This guide provides practical guidance for using the service, communicating with new contacts. It covers online deception, financial manipulation, privacy, consent, personal safety and responding to harmful conduct. Read it alongside our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

If you are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services. Do not wait for a response to a platform report. This guide provides general safety information, not individual legal, medical or psychological advice. It does not replace professional assistance, reduce our responsibilities or limit your rights under applicable law.

1. Purpose and core safety principles

You decide how quickly a connection develops and what you share. You are never obliged to continue a conversation, give someone your contact details, send images, transfer money or attend a meeting. Previous interest, gifts or money spent on the service do not create an obligation to another user.

Build trust gradually through consistent, respectful behaviour. Keep independent control of your accounts, finances, transport and accommodation. Pause when someone pressures you to act quickly, keep secrets or disregard your boundaries. Speak to someone you trust if you are uncertain.

These precautions can reduce exposure to harm, but they cannot eliminate it. Responsibility for fraud, abuse or violence lies with the person who commits it, regardless of whether someone followed safety advice.

2. Understanding the risks

Online dating can expose users to impersonation, financial scams, account compromise, harassment, coercion and misuse of private information. Risks may develop over time: a friendly exchange can become a request for money, a demand for intimate material or a threat when a boundary is set.

Consider conduct in context. A single inconsistency, limited profile or reluctance to make a call does not establish dishonesty. Repeated contradictions combined with financial requests, secrecy or pressure warrant greater caution. Do not assess a person’s trustworthiness by nationality, accent, disability, appearance or other personal characteristics.

3. Profiles and identity signals

Photographs and biographies can be copied, altered or generated using AI. A detailed profile or professional-looking image is not proof of identity. Conversely, a sparse profile is not proof of fraud.

Watch for changing names, ages or circumstances; stories that repeatedly prevent ordinary contact; and requests for trust that are not accompanied by respectful, consistent behaviour. Claims of working abroad, travelling or serving in the military should be considered alongside conduct rather than treated as suspicious on their own. Report apparent impersonation or a misleading profile instead of confronting or publicly accusing the person.

4. Checks and the limits of verification

A consensual live conversation may help you get to know someone, but video, voice and images can also be manipulated. A successful call does not prove legal identity or good intentions. You may decline to proceed if you remain uncomfortable; the other person may also decline a call for legitimate privacy or accessibility reasons.

Do not demand passports, bank statements, access to private accounts or intimate images as proof of identity. If you compare publicly available information, respect privacy and do not attempt unauthorised access, surveillance or harassment. Any external image-search service has its own privacy terms; avoid uploading another person’s sensitive material.

Our age assessment and photo moderation serve specific purposes. Neither establishes that every statement on a profile is accurate, that a background check has occurred, or that meeting the person will be safe.

5. Romance scams and requests for money

A scammer may build a relationship over weeks or months before asking for financial help. Common explanations include medical treatment, travel, a blocked account, family hardship or fees allegedly required to release money. Requests can begin with small amounts and increase after trust develops.

Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or payment credentials to someone you know through online dating. Be particularly cautious of urgent requests, promises of repayment and instructions to keep a transaction secret. Meeting once or speaking on video does not make a later financial request safe.

Do not open accounts, take out credit, receive and forward money or accept and reship goods on another user’s behalf. These arrangements can expose you to loss and potential involvement in unlawful activity. Report financial solicitation through the platform’s reporting tools.

6. Investment and cryptocurrency approaches

Treat investment recommendations from dating contacts as a warning sign, including invitations to trading apps, cryptocurrency exchanges, private groups or a supposed adviser. Fraudulent services may display invented profits or permit an early withdrawal to encourage larger deposits.

Do not install trading software or deposit funds because a dating contact recommends it. Demands for an additional tax, release fee or security deposit to withdraw supposed profits are reasons to stop and seek independent help. A polished website, familiar logo or screenshot of someone else’s earnings is not evidence that an investment is genuine.

7. Phishing and account security

Unexpected links, files and QR codes may lead to credential theft or malicious software. Be cautious of supposed photo albums, verification forms, event tickets and messages claiming that your account requires urgent action. Access FlirtyLabs and any verification process through the official service rather than a link supplied by another user.

Use unique passwords for your dating account and linked email account. Enable multi-factor authentication on services that support it. Keep your device and browser updated. Never disclose passwords, recovery codes or one-time passcodes, and do not install remote-access software at a contact’s request. Investigate unfamiliar login or password-reset notifications through the service’s official channels.

