Online Safety

Owned by Los
Last updated: May 06, 2021

BiggerCity can be a fun and exciting place to meet new people; however, everyone needs to take precautions when interacting online. BiggerCity wants everyone’s use of the platform to be successful, by following these safety tips you can make your dating experience safer. 

Account Safety 

Keep the conversation on BiggerCity with our secure messaging
One of the most common ways for people without the best intentions to be successful is to move the conversation to other platforms quickly. They know the longer they interact through our platform, the quicker they will be detected and removed. If you are asked by someone to move a conversation to another service, or to exchange phone numbers, think of this as a red flag, and consider reporting the conversation. 

Never share your password
BiggerCity will never ask for your password. If anyone ever asks for your password, use the report profile function to let us know. 

Providing financial or personal information can be dangerous
You should never provide anyone your credit card number or banking information. Anyone that asks you to share your unique identifying information such as Social Security number, mother’s maiden name or former addresses should always be considered suspect. 

Never send money or goods of value to another user
Sending money or goods is dangerous, and asking for anything of value is contrary to our Community Guidelines. Offers of money or gifts should be considered red flags as well. When this happens, please report this conversation to us. 

Gut Check: Use common sense
If something doesn’t seem right it probably isn’t. If you feel that the conversation is with someone with bad intentions it is better to be safe and pause the messaging. The following is a list of common red flags: 

  • Asking for phone numbers

  • Asking to chat on another service (via SMS, WhatsApp, Hangouts, etc.)

  • Asking for personal information, money, or gifts 

  • Offers to take care of you with cash and gifts

  • Claims to be from one country but is currently living, working or studying abroad

  • Communication is poorly written

  • Disappears suddenly and returns with different username or photos

  • Tells unlikely stories or exaggerates

  • Avoids answering specific questions

  • Encourages you to compromise your values or principles

  • Wants to get close to you very fast

  • Claims to be recently widowed, orphaned, in the branch of Armed forces, or UN peace keeping missions

  • Asks you to enter marriage or to become partners after a brief period of time

  • Sends you third party links

Tools you can use 

BiggerCity has many tools to help protect you and the community.

Report profiles
If you suspect that a profile is not who they are presenting themselves to be, use the report feature on the profile. Whenever possible please include detailed explanations on why you suspect that member might need additional review. 

Report conversations
Did someone ask for your personal information? They asked for or offered things of value? Something does not seem right? Please report the conversation to us. Every message thread on BiggerCity has a way to be reported. When reporting a conversation, think about any details that would help us understand why this conversation might be concerning. 

Video calls
BiggerCity offers a free video call service to all users without restrictions. Before meeting someone or taking further steps, please consider using the video call service to get to know them. When a user claims they cannot video call because they don’t have Premium, that are on a remote location like an oil rig, combat field, UN peace keeping mission, or have poor internet, consider this to be a red flag. 

Meeting safety 

Meeting someone for the first time can be both exciting and stressful. Planning well in advance and using common sense can help make it a safer meeting as well. 

  • Meet in public and stay in public when planning your first gatherings. If a date insists on meeting at his home or a remote location, cancel the meeting. 

  • Consider community events. If you will be traveling long distances consider meeting at one of the many events held by the chub/chaser and bear communities. It protects from the consequences of a no-show after a lengthy trip, and gives you a safe public space to get to know the other person.

  • Know your limits. Do not let your date pressure you to use drugs or alcohol. Make sure you keep all beverages in eyesight. 

  • Always have your own means of getting to and from the date. Avoid accepting a pick up from your home. Whenever possible drive yourself or use a drive sharing app to your date location. 

  • Make sure your battery is fully charged on your phone and you have service coverage before starting a date. 

  • Share your plans with a trusted person. Let them know when and where you are meeting and make sure you check in with them when you arrive, and afterwards.

Resources 

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911 or your local emergency service in your area. Below are resources that can provide advice and support. If you’ve had a bad experience with a date, we would like you to report any bad experience or violent incidents to our team, so that we can take the appropriate actions.