Dating apps are an amazing way to meet new people, exchange ideas, and maybe even find that vegan soulmate you’ve been looking for. But we all know—along with the excitement of connecting with someone new, there are also a few risks. The good news? With some simple precautions, you can stay safe and enjoy the ride.
At Veggly, your well-being is super important to us. We want you to have fun, explore new connections, and feel totally confident while doing it. That’s why we’ve put together these tips—covering online chats, first dates, and even sexual health—to help you stay protected while making meaningful connections.
Think of this as your little safety guide: not rules, but friendly reminders that keep you in control of your own experience.
Online Safety
💸 Don’t send money. Ever.
No matter how convincing the story is—emergency, “stuck abroad,” or anything else—never send money. Scammers love this trick, and once it’s gone, it’s almost impossible to get it back.
🔒 Keep your info private.
Don’t give out your home or work address, bank details, or ID numbers. And remember: Veggly will never ask for your password.
📱 Stay on Veggly.
If someone is rushing to move the conversation to WhatsApp, email, or SMS, take it as a red flag. Keep the chat in-app until you’re 100% comfortable.
🛂 Ask for profile verification.
If you suspect someone might be a scammer, ask them to validate their Veggly account. Veggly offers an AI-powered account validation feature that helps boost trust and safety on the platform. You can learn how it works and encourage others to complete it by checking out this step-by-step guide. If someone refuses to validate their account or avoids the request, take it as a red flag and report them.
🚫 Do not share intimate content.
While it may feel tempting, avoid sending explicit photos or videos to anyone you do not know and fully trust. Unfortunately, such material is often exploited in blackmail schemes (“sextortion”), which can cause serious emotional and financial harm.
🚨 Report bad behavior.
See something suspicious? Someone asking for money, harassing you, or pretending to be underage? Block and report them. You can do this anytime, anonymously, directly in the app.
Offline Safety
So, the chat went great and you’re ready for a first date? Awesome! Just keep these in mind:
👀 Get to know them first. Take your time before meeting in person.
🏙️ Meet in public. Always choose a café, park, or restaurant. Never at your home (or theirs).
📍 Tell a friend. Share your plans and location with someone you trust.
🚗 Your ride, your rules. Arrange your own transport so you can leave whenever you want.
🥤 Stay sharp. Keep an eye on your drink and avoid overdoing alcohol.
Health & Sexual Safety
Being vegan is all about compassion, and that includes caring for yourself and your partner.
🛡️ Use protection. Condoms and barriers reduce STI risks.
💬 Talk about it. Be open about testing and sexual health before things get intimate.
💉 Vaccinate. Vaccines (like HPV) can help prevent certain infections.
✅ Know your status. Get tested regularly—even without symptoms.
⚠️ Real-Life Case: Interpol Sting Operation
Just recently, Interpol carried out a massive crackdown on romance scams and sextortion schemes across 14 African countries. The results were shocking:
- 260 suspected scammers arrested
- 1,400+ victims identified
- $2.8 million lost through fake love stories and blackmail
- Criminals seized phones, fake IDs, and shut down 81 scam groups
In Ghana alone, over 800 devices were confiscated and hundreds of thousands of dollars uncovered. In Senegal, scammers even pretended to be celebrities to trick people.
Interpol’s Cybercrime Director put it clearly:
“It doesn’t take long before you develop a connection with somebody… and very quickly this trust is shattered.”
This is a powerful reminder: stay cautious, trust your gut, and don’t send money or intimate content to people you don’t fully know.
👉 You can read the full report on the BBC here.
Emergency Resources
If you ever feel unsafe or in immediate danger, call 911 (or your local emergency number).
Other helpful hotlines:
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE | rainn.org
- Planned Parenthood: 1-800-230-7526 | plannedparenthood.org
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE | thehotline.org
Final Thoughts
Dating should be exciting, safe, and full of possibilities. By keeping conversations on Veggly, protecting your personal info, and taking things at your own pace, you’ll make your journey not just safer, but also more enjoyable.
Above all, trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Stay cautious, stay kind, and most importantly—have fun meeting amazing, like-minded vegans around the world. 💚
Don’t miss the Veggly Blog
As Veggly grows further, make sure you stay up to date and read messages from vegan and vegetarian users who found love among the community – all on this page here.
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