8. Personal information and controlled disclosure

Share information gradually. Avoid publishing your full address, workplace, routine, financial position, identity documents or travel itinerary. Small details can be combined to identify your home, locate family members or impersonate you. Be especially careful with children’s names, photographs, schools and schedules.

Review photo backgrounds for house numbers, badges, documents and vehicle details. Check whether image files or sharing services disclose location information; do not assume every service removes metadata. Consider how linked social profiles or a reused profile photograph could reveal more than you intend.

Review privacy settings on external services before exchanging contact details. A phone number or email address can expose a surname, profile photograph or connected account even when you have not deliberately shared that information.

9. Intimate material and image-based abuse

Do not upload or send content prohibited by our content rules, including nudity or sexually explicit imagery. Never pressure another person to provide intimate material. A request framed as proof of trust, affection or loyalty does not create consent.

Outside the platform, remember that images, videos and calls may be recorded, copied or altered. Disappearing messages and private settings cannot guarantee control once content is shared. Permission to receive an image is not permission to distribute it. Creating or circulating sexualised images of another person without consent can cause serious harm, including where the image is fabricated.

If someone threatens to publish private material, do not pay, provide more content or agree to further demands. Follow the response steps in Section 19. You can seek help even if you originally shared the material voluntarily.

10. Emotional manipulation and coercion

Rapid affection alone does not establish abuse, but affection combined with pressure, secrecy or punishment for setting boundaries can indicate manipulation. Warning signs include demands for constant availability, anger at delayed replies, attempts to isolate you, monitoring requests, or threats intended to stop you ending a relationship.

Keep contact with trusted people and maintain your normal routines. You do not have to prove loyalty by sharing passwords, your live location, private images or money. A person who respects you should accept that you may say no or change your mind. If an interaction makes you afraid, prioritise a safe way to disengage and consider specialist support.

11. Harassment, hate and unwanted contact

Insults, identity-based abuse, threats, coercive sexual messages and repeated unwanted contact are reasons to use blocking and reporting tools. A refusal or a block must be respected. Attempts to reach someone through new accounts or other people after they have declined contact may increase the risk.

Do not feel obliged to debate, justify your boundaries or respond to provocation. Preserve relevant information where safe, report the conduct and disengage. If you fear immediate harm, contact emergency services. For persistent or escalating behaviour, seek advice from local police or an appropriate support organisation.

12. Moving conversations off the platform

Keep conversations on FlirtyLabs while you are getting to know someone. Be alert to pressure to switch immediately to another messaging app, private email, phone or an unfamiliar website. There can be legitimate reasons to exchange contact details, but you are entitled to take your time.

Our platform screening tools do not operate in external conversations. Moving elsewhere may also limit the information available to our moderation team. Before switching, review the external service’s visibility, contact discovery and location settings, and consider what information your account reveals.

You can still report the person’s FlirtyLabs profile for concerning conduct that occurred elsewhere. Supply the relevant account details and a description where safe. Moving off-platform does not remove your right to ask for help.

13. Planning an initial meeting

Arrange a first meeting only when you feel comfortable. Choose a busy public place with staff nearby, preferably somewhere familiar. Avoid a private home, hotel room, remote area or parked vehicle as an initial meeting location. Do not accept pressure to change to a secluded venue.

Tell a trusted person whom you are meeting, where you will be and when you expect to return. Arrange a check-in and, if helpful, a code word for assistance. Keep your phone charged and have funds and a practical plan for leaving independently.

Digital familiarity does not replace real-world trust. You can postpone or cancel a meeting without proving that something is wrong. If the other person will not respect reasonable arrangements, reconsider the meeting.

14. During a date

Stay attentive to your comfort and surroundings. You do not have to consume alcohol, accept a lift, move to another location or continue a date because someone has paid or made plans. If you want to leave, a brief statement is sufficient; you do not owe a detailed explanation.

If you feel unsafe, move towards staff, other people or a safer public location. Contact someone you trust or emergency services as appropriate. Do not rely on the person causing concern to arrange your exit. If you suspect you are being followed, seek assistance rather than leading the person to your home.

15. Consent, sexual health and boundaries

Consent must be freely given and can be withdrawn at any time. Flirting, silence, a previous relationship, prior intimacy or spending money does not establish consent to a particular act. Do not proceed where the person is asleep, unconscious or unable to make a free and informed choice. If willingness is unclear, stop.

Discuss boundaries and protective measures before intimacy, and respect the agreed conditions. Never remove or interfere with agreed protection without consent. For questions about contraception, sexually transmitted infections, exposure or testing, seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If assault or possible exposure has occurred, seek prompt medical support because some care is time-sensitive.

