How to stay safe on dating apps in India

Millions of people in India now meet new people through apps. Some use swipe-based dating apps, some use video chat apps, and many use a mix. Whatever you use, the same basic risks come up again and again: people pretending to be someone else, requests for money, pressure to move to another platform, and people who do not take no for an answer.

Staying safe on dating apps in India is mostly about a handful of habits. None of them make dating less fun. They just make it much harder for the wrong person to take advantage of you. This guide walks through those habits, then explains what you can do in India if something does go wrong.

Start with your profile

Share less than you think

Your profile should say who you are as a person, not where to find you. Avoid:

• Your full name if it is unusual and easy to search.
• Your workplace, college or office building.
• Your home area in detail, or photos that show your street, house number or vehicle number plate.
• Links to your other social media accounts.

A first name, a few interests and a couple of clear, recent photos are enough. On Titli, your phone number is never shown to other people, and you choose what goes on your profile.

Use photos that are not elsewhere online

If you use the same photo on a public social profile, anyone can reverse image search it and find your other accounts. Use pictures that are only on your dating or video chat profile.

Check your privacy settings

Most apps let you control who can message or see you. Spend five minutes in settings when you join. Our guide to privacy settings on video chat apps explains what to look for.

While you are chatting

Keep the conversation on the app at first

Scammers often try to move you quickly to WhatsApp, Telegram or another platform, where the app's reporting tools cannot help you. There is no rush. Keep talking inside the app until you have had a few real conversations and you are confident the person is genuine.

Watch for stories that lead to money

The most common pattern in online romance fraud is a story that ends with a request for money: a medical emergency, a customs fee for a gift, a frozen bank account, a "sure-shot" investment or crypto tip. The rule is simple: never send money, UPI payments, gift cards or OTPs to someone you have only met online. Our guide to romance scams in India explains these scripts in detail, and our list of online dating red flags covers the warning signs.

Never share an OTP

No genuine match will ever need a one-time password from your phone. If someone asks you to read out a code you just received, it is almost certainly an attempt to take over your account, your UPI or your bank.

Pay attention to pressure

Healthy interest feels patient. Pressure feels urgent. If someone pushes for your number, your address, private photos or a decision "right now", slow down. Pressure is a red flag on its own, even if nothing else seems wrong.

On video calls

A video call is one of the best ways to check someone is who they say they are. People hiding behind fake photos often avoid video for weeks with constant excuses. That alone tells you something.

Video also brings its own risks. Anything on screen can be recorded by the other person, so never do or show anything on camera you would not be comfortable with a stranger seeing. Blackmail based on recorded video calls is a known scam. If someone threatens you with a recording, do not pay. Stop responding, keep evidence and report it.

Our page on video call dating safety has a full checklist for staying in control on camera.

Use the tools the app gives you

Block and report without guilt

Blocking someone is not rude. It is what the button is for. Reporting helps moderators remove people who harm others. On Titli, you can block or report anyone from their profile or chat. Report reasons include harassment, nudity, fake profile, spam and underage user, and reports are reviewed by our moderation team.

Know how the app moderates

Before you trust an app, find out how it handles bad behaviour. On Titli, still snapshots may be captured during video calls and reviewed by moderation for safety, with an on-screen indicator, and you agree to this when you sign up. Our Community Guidelines ban explicit content, harassment, hate speech, scams and anyone under 18, and they do not allow asking for or offering money, payment or meetings outside the app. You can read the full picture on our safety page.

Check the age rules

Any app you use for dating should be clearly for adults only. Titli is only for adults aged 18 and over (see our Terms). If you ever meet someone who appears to be under 18, end the conversation and report them.

If you ever meet someone from the internet

This is general advice for any app or website, not just Titli. If you decide to meet someone you first got to know online:

• Meet in a busy public place, like a café or mall, during the day for the first time.
• Tell a friend or family member where you are going, who you are meeting and when you expect to be back. Share your live location with them.
• Arrange your own transport both ways, so you can leave whenever you want.
• Keep your phone charged and keep an eye on your drink and belongings.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off, leave. You do not need an excuse.

What to do in India if something goes wrong

Save evidence first

Before you block someone who has threatened or cheated you, take screenshots of their profile, the chats and any payment details. Note the dates and times. Then block and report them in the app.

Report cybercrime

India has a national system for reporting online crimes:

• The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in lets you file a complaint online, including for financial fraud and online harassment.
• The cyber fraud helpline 1930 is for reporting financial fraud quickly. The sooner you call after losing money, the better the chance of the transaction being stopped.
• In an emergency, call 112.

You can also approach your local police station or the cyber cell in your city.

Talk to someone you trust

Being targeted by a scammer or a harasser is upsetting, and many people feel embarrassed. You have nothing to be ashamed of. These are organised tactics designed to fool careful people. Telling a friend or family member helps you think clearly about next steps.

Contact the app

If something happened on Titli, report the profile in the app and, if you need to add details, email us at genzphilam@gmail.com.

A short checklist

• Keep your profile details minimal and your photos unique.
• Stay on the app until you trust someone.
• Never send money or share an OTP.
• Use video to check people are real, and keep anything on camera you would be fine with anyone seeing.
• Block and report freely.
• Save evidence and use cybercrime.gov.in or 1930 if you are defrauded.

Dating apps, video chat apps and real life all have some risk. These habits keep it small, so the good part, meeting interesting people, stays the main part. If you want to read how we think about this at Titli, start with our page on safe online dating.

Frequently asked questions