Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is almost here. Whether you are celebrating alone or with that special someone, this holiday may tug at more than just your heartstrings. From too much alcohol to too few safety precautions, Valentine’s Day celebrations can lead to some unexpected and unwanted problems.  Here are a few tips to help you stay safe on this special day.

Be careful on any first dates. The first date comes with a rush of excitement, be on guard as you meet your date for the first time. If your date is someone you met online, you should make sure that they actually are who they claim to be. Also, be sure to meet in public, use your own vehicle, and let someone know about your plans beforehand.

Light it up. A great, easy way to deter burglars when you are out for Valentine’s Day is by making it appear that your home is occupied. That begins by turning the lights on. If your home is equipped with timers or automation features, sync them with your normal routine.

Ask a trusted person to take care of your home. If one night out on the town isn’t enough, and you’ve planned a romantic getaway, ask someone you trust – like a neighbor – to look after your home. Instruct them to pick up the mail/packages, shovel the snow, water the plants, or anything else to make it appear that you’re still there. We recommend rewarding them afterwards for their efforts.

Limit cash. Valentine’s Day is a busy, and often chaotic, evening. You could lose your wallet or purse, or even be the victim of a pickpocket! Protect yourself by limiting the amount cash you bring, along with other items.

Walk in well-lit, trafficked areas. It’s undoubtedly romantic to end your date on a walk where it’s just you, your partner, and silence. We see it in movies all the time. However, it also leaves you vulnerable to a waiting mugger. We are not suggesting that you head to some over-crowded area on Valentine’s Day, but make sure you are in a relatively safe area.

Turn off the oven, put out the candles and fires. If crowds are not your cup of tea and you have a lovely night in planned, be careful. Don’t leave anything on – oven, lit candles, etc. when you leave the room or go to bed for the night.

Don’t Drink and Drive. This is the most important rule of all for having a safe Valentine’s Day. Driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 is illegal across the country. But the amount of alcohol it takes to get to that number depends on a variety of factors such as how fast you drink, your weight, and your gender. If you’ve had anything to drink, don’t get behind the wheel no matter what. Be sure to check out MADD for more information on drunk driving.

Whatever your plans, we hope you have a wonderful and safe Valentine’s Day! If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

The post Valentine’s Day Safety Tips appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

1. Get to know the person, not the profile, and ask plenty of questions – don’t rush into an online relationship.

2. Check to make sure the person is genuine by putting their name, profile pictures or any repeatedly-used phrases and the term ‘dating scam’ into a search engine (this is a cheap, easy way of doing a background check).

3. Talk to your friends and family about your dating choices. Be wary of anyone who tells you not to tell others about them.

4. Never send money to someone you have met online, no matter what reason they give or how long you have been speaking with them.

5. Don’t move the conversation off the dating site messenger until you are confident the person is who they say they are.

6. Be wary of new “friends” who want to know all about you but reveal little of themselves.

7. Watch out for bad use of English – many scams originate from abroad and their messages can show little regard for spelling and punctuation.

8. Are they pushing too hard, too fast?  It can take time for genuine love to develop but a fraudster is on the clock and will try to rush you.

9. They want to meet up but can’t afford it and want you to pay their fare.

10. Common reasons to ask for money include not having access to their bank accounts, having to pay medical bills, or using a hard luck story involving a child.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The post Online Dating Scams and Valentine’s Day appeared first on Precision Background Screening.