Goldflings

Staying safe when you meet someone

Staying safe when you meet someone

Whether you are meeting someone in Nairobi or on the coast, most first meetings are uneventful. These precautions cost you nothing when everything is fine, and matter enormously on the rare occasion it is not.

Meet somewhere public the first time

A cafe, a restaurant, a hotel lobby, a mall. Somewhere with staff, other people, and lighting. Not a residence — not yours, not theirs — until you have met at least once and are comfortable.

Tell someone where you are going

One friend, with three things: where, who, and when you expect to be done. Share your live location with them for the evening. Agree that you will message when you are home. This takes thirty seconds and is the single most useful thing on this list.

Arrange your own transport

Get yourself there and keep a way to leave that does not depend on the other person. Do not be driven somewhere by someone you have just met, and do not let your only way home be their goodwill.

Keep your drink with you

Order it yourself, watch it poured, keep it in your hand. If you leave it unattended, leave it behind and order another. Spiking is rare but it is not imaginary.

Agree the terms before you meet

Whatever the meeting is, both people should know what has been agreed before anyone travels — what will happen, how long, and what it costs. Ambiguity is where arguments and pressure come from. Sort it in writing, in advance, while nobody is under pressure.

Guard your personal details

Your home address, your workplace, your bank details, your identity documents. None of these belong in a first conversation. Someone who needs them early is not asking for the reason they gave.

Trust the feeling

If something feels off, leave. You do not owe anyone an explanation, a reason, or a polite exit. Say you have to go, and go. Nobody who means well will hold it against you.

If something goes wrong

Get somewhere public and call someone. In an emergency in Kenya, dial 999 or 112. Report the profile to us afterwards so the account can be removed and the next person is not put in the same position.

Related: How to spot a fake profile.