Online dating is truly an incredible advancement in human interaction that has made it possible for countless people to meet, have fun, and even fall in love. However, the one downside is the possibility of people to misrepresent themselves, or to use apps and websites to meet people they plan to hurt.

By taking certain safeguards, though, you can avoid these unsafe situations. Over on BuzzFeed, women are sharing their top tips for staying safe when using online dating sites and apps.

Here are a few we’re swearing by:

1. “Always tell them that you have somewhere to be after the date. It stops any expectation, gives you a definite out, and as a bonus, if it IS going well and you want to stay, they’ll think you bailed on your other plans for them!”

 2. “If you’re meeting someone from an app, I recommend having at least a 20- to 30-minute phone call first. It gives you far more information than texting back and forth on a dating app does. If something feels off, it’s way easier to get off of a phone call than an in-person date, when you might be feeling more nervous or distracted.”

3. “Instead of using a code phrase or word that someone else might be able to catch on to, my friends and I add three exclamation marks to our text if we need an out or are getting bad vibes on a date. For example, a text would say something like, ‘Having a great time!!!’ We don’t usually text like this, so it’s a red flag if we do, and likely wouldn’t alert the person we were out with if they saw.”

4. “If you’re getting dropped off at home by your date or a cab/Uber/taxi/Lyft, tell them you’re staying with or getting dropped off at a friend’s house. That way, they won’t think you’re going home to an empty place and will believe — if anything should happen — that someone is expecting you and will notice your absence immediately.”

 5. “If it’s a first date with someone I’ve met through an app, alcohol is not in the cards. It clouds judgment and makes me too vulnerable. A coffee or dessert is far safer and less expensive!”