Before you meet
1. Look for the verified badge.
On Northearts, a verified badge means the person passed a selfie check against their photos. It doesn't make someone trustworthy, but it does mean the photos are really them.
2. Have a video call first.
A two-minute video call confirms the person is real and lets you check the vibe. Someone who keeps making excuses not to video call is a warning sign.
3. Search their photos.
A reverse image search (Google Lens works well) shows whether a photo belongs to a model, an influencer or someone else entirely.
4. Keep the chat in the app for now.
Moving to WhatsApp or Telegram too quickly shares your number and takes away the app's reporting tools. There's no rush.
On the day
5. Meet somewhere public and busy.
A café, a mall food court or a popular restaurant is ideal. Avoid someone's flat, a hotel room or a lonely spot for a first meeting.
6. Tell a friend and share your location.
Send a friend the person's name, profile and where you'll be, and share your live location for the evening. Agree on a check-in time.
7. Get yourself there and back.
Use your own transport or a cab you booked yourself. It means you can leave whenever you want.
8. Watch your drink and your limits.
Keep your drink with you, and stop if you start feeling unusually drowsy. Leave if anything feels off.
Money and pressure
9. Never send money, OTPs or your UPI PIN.
No genuine match needs money for a ticket, a hospital bill, customs fees on a gift or an investment. You never need a UPI PIN to receive money. Anyone who asks for an OTP or PIN is running a scam.
10. Trust your gut, then report.
If someone pushes for photos, money, secrecy or a quick meet-up, stop replying. On Northearts you can report and block from any profile or chat in two taps, and the person is never told who reported them.
Getting help in India
If you're in danger, call 112, India's national emergency number. The Women Helpline is 181. To report online fraud or blackmail, call the cybercrime helpline 1930 or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.