Safety Tips

Before You Meet

Never share financial information

Never send money or share financial details with someone you have met on Kindred Stars, regardless of the circumstances they describe. Scammers frequently invest significant time in building trust before making requests. Any request for money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or financial account access is a serious warning sign.

Speak by phone or video first

Before meeting in person, have a phone or video call. This gives you a better sense of who you are speaking with and helps confirm that the person is who they represent themselves to be.

Research the person

A basic internet search and a reverse image search of their profile photos can reveal whether images appear elsewhere under a different name. Take the time to do this before agreeing to meet.

Tell someone you trust

Inform a trusted friend or family member of where you are going, who you are meeting, and when they should expect to hear back from you. Share a screenshot of the profile if possible.

When You Meet

Choose a public location

Always meet for the first time in a busy, well-lit public place such as a café or restaurant. Avoid private locations, residences, or secluded areas until you have established a meaningful level of trust over multiple meetings.

Arrange your own transport

Make your own way to and from the meeting. Do not accept rides from someone you have just met. Keep your phone fully charged and carry a portable charger if possible.

Keep your personal details private

During early meetings, avoid sharing your home address, workplace, daily schedule, or other personal details that could be misused. Build trust gradually over time.

Trust your instincts and have an exit plan

If at any point you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, trust your instincts and leave. It is always acceptable to end a date early. Arrange with a friend in advance that they can call you at a set time with an excuse if you need one.

Staying Safe Online

Recognise warning signs

Be cautious of anyone who moves very quickly to declarations of affection, consistently avoids video calls, claims to be working abroad or in a restricted environment, or asks for money. These are common patterns in romance scams.

Protect your personal information

Do not share your home address, precise location, financial details, or daily routine with someone you have recently matched with. Take time to build trust before sharing personal information.

Keep conversations on Kindred Stars

We can only investigate and act on behaviour that occurs within our platform. Be cautious of anyone who immediately encourages you to move the conversation to an external app or messaging service.

Use our reporting tools

Kindred Stars provides tools to block and report users. If something feels wrong, please use them. Learn how to report a concern.

Emergency Resources

If you are in immediate danger, contact your local emergency services. In the United States, call 911. Do not wait.

Additional support organisations are listed on our Safety Resources page.