General Safety Tips:

Mix your own drinks/Don’t leave drinks unattended. Getting you drunk or giving you knockout drops is an easy way to cloud your judgment.

Find out who your date is. Ask for your date’s first name, where they work and live, what they like and do not like.  Ask around if anyone knows the person.

Introduce your date to others. Introduce your date to your friends or the bartender. Tell a friend where you are going. Make sure your date knows you spread the word about them.

Protect your valuables. Do not carry extra cash. If you bring someone home, do not leave your wallet, cash or valuables in sight. Your possessions and the person you brought home could all be gone while you are in the shower or sleeping.

Ask about his HIV status. Find out his status so that you can act appropriately. Whether you choose to use protection or not is up to you but at least know what your are getting into. Also remember that not everyone is honest and some will not tell you their real status.
Online Safety Tips:

Protect your security. Never give anyone else your password. No matter why they say they need it or who they say they are, they don’t. If someone asks you for your password, report them here. If you think someone knows your password, change it. For more security you may also want to change your account email address where the system sends you login info.  Be sure to log-off when using someone else's computer.

Protect your privacy. If you want to give someone your real name, e-mail address, phone number, etc you should get to know him a little and also ask him to provide you with the same info. Email him and call him to check that he gave you his real email and phone number and get to know him more. Never give out any financial information, your social security number or things like your passport number, bank account numbers.

Be cautious about revealing information that could identify you. For example, if you give someone your listed phone number, they can get your real name and street address.

Remember that when you meet someone you've chatted with online, you're really meeting them for the first time. When you’re online you don’t have non-verbal cues such as voice inflection or body language to guide your judgement of their honesty or intentions.

For your first meeting, pick a place that’s public and neutral. If you’re traveling to visit them in their town or neighborhood, you should pick a place you’re comfortable with when you arrive. Take a cell phone with you and let others know where you are going.

If the problem happened call the AVP 24-Hour hotline at (212) 714-1141 if you're harassed or victimized by someone you've met. All of AVP's services are free and confidential. To find the nearest anti-violence program, you can review AVP's list, or call (212) 714-1184.  The AVP publishes Reports on LGTBH Domestic Violence and Hate Crimes annually, and publishes Media Releases throughout the year.  AVP Reports  AVP Media Releases

Remember, you don't have to deal with it alone.