16. Transport, accommodation and home privacy

Keep control of how you arrive and leave. Avoid depending on a new contact for transport, a place to stay or access to your belongings. Do not disclose your home address before you are ready, and consider what a pickup or drop-off location reveals.

For taxis or ride services, confirm that the vehicle and driver match the booking before entering. Share trip details with someone you trust if you choose. If travelling for a meeting, arrange accommodation and return travel independently, keep your documents accessible and maintain an alternative plan if the meeting changes or is cancelled.

17. Alcohol, drugs and suspected spiking

Be alert if someone pressures you to drink more, controls access to your drink or offers unknown substances. Keep your drink in sight and seek help if it may have been tampered with. None of these precautions makes a person responsible for being harmed.

If you suddenly feel unusually confused, drowsy, unwell or impaired, tell venue staff or a trusted person and obtain urgent medical advice. Call emergency services for severe symptoms or immediate danger. Do not drive or leave alone with someone you do not trust. Evidence may be time-sensitive, but getting to safety and obtaining care take priority over collecting it.

18. Stalking and surveillance

Repeated contact after refusal, new accounts used to bypass blocks, unexpected appearances at home or work, and references to information you did not share can indicate stalking or surveillance. A single incident may be ambiguous; a pattern deserves attention.

Where safe, keep a dated record of incidents and preserve relevant messages. Review location sharing, linked accounts and device access. If you suspect someone monitors your device, use a safer device to seek help. Abrupt changes can sometimes alert an abusive person, so obtain specialist safety-planning advice if you fear escalation.

Inform trusted people and consider contacting police or a stalking support service. You do not have to wait for a physical assault before asking for help.

19. Blackmail and extortion

Threats may concern genuine or fabricated intimate material, private chats, identity, sexual orientation or workplace information. The person making demands may rely on urgency and embarrassment to prevent you seeking support. Do not pay or send further material; payment does not guarantee that a threat will end.

Stop engaging where safe. Preserve the threatening messages, profile identifiers, demands and relevant payment information without redistributing intimate material. Report the account and seek help from police or an image-based-abuse service. Tell a trusted person if you can; you do not need to handle the threat alone.

If content appears on another service, use that service’s reporting process as well. Specialist removal and prevention tools may have eligibility and jurisdiction limits. Be cautious of anyone promising guaranteed removal or recovery in exchange for an upfront fee.

20. Impersonation and disclosure of private information

If someone uses your identity or photographs without permission, record the profile address, account identifier and relevant screenshots where safe. Report impersonation through the service hosting the account and report any related FlirtyLabs profile. Do not send identity documents to the suspected impersonator or to an unverified person offering to help.

If private information is published to expose you to harassment, report where it appears and consider the immediate risks to your home, work or family. Review account security and tell affected trusted people where appropriate. Avoid publicly sharing further personal information while trying to correct the record. Police or specialist services can advise on available local remedies.

21. Travel and cross-border contacts

Long-distance relationships can make it harder to assess everyday consistency. Treat urgent requests for travel money, visa fees or emergency transfers with the same caution as other financial requests. Distance and a persuasive explanation do not establish a need for you to pay.

If you travel to meet someone, retain your own bookings, documents, funds and return arrangements. Share your itinerary with a trusted person and identify local emergency and consular contacts in advance. Do not surrender your passport or become dependent on a new contact for accommodation or transport.

Laws and support options differ between destinations, including protections relating to sexuality, gender, privacy and intimate images. Check relevant official travel advice before departure. Seek qualified local advice for a specific legal concern rather than relying on another user’s assurances.

22. Age and ability to consent

FlirtyLabs is for adults aged 18 or over, or the applicable legal minimum age in their jurisdiction if higher. Users must successfully complete our selfie-based age assessment before accessing the product. Do not bypass the process, misrepresent your age or allow someone else to use your account.

If you suspect a user is underage, stop the interaction and report the profile. Do not ask the person to prove their age by sending private documents or intimate material. A platform access check does not replace the need for lawful, freely given consent in later interactions.

Never request, create, save or circulate sexual material involving a child. If you encounter suspected child sexual abuse material, report its location and account details without downloading or forwarding it. Contact the relevant authorities where a child may be at risk, and emergency services where danger is immediate.

23. Reporting concerns

Use the available blocking and reporting tools. Reporting categories include Fake profile, Rude or abusive behaviour, Inappropriate content, Scam or commercial activity, Identity-based hate and Underage user. Reports are submitted to our moderation team for review. Blocking alone should not be treated as a substitute for submitting a report when you want an incident reviewed.

