue, or deafness. Also, keep your phone, purse, wallet, and anything containing personal information on you at all times.

Only accept drinks poured directly from the bartender or server and know where your drink is at all times. If you meet at a restaurant be alerted if your date knows the staff and gives the server signs through eye contact or similar gestures.

In general, it is wise to trust your intuition when you are on a date. If your instincts are telling you something is off, ask the bartender or server for help. It is okay to end the date early if you are feeling uncomfortable.

Verbal communication is the most important tool to ensure that you respect your dating partner’s boundaries. You also need to be aware of the fact that consent can be withdrawn at any time. Do not proceed with any physical encounter if your dating partner seems unsure or uncomfortable with the situation.

In case, you have experienced sexual harassment at a date and you are afraid to tell anyone we advise you to get in touch with someone you deeply trust. You can also contact Ohlala via [email protected] and we will try to support you in any way we can. Please also consider contacting the police since whatever happened is not your fault and you do not have to feel ashamed.

Report any incidents and consider reaching out to the police if you feel you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance. If you are not sure who to contact first talk to a person you deeply trust and ask for advice or get in touch with Ohlala via [email protected].

Please block and report anyone that violates our terms. This will help not only to ensure your own security but also the community’s safety.

Here are some examples of violations:

• Requests for money or donations
• Underage users
• Harassment, threats, and offensive messages
  Inappropriate or harmful behavior during or after meeting in person
• Fraudulent profiles
• Spam or solicitation including links to commercial websites or attempts to sell products or services

You can report any concerns about suspicious behavior from any profile page or chat via [email protected]. For more information, also check out the Ohlala Support Center.