The “meetme” app is a social app that advertises to be a way to help find new people who live nearby that share similar interests. When you log on, it lists people who are online and uses GPS to show who’s nearby and how far they are away. The site is not able to verify the age of its users which leads to the possibility of abuse.

Recently, in Spring, four young men were invited to a party by a woman they were chatting with on meetme.com. They were expecting a good time. Instead, they were set up for robbery. When the men arrived at the house, they were greeted by two men with guns. Two of the young men were assaulted; their car keys, cell phones, money and car were stolen. The suspects in this case were jailed, but there are others out there using the “meetme” app and other social apps to lure victims.

A Friendswood woman was also set up. She was picked up by a person that she met on meetme.  The man stole her purse, cell phone and house keys; he then left her in a Houston parking lot, alone. Now he knows where she lives and is suspected of burglarizing her home. Fortunately, she was not raped and assaulted.

For obvious reasons, meeting strangers online is not safe. But, if you insist on meeting people using social apps and online dating sites, here are a few tips:

1.  No social networking site is safe

2.  Don’t lie about your age

3.  Don’t give out your contact information and don’t post things you wouldn’t want the whole world to know

4.  Report nudity, harassment, hate speech, and other inappropriate content

5.  You can be denied admission to college or a job based on things you put in your profile

6.  Don’t meet people in real life that you only “know” online.  Predators are out there, and they are very dangerous. The person you meet may not be who they pretend to be.