Include the profile or user ID, what happened, when it happened and whether the conduct continued elsewhere. Provide relevant information without exposing unrelated people or sensitive credentials. If you cannot use the reporting tools, consult the support contact details published on FlirtyLabs. You may report a concern without proving an offence or first confronting the person.

24. Evidence and practical incident response

Your immediate safety comes first. You do not need to remain in an unsafe conversation to collect evidence. Where safe and lawful, keep profile identifiers, messages, dates, relevant links and transaction references. Store them securely and share them only with people or organisations assisting you.

Keep a brief chronology if conduct is repeated. Avoid editing the original records, posting accusations publicly or conducting your own investigation. Do not copy or forward suspected sexual material involving children. Platform reports, financial-provider notifications and police reports serve different purposes; one does not automatically replace the others.

We use AI photo screening, manual review of content flagged for further attention and user reports. Our AI monitoring is designed to flag requests for sensitive information such as payment details, banking credentials, passwords and verification codes. These measures have limitations and do not establish continuous human supervision or guarantee detection of every harmful interaction.

25. If you have already sent money or information

If money or payment details were disclosed, contact your bank or payment provider through a verified channel promptly. Explain the circumstances and ask about available protective measures and recovery options. Do not assume a payment can be reversed, and do not make further payments to release funds or prove ownership.

If passwords or codes were disclosed, secure the affected account and linked email through official channels. Change reused passwords, review active sessions and enable additional authentication where available. Use a trusted device if compromise is suspected.

If identity documents were shared, seek guidance from the issuing authority and relevant local fraud-support services. Credit alerts or monitoring may be appropriate where available. If private images were shared and threats follow, use the steps in Section 19. Seeking help early is worthwhile even when you are unsure how much information was exposed.

26. Support from others and recovery

A trusted friend can help review a concerning interaction, arrange check-ins or support you in reporting an incident. If you are helping someone else, listen without blame, respect their choices and avoid confronting the suspected offender in a way that could increase danger. Do not circulate their private messages or images unnecessarily.

Fraud, coercion and assault can affect confidence, wellbeing and everyday life. Distress or embarrassment should not prevent you from seeking support. You may wish to contact a counsellor, victim-support organisation, healthcare professional or legal adviser, depending on what happened. No level of education or experience makes someone immune to manipulation.

If you need help with a platform safety concern, use our reporting tools or the support details published on the service. For emergency, medical or criminal matters, contact the appropriate external service directly. Our support channels are not emergency-response services.

27. Practical safety checklist

Before sharing information

• Keep your address, routine, family details and sensitive documents private.
• Use unique passwords and additional authentication where available.
• Treat photos, calls and verification signals as limited information, not guarantees.

While communicating

• Take your time and keep initial conversations on-platform.
• Never send a dating contact money, payment details, passwords or verification codes.
• Decline pressure, secrecy, investment approaches and requests for prohibited content.
• Check what an external messaging account reveals before sharing it.

Before and during a meeting

• Choose a staffed public location and keep your own transport and exit plan.
• Tell a trusted person your plans and arrange a check-in.
• Keep your phone charged and stay attentive to your comfort and surroundings.
• Respect consent and leave or seek help if boundaries are ignored.

If something goes wrong

• Put immediate safety and medical needs first.
• Preserve relevant information where safe and lawful, then report and block as appropriate.
• Contact your financial provider promptly if money or credentials are involved.
• Do not pay blackmail demands or send further material.
• Seek support from trusted people and appropriate professional or public services.

28. Further help and application of this guide

This guide is intended for users in different countries. The relevant emergency number, reporting authority and available legal remedies depend on your location. Contact local emergency services for immediate danger and the appropriate police or fraud-reporting service for suspected criminal conduct. Nothing in this guide prevents you from exercising your rights or seeking help directly.

The following independent resources provide additional guidance. Their services, reporting eligibility and territorial scope vary.

• ODDA consumer advice — https://theodda.org/for-consumers/
• UK Report Fraud — https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/
• Australian eSafety dating guidance — https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/staying-safe/online-dating
• Australian eSafety sextortion guidance — https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/image-based-abuse/deal-with-sextortion
• Get Safe Online — https://www.getsafeonline.org/personal/articles/online-dating/

You remain free to slow down, say no, end contact or ask for help at any point. Our safety measures and these recommendations support informed choices; they do not guarantee another person’s identity, intentions or conduct, or remove our responsibilities under applicable law.