Online Safety Practices
Protecting yourself online is crucial when connecting with new people. Follow these best practices to maintain your safety:
- Keep personal information private: Avoid sharing your home address, workplace, financial information, or other sensitive details until you've built trust with someone.
- Use our messaging system: Keep conversations on our platform until you feel comfortable sharing contact information.
- Be cautious with links: Don't click on suspicious links sent by other users, as they may lead to phishing sites or malware.
- Create a strong password: Use a unique password for your Kumusha eKhaya Love account that you don't use elsewhere.
- Report suspicious behavior: If someone makes you feel uncomfortable or violates our guidelines, report them immediately.
Safety Tip
Google yourself periodically to see what information is publicly available about you online. This helps you understand what others might find when searching for you.
Meeting In Person
When you're ready to take your connection offline, follow these guidelines to ensure your safety:
- Meet in public: Always choose a public place for your first few meetings, such as a café, restaurant, or park.
- Tell a friend: Let someone know where you're going, who you're meeting, and when you expect to return.
- Arrange your own transportation: Drive yourself or use a ride-sharing service so you can leave whenever you want.
- Stay sober: Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, and keep your drink with you at all times.
- Trust your instincts: If something feels wrong, excuse yourself and leave immediately.
Important Warning
Never agree to be picked up at your home on a first date. Always meet at the public location instead.
Financial Safety
Protect yourself from financial scams and exploitation with these guidelines:
- Never send money: Do not send money to anyone you've met online, regardless of their story or circumstances.
- Beware of sob stories: Be cautious of users who quickly share hard-luck stories and ask for financial assistance.
- Report financial requests: Immediately report any user who asks for money or financial information.
- Protect your financial information: Never share bank account details, credit card information, or other financial data.
Recognition Tip
Scammers often profess love quickly, try to move conversations off the platform immediately, or claim to be traveling or working abroad. Be wary of these patterns.
Recognizing Red Flags
Be aware of these warning signs that may indicate suspicious behavior:
- Inconsistent stories: Details that don't add up or change over time.
- Avoiding video calls: Refusing to have video chats after multiple requests.
- Pressuring for personal information: Pushing for your address, financial details, or other private information.
- Requests for explicit photos: Asking for inappropriate pictures, especially early in communication.
- Too good to be true: Profiles that seem perfect in every way may be fake.
Trust Your Instincts
If something feels off about a person or interaction, trust that feeling. It's better to be cautious than to put yourself at risk.
Reporting Concerns
We take all reports seriously. Here's how to report concerns on our platform:
- Use the report button: Every profile and message has a report option. Use it to flag inappropriate behavior.
- Provide details: When reporting, include as much information as possible to help our safety team investigate.
- Block users: If someone makes you uncomfortable, block them to prevent further contact.
- Contact support: For urgent safety concerns, contact our support team directly.
Documentation Tip
If you need to report someone, take screenshots of concerning messages or profiles before blocking them. This helps our safety team with their investigation.