Meeting safety tips

Before you meet

• Chat for a while first

  Get to know someone through messages and group chats before making plans. There is no rush to meet in person.

• Video chat or call before you go

  A quick call helps confirm the person matches their profile. If they keep avoiding a call, take that as a warning.

• Meet in a public place

  Choose a busy, well-lit spot like a cafe, restaurant or mall for a first meeting. Avoid private homes, cars and isolated areas.

• Tell someone your plan

  Let a friend or family member know who you are meeting, where and when, and check in with them during or after.

• Stay in charge of your transportation

  Arrive with your own way to leave. Do not share your home address, and avoid rides from someone you just met.

• Keep drinks and belongings in sight

  Watch your drink, never accept one you did not see made, and keep your phone and wallet with you.

Warning signs

Trust your instincts. If something feels off, step back — you can block anyone or report a profile or message in a couple of taps, and our team reviews reports.

• Asks for money, gift cards, crypto or bank details — anyone on Merge.
• Pressures you to move the conversation to another app or website quickly.
• Refuses a video call, then changes photos or story details.
• Rushes you into meeting, or wants to meet somewhere private right away.
• Tries to make you feel guilty for being careful or setting limits.

Never send money to someone you met on Merge, no matter their reason. Requests for money are a common scam pattern, not a friendship test.

Meeting up and events

Group events with several members are a good first meeting. For one-on-one plans, keep the first meetings short, public and during the day until you feel comfortable. AI suggestions and profiles can be inaccurate — use your own judgment and sensible precautions when arranging real-world meetings, as described in our terms.

If something goes wrong

• Block the person from their profile or your chat menu — you will not see each other's messages anymore.
• Report the profile or message and our team will review it.
• If you feel unsafe during or after a meeting, call your local emergency number first.