Support

• Fact-check. Check for Verification on the profile. Ask for multiple social media accounts to verify it is the same person. Also, be sure to ask for more than one photo.
• Be smart. If you end up connecting on other social sites like Facebook or Instagram, check how many friends or followers they have, how many photos they have posted, and how long since the last one was published. If the account only shows modeling photos, that’s a big sign that they may not be genuine.
• Verify further. Get to know them slowly and over time. Relate the pictures to discussed changes, life events, sporting events, or anything that gives you a sense of trust with the information you see, and the information that you have received from them.
• Find out if they’re real as soon as possible (video call). You can meet them online using a video messaging service like Facetime, Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp even Facebook Messenger.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you feel like you’re talking to your dream person but your guards are up and it feels too good, then slow down, ask questions, and get to know them. If they’re defensive to this, that isn’t a good sign.
• Is he already in love with you? If he immediately starts declaring that you are the love of his life when you have barely exchanged messages, be mindful.
• You don’t have to say yes. You can say no without being rude; safety comes first. Don’t be afraid that it will offend someone who is pursuing you beyond your comfort level. No means no.
• Tell your friends about the online relationship. Share details about who you’re talking to and when.
• Check your gut. If your body is telling you to be cautious, try to figure out why. Find answers to what’s making you uncomfortable BEFORE the meeting.
• Get their real name BEFORE the meeting.
• Use Find Friends and BSafe. Share your location with your best friend, check in after your fantastic date, and even make plans to spill all the details later.
• Be sure that you both agree about meetup expectations.
• If you are in a country where it is illegal to be gay, or you could face persecution from family members, then be careful about sharing a face photo in your public photos. Keep them for your private photos. There have been cases of people looking at gay apps to find gay people. See our specific safety tips here, if you are in one of these countries.

• Meet them someplace public and safe.
• Prepare yourself to say no, just in case you have to.
• Pre-arrange for a friend to call you. If you need to say no, it is the perfect opportunity to say there is an emergency and you have to leave.
• Hide your valuables and try not to bring them on first dates.
• Don’t get drunk and think twice about drugs, especially at first meetings.
• If you want to go home with him, get the address and text it to a friend. Check the address on Google Maps. Make sure that is the address he takes you to.
• If you do go to someone’s place, and food or drinks are offered, please accept food or beverages with COMPLETE CAUTION. It is okay to say no.

Further Help, Support, or Advice:

If you are in any way worried or suspicious about someone on Hornet, we are here to help. Simply report the profile inside the app. If you want to give us more information, write to us at feedback@hornet.com. 

If there is any person or group that is a danger to our community, we want to know about it. We have many procedures in place to ensure these people are never on the app, however, we can never guarantee this. Write to us. Tell us why the person is a danger. 

If you experience an immediate threat or attack, contact your local law enforcement straightaway – it is better to be safe.