Online Dating: One Word ... CAUTION

Dear Dee:
I have a boyfriend online and we have been talk for about 6 months. My friends tell me to be careful, should I keep talking to him?

Your friends are totally right. You do need to be careful.

I've said it dozens of times, but it is most definitely worth repeating. So here it goes: Communicating online allows people to totally reinvent themselves and pretend to be someone they're not. So while you may think you're talking to a guy your age, it could actually be a predator whose end game is something you really don't want to be a part of.

So if your relationship is a secret from your parents, the first thing you've got to do is tell them about it. (And furthermore, if this guy ASKED you to keep it a secret from your parents, then that should tell you right there he's up to no good.) And just as your parents would do with an in-person boyfriend, maybe they could talk to him on the phone or even talk to his parents -- not only to make sure he's legit, but to get a better sense of who you're interacting with.

Hey, I know it seems silly and you're probably rolling your eyes. But please, don't. Understand what you're up against on the net and please realize that not guarding yourself and being safe is extremely irresponsible and stupid. Just as you wouldn't get in the car of a total stranger -- the net should be treated the exact same way. Sure, you meet people. But since it's harder to verify who a person is and really get a sense of their personality (as you do when you talk to someone face to face) it is important to take extra precautions when deciding to trust someone you've never really met. And bringing your parents into the mix will either A) Scare off a predator and B) help you feel a little bit more secure your guy is who he says he is.

As you already know, don't give out any personal information online. And never meet anyone you've met online without your parents knowing and in never meet that person in secret.

I can't tell you if you should stop talking to him. Talking in itself isn't dangerous -- but just make sure you're playing it safe and not saying anything you shouldn't until you find out this guy is who he says he is.

Just one more thought, too ... boyfriends are great -- I like them A LOT ... but wouldn't an in-person one be so much more fun than saying you're dating a screenname? ... Just a thought.