Ensure Your Safety When Meeting Unverified Users
Since you've received an inquiry from an individual who has not been officially verified by Doobert, we highly encourage you to keep the following safety precautions in mind before scheduling a meetup.
1. Do some research
Try to look into the individual's background before meeting up with them. A quick search on Google or social media can help you at least get an idea about who they are and may also lead you to discover additional information that would allow you to avoid being involved in a bad situation.
2. Meet in a public place
When meeting someone for the first time, it's best to find a well-lit public location, such as a restaurant, cafe, or another venue where there's typically a good crowd. In the event that something goes wrong, there will be people around who can help.
3. Inform a friend or relative
On the day of the scheduled meetup, make sure to let a close friend or family member know who you will be meeting, where you are going, when you expect to be home, and any other important details. As an added precaution, you can also use your smartphone to send them your location.
4. Bring your own vehicle
While it does seem nice for someone to offer to pick you up so you can drive to your meeting location together, it's never a good idea. Even if you plan to protect your address by not allowing them to pick you up at your house, having your own vehicle gives you control over where you go and don't go.
5. Keep your phone close
Make sure to always have your phone on you. Going back to safety tip number 3, you can text a friend or family member all the details of your meetup and tell them that you'll text them as soon as it's over. This will allow them to act quickly if things don't go according to plan.
6. Refrain from oversharing personal information
During your first meeting, it's best to keep the conversation focused on the matter at hand. Avoid giving out too much personal details and only share information that's relevant to caring for one your animals or working with your organization in general.
