Although our moderation team of experts does their best to ensure a secure environment for everyone in the app, and despite the verification measures we have in place, there are always certain precautions you should take while meeting people online.
In-app Communication
- Never disclose sensitive information.
Never share personal information with people you don’t know, such as your phone number, social media accounts, and, most importantly, your home address or workplace. Any photos where your home street or car can be identified are also discouraged.
Be especially mindful of any “financial help” requests or anything of the sort, even if the other person claims that it’s an emergency. Disclosing such sensitive details is extremely dangerous and can make you fall victim to financial fraud or scam strategies. For that reason, never share financial information and report such requests to us immediately.
- Suggest a video call.
The best way to get a first glimpse at who that person is and what their intentions are is to have a face-to-face conversation with them. On Taimi, you can do that with just one click.
If video calls are something you’re comfortable with, we highly recommend doing one before meeting in person.
- Don’t let them make you feel bad for wanting to play safe.
A huge red flag is when the person you’re getting to know reacts with disdain whenever you manifest wanting to be on the safe side.
If you don’t want to share your phone number or approximate location right away, you don’t have to; if the other person doesn’t respect it, maybe their intentions aren’t as pure as you might think.
- Keep the conversation inside the app for as long as it’s convenient.
On the one hand, if something bad takes place in another app, it’ll be much harder for us to act on it; on the other hand, luring you off the app could also be the other person’s way of avoiding the consequences of their actions.
Taimi has all the necessary features for fruitful and interesting conversations, so there’s technically no excuse to text anywhere else.
- Pay attention to whether the profile is verified or not, and report any suspicious behavior to us.
Despite our security concerns, committing identity theft through the creation of a falsified dating profile may still occur. If anything feels off, report the profile immediately using the three dots on the upper right corner of their profile or Digest post/story.
Users whose identity we have confirmed have a verified badge on their profiles, but if a verified account is behaving suspiciously, make sure to report them anyway.
If there’s any information you’d like to add to your report, please, let us know via our in-app Live Support Chat or email us at support@taimi.com.
Planning your first date
- Make sure you’re ready to meet in person.
Take the time to get to know the person you’re going to meet up with, and if you don’t feel comfortable scheduling a date, don’t rush it just to please the other person.
Be open about your concerns; if they don’t respect them, it will never be your fault.
- Choose a safe location and time.
The best places to have your first date are usually crowded and public places, and the best time is usually while there’s daylight. Meeting for the first time at your home or at the other person’s home may not be a good idea.
Nevertheless, you better than anyone will know the safest and best place for you to meet a stranger.
- Be mindful of transportation and travel.
Firstly, don’t depend on the other person to get home or to know your way around; choose a location you’re familiar and comfortable with.
Secondly, if you’re traveling to a different country, take into account that certain countries have laws that target LGBTQ+ people specifically. For your own safety, consider the sexual orientation laws in your destination: https://ilga.org/maps-sexual-orientation-laws
- Let someone you trust know where you’ll be and what you’ll be doing.
Don’t refrain from being specific about the time and place of your date to someone you trust – if something happens, they’re one text away from rescuing you from a bad situation or from alerting authorities about anything worse.
Meeting up
- Be on guard.
- Protect your personal items at all times;
- Pay attention to the possibility of having your drink tainted with incapacitating substances;
- Stay in control – stay sober;
- Be on the lookout for any suspicious behavior.
- Anticipate vulnerable scenarios.
Before you fully trust the person, reject any activity that may endanger your physical or mental well-being.
When it comes to sexual intercourse, remember to communicate consent or lack of it, use protection, and be open about your boundaries.
Remember that the only way to protect yourself from STIs is using a condom. If you’re sexually active, get tested regularly, and ask your partner if they do so as well.
- Safety comes first.
As soon as your limits are breached, or you feel uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to leave.
If your safety is compromised to the point it may not be easy for you to leave, reach out to others for help – for this, make sure your phone is charged.
- Protect yourself from unwanted contacts or harassment.
When the other person won’t take “no” for an answer, breaking all means of communication is the safest approach.
Blocking incoming messages or calls is highly recommended when the other person won’t respect your space and privacy.
If something didn’t go as planned, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.
In case of emergency, call 911 immediately. (US or Canada)
Alternatively, contact your local law enforcement agency.
The Trevor Project
LGBTQ+ Hotline Available 24/7
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
1-866-488-7386
LGBT National Youth Hotline
LGBTQ+ Hotline for ages 23 and under
800-246-7743 (Mondays to Fridays from 1 pm – 9 pm PST; Saturday from 9 am – 2 pm PST)
LGBT National Hotline
LGBTQ+ Hotline for all ages
888-843-4564 (Mondays to Fridays from 1 pm – 9 pm PST; Saturday from 9 am – 2 pm PST)
Pride Institute LGBTQ Dependency
Substance Dependency Organization
(800)-547-7433 / https://pride-institute.com/lgbtq-recovery-programs/
RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
online.rainn.org / www.rainn.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) / 1-800-787-3224
www.thehotline.org
National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888 or text 233733
www.humantraffickinghotline.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
1-877-739-3895
www.nsvrc.org
Cyber Civil Rights Initiative
1-844-878-2274
www.cybercivilrights.org
VictimConnect – Crime Victim Resource Center
1-855-4VICTIM (855-484-2846)
www.victimconnect.org
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
www.ic3.gov
