How to protect yourself from fraud

Like any online community, though, you may occasionally come across someone who isn't being honest about who they are or what they want. They may use a fake profile, try to build trust quickly, or pressure you into sharing personal information, intimate photos, or money.

Trusting your instincts and knowing a few common warning signs can help you navigate new connections with discernment, while staying open to genuine ones. Together with Building Healthy Online Communities (BHOC), we've put together a few things to keep in mind to help protect yourself and others in the Feeld community.

Quick tips

To start off, let’s take a look at some key reminders:

• Take your time getting to know people. There's no rush. Share things when you feel ready, not because you feel pressured.
• Verify that people are who they say they are early through a quick video call.
• Keep conversations in the Feeld app until it feels right to move elsewhere—Feeld offers screenshot protection for images.
• Trust your instincts if something feels off, and report anything that violates Community Guidelines. 
• Be cautious if someone asks for money or personal financial information.
• Remember: the right connection will respect your boundaries, and will be happy to go at your pace.
• Good practice: When sharing intimate imagery or on intimate video calls, avoid including your face or any other identifying marks.

Good connections are built on mutual respect, honesty and consent

At Feeld, we encourage everyone to show up as themselves, communicate openly about what they're looking for, and respect each other's boundaries. Most people are here to genuinely connect, and approaching one another with openness and curiosity helps create the kind of community we all want to be part of.

That doesn't mean setting your instincts aside. If someone is making you feel pressured or uncomfortable, ignoring or pushing your boundaries, it's okay to end the conversation, stop responding, block them, or report their profile. To block or report someone, simply scroll to the bottom of their profile and select “Block or report.”

You can find more details on the reporting process here. To learn more about our expectations for everyone on Feeld, check out our Community Guidelines.

Take your time when getting to know someone

The majority of people on Feeld are here to build authentic connections, but it's worth remembering that not everyone will be completely honest about who they are. That's why we don't allow fake profiles, or the use of someone else's photos without their consent.

Some people create false profiles and pose as someone they're not. Others may use real photos of themselves, but be dishonest about who they are or what they're looking for. In some cases, this may be in order to build trust before asking for money, personal information, or intimate photos.

A few things to watch out for:

• Photos that look unusually polished or don't feel consistent with the rest of the profile
• Very little profile information or details that don't quite add up
• Messages that feel generic or don't seem to respond to what you've shared
• Someone who wants to move the conversation off Feeld very quickly
• Someone who avoids a video call or repeatedly makes excuses not to meet
• People creating unnecessary urgency 

None of these things automatically mean someone has bad intentions, but if you notice several together—or if something just doesn't feel right—it's okay to slow down, ask questions, ask them to verify, or end the conversation and report them.

Before taking things further online or offline, having a video call can be a good way to make sure someone is who they say they are. And if you do decide to meet someone in person, it can also help to let a trusted friend or family member know where you're going, who you're meeting, and when you expect to be home.

Be mindful about what you share, and when

Remember that it’s always up to you to choose what personal information you divulge, and when and how you share it. This doesn't make you any less open or authentic.

Whether it's your phone number, where you live or work, or another way to contact you outside of Feeld, only share what you're comfortable with, when you're comfortable doing so. Bad actors can reverse image search your photos, so if you want to remain anonymous, be cautious of the pictures you use.

The same goes for intimate photos and videos. Sharing intimate content is a personal choice, and one that's best made on your own terms. Before you share, it's worth waiting until you feel confident and comfortable with the person you're sending something to. Feeld's built-in screenshot protection prevents images from being captured in chats, but this protection only applies within the app, so keep that in mind if you decide to move your conversation elsewhere. It’s worth noting that screenshot protection does not prevent screenshots of short videos sent in chats, and it doesn’t prevent a phone taking a photo of another phone, so be cautious when sending video content.

The same applies if you decide to connect on social media. Sharing your Instagram or another social profile can be a great way to get to know someone, but it may also reveal more about you than you intended, such as places you've been, or your list of followers (which could potentially be used maliciously for threats or blackmail). Take a moment to check what's publicly visible, and only share your profile when you feel comfortable.

If someone pressures you to share personal information, encourages you to chat outside of Feeld before you're ready, or makes you feel guilty for not sending intimate photos, it's okay to say no. Anyone who respects your boundaries will respect your pace, too. If they don't, then that’s a red flag and a sign they're not the right connection for you.

Be cautious if money becomes part of the conversation

Feeld is a space for exploring yourself and others—a place for connection, intimacy, friendship, relationships, and everything in between. While we welcome all kinds of dynamics, someone you've just met on Feeld shouldn't be asking you for money, your financial information, or encouraging you to invest in a financial opportunity.

If someone you don’t know asks for money or financial help, it's a good idea to pause and think twice. Whether they're asking you to send money, buy gift cards, share your banking or payment details, invest in cryptocurrency, or help cover an unexpected expense, be aware that these are all common tactics used by scammers.

They may tell you it's an emergency, assure you it’s "just this once," or make an opportunity sound too good to pass up. Whatever the request, you should never feel pressured to send money, share financial information, or make financial decisions because someone asks you to, no matter how nice they are or how well you think you know them.

Get to know the signs of blackmail and sextortion

Blackmail and sextortion happen when someone uses your personal information or intimate images to pressure you into doing something you don't want to do.

This might include asking for money, demanding more intimate photos or videos, or threatening to share private content unless you continue communicating with them. Be cautious if someone:

• Threatens to share your photos, videos, or personal information unless you do what they ask
• Demands money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to stop them from sharing private content
• Pressures you to send more intimate images or videos after you've already shared some
• Tries to make you feel frightened, guilty, or responsible for what might happen next

If this happens to you:

• Don't pay or continue negotiating
• Save messages or screenshots if it's safe to do so
• Block and report the account through Feeld
• Consider contacting your local authorities if you believe you've experienced a crime

Experiencing blackmail or sextortion can be incredibly scary, isolating, and overwhelming. Remember that you don't have to deal with it on your own. Reporting what happened helps Feeld investigate the account, take action where possible (including legal action), and help protect other members from similar experiences.

What to do if something doesn't feel right

If you do come across someone who isn't acting in good faith, remember that you don't have to continue a conversation or explain why you're stepping away. Here are a few things to keep in mind...

Trust your instincts

Sometimes the best signal is how someone makes you feel. If a conversation feels rushed, inconsistent, overly pressured, or leaves you uncomfortable, it's okay to slow things down. You can change your mind. You can stop responding. And if something violates your boundaries or our guidelines, you can always block or report the profile. You don't need to justify protecting your privacy, boundaries, or peace of mind.

Report suspicious behavior

Keeping Feeld a safe place to explore and connect is something we take seriously. Certain specific behavior warrants attention. If someone doesn't seem to be who they say they are, asks you for money or personal information, threatens or blackmails you, or otherwise makes you feel unsafe, please block and report their profile through the Feeld app.

Your reports help us investigate harmful behavior, remove accounts that violate our Community Guidelines, and protect other members from experiencing the same thing.

If you believe you've experienced fraud, blackmail, or some other crime, consider contacting your local authorities if it's safe to do so. Feeld will cooperate with law enforcement where appropriate, and can provide relevant information to support investigations.

We want everyone on Feeld to feel safe exploring meaningful connections, and we hope you never have to use the advice in this guide. But if something doesn't feel right, knowing the signs can help you protect yourself and others in the community. Take your time, trust your instincts, and enjoy connecting at your own pace.