You can’t really put a “time” on it. But…

Often times, scammers convince victims to leave the dating site and use personal email or instant messaging to continue communication. At first, this might not seem like a red flag.

When you are getting to know someone, you’ll naturally want to move beyond the dating site and use other forms of communication. But be very cautious when someone asks for your phone number or email address. This makes it even easier for them to access your personal information.

tap here to see a list of dating sites

Take your time – even if it takes 6 months – and get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or chat outside of the dating site.

And if, at any point, things start to get uncomfortable or inappropriate, take action!