{"id":2291,"date":"2022-04-07T18:23:30","date_gmt":"2022-04-07T18:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/?page_id=2291"},"modified":"2022-04-11T23:47:07","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T23:47:07","slug":"podcast-episode-8-companion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/?page_id=2291","title":{"rendered":"Podcast &#8211; Episode 8 Companion"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2291\" class=\"elementor elementor-2291\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6c8a4d0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6c8a4d0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-03934e8\" data-id=\"03934e8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5229863 elementor-widget elementor-widget-wp-widget-media_audio\" data-id=\"5229863\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"wp-widget-media_audio.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Listen to this page! Narrated by Nicole A.<\/h5><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-2291-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Podcast_narrated_Episode8.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Podcast_narrated_Episode8.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Podcast_narrated_Episode8.mp3\">https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Podcast_narrated_Episode8.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1074797 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1074797\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Written by Nicole K. <\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Updated April 7, 2022<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Episode Background: <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">A man is finally meeting the woman he\u2019s been talking to from an online dating site in person. When he arrives at her house, he suddenly realizes that he\u2019s been lured into a very dangerous situation, under false pretenses. What makes matters worse, this man uses a wheelchair, making him incredibly vulnerable to being the victim of a crime.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Dangers of Online Dating<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> &#8211; Online dating can be a positive and rewarding experience, and it has been for countless people who have found love, but there are also serious risks. Online dating sites and apps have become a way for many people to take advantage of others. Emotions are inevitably involved in online dating situations, and when someone is experiencing strong feelings, they don\u2019t always think clearly and may not see the dangers. Dating apps, by their very nature, create an emotional vulnerability in their users from the start.<\/span><\/p>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">The most common crimes committed via dating apps are:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;\">\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rape and Sexual Assault:<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Women are more far more likely than men to be the victims of these crimes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;\" start=\"2\">\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Child sexual abuse: <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">children are often completely defenseless against predators. They don\u2019t have the ability to understand or be wary of warning signs, depending on their age, and it\u2019s often too late when they do.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;\" start=\"3\">\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Murder:<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> attempted murder is one of the top three most prevalent crimes committed through online dating apps.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;\" start=\"4\">\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Robbery: <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">most people will meet up in a public place, but there are some who are naive and may go to the person\u2019s home when meeting for the first time. If they have any vulnerabilities, such as physical or cognitive disabilities, this makes them even more susceptible to assault and robbery.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;\" start=\"5\">\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Scams: <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">scams in dating apps, named \u201cRomance Scams,\u201d are where someone builds up a relationship over time, gaining a victim\u2019s trust, pretending to be someone else who cares about them, and then they ask for money at some point &#8211; which is never paid back. It is often emotionally and financially devastating.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Privacy Issues<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">If someone isn\u2019t looking to harm you directly or in person, they could be just gathering data to use at another time. It may seem benign but just being able to access your friends\u2019 list on a social media platform, may be something that is valuable to someone else. Posting a lot of pictures (or media) of your home, vehicles or neighbourhood may be all that\u2019s needed to find your home in real life. The perfect opportunity (maybe a vacation) might give criminals an open door to ransacking your home or worse.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Safety Tips<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Use A Trusted Site<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">There are thousands of dating sites to choose from, so do your research! Compare them to one another. Ask family and friends what sites they use and look for success stories. Does this site collaborate with other reputable businesses? If it\u2019s a dating app you\u2019re thinking of joining, check out its reviews in The App Store and Google Play. Look for four to five stars.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Verify Your Date\u2019s Identity<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Use a people search or a background check website to verify a person\u2019s identity and\/or look up their social media profile(s) on FaceBook, Twitter, etc. to see if everything is congruent. Keep in mind that a skilled scammer may have very legitimate socials to back up their fake online persona, so remain vigilant and be critical of what you see online.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Do Not Share Personal Info<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Keep your identifiable information private. Never give out phone numbers, addresses, bank account numbers, credit card information, Social Insurance Number\/Social Security Number, or anything that could identify you. Make sure photos you post have nothing in the background that could identify you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Dismiss Requests for Money<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">This is a major red flag &#8211; run for the (metaphorical) hills and then report the person who is asking for money. Their story does not matter, so don\u2019t get lost in it. Are they asking for money, yes or no? It\u2019s that simple.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Stay on Site<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">If someone is pressuring you to leave the dating platform to talk by email or text, for example, do not engage. If they take you away from the dating site, they are far less likely to get caught.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Block and Report Suspicious Members<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">If someone makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, do not communicate with them further. Block them so they can\u2019t talk their way into victimizing you and report to website admins, so that others can be safe as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Do Not Rely on the Dating Site for Protection<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Be proactive. Assume that the dating platform you\u2019re using has no safeguards in place.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Inspect Images<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Swindlers steal images from all over the Internet in order to hide their true identities. The BBB recommends<\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/tineye.com\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/tineye.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">tineye.com<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/images.google.com\/?gws_rd=ssl\" target=\"_blank\">images.google.com<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> to do an image search. If the photo is related to other people and shows up on strange websites, take precautions.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Video Chat<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">This can break the ice and help you feel more comfortable while staying safe. It can also help you gather evidence and make a more informed decision (should it be needed) Trust your intuition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meet Publicly<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">When meeting in person for the first time, ensure you are in a public space (at the mall, at a coffee shop, etc.).&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Charged with Independence<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Fully charged cell phone? Check. Are you in charge of your own transportation? Check. If an emergency arises, a working phone is potentially life-saving. Transport yourself sans strangers &#8211; drive yourself, take public transit, use a cab &#8211; just ensure that you, and only you, are the boss of deciding where you are. No one holds power over when or how you can leave.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c482df elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"2c482df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=e2ax702M9lY&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87a1f1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"87a1f1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><br id=\"docs-internal-guid-2914eafa-7fff-4986-eb46-41b75c29e82c\" \/><br \/><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">References<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brockhunterlaw.com\/blog\/2019\/march\/5-common-crimes-of-online-dating\/\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">https:\/\/www.brockhunterlaw.com\/blog\/2019\/march\/5-common-crimes-of-online-dating\/<\/span><\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.datingadvice.com\/online-dating\/dangers-of-online-dating-sites\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">https:\/\/www.datingadvice.com\/online-dating\/dangers-of-online-dating-sites<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalcellulardirectory.com\/relationship\/dangers-online-dating-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">https:\/\/www.nationalcellulardirectory.com\/relationship\/dangers-online-dating-statistics\/<\/span><\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aarp.org\/home-family\/dating\/info-2019\/online-dating-safety.html\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">https:\/\/www.aarp.org\/home-family\/dating\/info-2019\/online-dating-safety.html<\/span><\/a><\/p><p><br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Nicole K. Updated April 7, 2022 &nbsp; Episode Background: A man is finally meeting the woman he\u2019s been talking to from an online dating<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"wp_social_preview_title":"","wp_social_preview_description":"","wp_social_preview_image":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2291","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2291"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2345,"href":"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2291\/revisions\/2345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpusdefend.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}