Meeting new people is exciting, but you should always be cautious when interacting with someone you don’t know. Use your best judgment and put your safety first, whether you are exchanging initial messages or meeting in person. While you can’t control the actions of others, there are things you can do to help you stay safe during your Pursue experience.

Online Safety

• Finance: Protect Your Finances & Never Invest or Send Money or Financial InformationNever respond to any request to invest, buy cryptocurrency, or send money, especially overseas or by wire transfer, and report it to us immediately – even if the person claims to be in an emergency. Wiring money is like sending cash: the sender has no protections against loss and it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. For more information, click on the video below to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s advice to avoid online romance scams, also available here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0004-online-dating-scams
• Protect Your Personal InformationNever share personal information, such as your social security number, home or work address, or details about your daily routine (e.g., that you go to a certain gym every Monday) with people you don’t know. If you are a parent, limit the information that you share about your children on your profile and in early communications. Avoid sharing details such as your children’s names, where they go to school, or their ages or genders.
• Stay on the PlatformKeep your conversations on the Pursue platform while you get to know your match. Because exchanges on Pursue are subject to our Safe Message Filters, users with bad intentions often try to move the conversation to text, messaging apps, email, or phone right away.
• What are Safe Message Filters?Your safety is a top priority to us. It is at the core of the way we design, build and provide our services to you, including features you use to interact with others on Pursue like messages. To help keep you safe, we use a combination of automated tools and trained human agents to review these interactions and act against those who are engaging in harmful or illegal behavior. See below a description of some of the actions we take to help keep you safe:
  1. To find instances of harmful or illegal behavior, we use automated tools to scan interactions happening on Pursue and also enable you and other members to report such behavior to us.
  2. Once an issue is raised through a member report or our automated tools, our trained agents can review interactions between members as needed to investigate the matter and decide on the actions to take, which may include removing content, banning the member and/or notifying the appropriate law enforcement resources.
  3. As part of our continuous efforts to improve the safety of our members, we use interactions between members to evaluate, train and improve our automated tools.
• Be Wary of Long Distance and Overseas RelationshipsWatch out for scammers who claim to be from your country but stuck somewhere else, especially if they ask for financial help to return home. Be wary of anyone who will not meet in person or talk on a phone/video call—they may not be who they say they are. If someone is avoiding your questions or pushing for a serious relationship without meeting or getting to know you first — that’s a red flag.
• Report All Suspicious and Offensive BehaviorYou know when someone’s crossed the line and when they do, we want to know about it. Block and report anyone that violates our terms. 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. For more information, check out our Community Guidelines.
• Protect Your AccountBe sure to pick a strong password, and always be careful when logging into your account from a public or shared computer. Pursue will never send you an email asking for your username and password information — if you receive an email asking for account information, report it immediately.

Meeting in Person

• Don’t Be In A RushTake your time and get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or chat off Pursue. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to screen for any red flags or personal dealbreakers. A phone or video call can be a useful screening tool before meeting.
• Meet in Public and Stay in PublicMeet for the first few times in a populated, public place — never at your home, your date’s home, or any other private location. If your date pressures you to go to a private location, end the date.
• Tell Friends and Family About Your PlansTell a friend or family member of your plans, including when and where you’re going. Have your cell phone charged and with you at all times.
• Be in Control of Your TransportationWe want you to be in control of how you get to and from your date so that you can leave whenever you want. If you’re driving yourself, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan such as a ride-share app or a friend to pick you up.
• Know Your LimitsBe aware of the effects of drugs or alcohol on you specifically — they can impair your judgment and your alertness. If your date tries to pressure you to use drugs or drink more than you’re comfortable with, hold your ground and end the date.
• Don’t Leave Drinks or Personal Items UnattendedKnow where your drink comes from and know where it is at all times — only accept drinks poured or served directly from the bartender or server. Many substances that are slipped into drinks to facilitate sexual assault are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Also, keep your phone, purse, wallet, and anything containing personal information on you at all times.
• If You Feel Uncomfortable, LeaveIt’s okay to end the date early if you’re feeling uncomfortable. In fact, it’s encouraged. And if your instincts are telling you something is off or you feel unsafe, ask the bartender or server for help.

Sexual Health & Consent

• ConsentAll sexual activity must start with consent and should include ongoing check-ins with your partner. Verbal communication can help you and your partner ensure that you respect each other’s boundaries. Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and sex is never owed to anyone. Do not proceed if your partner seems uncomfortable or unsure, or if your partner is unable to consent due to the effects of drugs or alcohol. Read more about it here.

Resources for Help, Support, or Advice

Remember — even if you follow these tips, no method of risk reduction is perfect. If you have a negative experience, please know that it is not your fault and help is available. Report any incidents here, and consider reaching out to one of the resources below. If you feel you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance, call 911 (U.S. or Canada) or your local law enforcement agency.RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline

1-800-656-HOPE (4673) | online.rainn.org | www.rainn.orgPlanned Parenthood

1-800-230-7526 | www.plannedparenthood.orgNational Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 | www.thehotline.orgNational Human Trafficking Hotline

1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 | www.humantraffickinghotline.orgNational Sexual Violence Resource Center

1-877-739-3895 | www.nsvrc.orgNational Center for Missing & Exploited Children

1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678) | www.cybertipline.comCyber Civil Rights Initiative

1-844-878-2274 | www.cybercivilrights.orgVictimConnect – Crime Victim Resource Center

1-855-4VICTIM (855-484-2846) | www.victimconnect.orgFBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

www.ic3.gov