Safety

Your safety

Your ultimate goal in using Redeemers Connect is to find God’s choice for you in a life partner. That’s why we do our best to only link you to people whose profiles are compatible with yours. As a service that protects your anonymity online, we also put you in control as you get to know other members.

RedeemersConnect Members

We make as much effort as possible to ensure that the Redeemers Connect member database does not include individuals who will abuse the service. We expect all registered members to respect our terms of use and conditions which outlines the levels of legality, decency and community respect that members must observe.

Redeemers Connect Secure Online Systems

Our secure online systems give you control over your anonymity. RedeemersConnect will never reveal your personal details to other members. On the Redeemers Connect website you are known exclusively by the username you have chosen for yourself. Your real name, your email address, your phone number and your home address are concealed and protected by the website's secure infrastructure.

When using the site, members can only communicate through Redeemers Connect’s anonymous contact and messaging system. At all points, it is for YOU to choose whether you supply another member with further personal details (such as your name and email address).

Likewise, you choose whether to include a photograph or photographs on your profile. If you do choose to upload a photo to Redeemers Connect's secure server, it is then for you to decide exactly who sees it – and when. If, at any time, you do NOT wish another specific member to see your photo, then you simply withhold the photo.

Communicating Through Redeemers Connect – Points to keep in mind

 

• 1. Don't give out personal contact details immediately. Remember you are the one in control. Don't put personal contact details in your profile or in the first messages you send to another member.

2. You can contact/reply to other members via Redeemers Connect's secure, anonymous contact system. Take your time to learn more about each potential partner and to feel comfortable about communicating with him/her. It is for you to decide if and when you want to take things further - for instance by supplying your name, your personal email address or your mobile phone number.

3. You may wish to set up an email account exclusively for activities connected to your search for a partner. Free, web-based email services like Hotmail are ideal for this - and you don't have to reveal your name in the email address.

4. If you want to talk to another member on the phone, remember that a mobile phone number gives you more flexibility and anonymity. It's also easier, if necessary, to change a mobile number than a fixed line number. When calling another member, you can make your number invisible through your phone settings first to prevent your number appearing on the other person’s caller ID.

5. If anything makes you feel uncomfortable about another member, stop contacting them. You can delete their profile instantly from your Redeemers Connect Contacts list, which means they will be unable to contact you via the website. If you feel someone is abusing the service, tell us immediately.

6. Always use your common sense and remember you are the one in control.

 

Arranging To Meet Another Member – Points to keep in mind

We sincerely hope that you reach the point of deciding to meet other Redeemers Connect members face to face, but at all times the choice is clearly yours. When meeting another member, we recommend you bear the following points in mind.

 

• Meet 'on neutral ground' in a busy public place that you know well.
•  Don't arrange for the other member to pick you up from your home.
• Don't let the other member make arrangements for your travel or for any hotel accommodation.
• Keep a trustworthy friend or relative informed and on call.
• Let this friend or relative know where you are going and what time you are expected home.
• Supply your friend/relative with details of the person you are going to meet.
• At a suitable point, call your friend/relative to let them know that things are OK.
• Consider going on a double date with a friend/friends or going out with a group. The group can include people you know and people your date knows.
• You will probably feel that you know someone through email and phone contact but remember that they are still a stranger when you first meet face to face.
• Don't accept a lift home if you feel uncomfortable about it.
• Always have a contingency plan in place. If something unexpected happens, make sure you can leave quickly and easily and that there are people close by who can help  you if necessary.
•  Take a mobile phone with you. Make sure the phone is fully charged and working. You can leave the phone on during the date if you wish.
• It can take time to get to know someone properly. If a person is truly interested in you, they won't mind if you want to take your time to develop a relationship.
• Always use your common sense, keep in control and don't be forced into doing something you wouldn't normally do.

 

Protecting Yourself from Fraud and Scams

Like you, the vast majority of Redeemers Connect members are genuine people who have joined the service to find a serious relationship. Like you, they appreciate everything Redeemers Connect does to provide a secure environment for members. For instance:

 

• all Redeemers Connect member profiles are checked before they go live on the site;
• your identity is kept private with a neutral username;
• your photo remains private until you choose to 'release' it on a one-to-one basis;
• the payment system is safe and reliable … and so on.

 

 But on the Internet, as in any other area of life, there is the rare dishonest individual who finds a way past security measures and who will use deception to obtain money or valuable personal details. These people are known as scammers.

Scammers - the signs

• Photos that look 'professionally' shot and where the person (male or female) is of 'model' quality
• Emails that do not address your questions but rather seem to go down a structured path of pre-meditated content conveying an ever-increasing attraction to you
• Fraudsters use the identities of US Generals or US business men. Common male professions are army generals / colonel, civil engineer in the oil / gold industry or jewelry  designer. Common female professions are nurses and fashion designer, but mostly the female fraudster does not make a direct reference to her profession.
• Sob stories' - ill relatives; recently widowed; they've been robbed; they have no money for flights or for furthering education; they cannot cash a cheque or money order
• Asking you to deposit money on their behalf into a bank
• Poor grammar and spelling in emails.
• No spaces between the end of one sentence and the beginning of the next (blocks of text)
• Use 'webspeak' or text abbreviations such as 'pls', 'u r' etc
• Try to get you onto an instant messenger service quickly
• Use pet names for you early on

 

Fraudulent Job Offers

It is possible that individuals may email you with offers of employment with Redeemers Connect. These fraudsters are using Redeemers Connect's name illegally in an attempt to obtain money or personal details from you.

Please note:

• All genuine job opportunities at Redeemers Connect will be advertised on the website
• Redeemers Connect will never contact you from webmail addresses such as yahoo, hotmail, gmail, gmx etc. 
• Any contact from Redeemers Connect will always be made via an email address ending '@redeemersconnect.org' 
• We will never request your bank account/card details and any request for the transfer of money should be regarded as potentially fraudulent activity.
• If you receive a suspect email (as described above) you should not click on any links or open any attachments. They might expose you to viruses which could severely      damage your computer.

 

Scammers- protect yourself

• Report a suspicious profile or behavior via support@redeemersconnect.org
• Never send money to anyone you have encountered on the Internet but have not met personally.   
• If you have any doubts or suspicions, delete the member from your RedeemersConnect mailbox.