Known Donor Registry supports and advocates the National Cyber Security Alliance's STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign to promote online safety and cyber-security awareness. 

Taking the steps to protect yourself while participating in the KnownDonorRegistry.com community will help create a more positive experience for you and contribute to a better online environment for everyone. There are certain steps that every person should follow — both online and offline. We ask you to take a few minutes to read these tips and require that you follow them.

Online Safety Tips

Protect your finances

Ignore any uninitiated request to send money, especially overseas or by wire transfer, and report it to us immediately – even if the person claims to be in an emergency. Wiring money is like sending cash: the sender has no protections against loss and it's nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. The only money that is permissable to echange hands between users on KDR is reimbursement for expenses that can be backed up by a receipt.

Never give financial information (such as you social security number, credit card number or bank information) to people you don't know or you haven't met in person.

Guard your personal and online access information

Be careful about sharing other personal information, such as your full name, phone number, email and address. You are in control of your online dating experience at all times – remain anonymous until you feel ready. Take advantage of our member-to-member technology that protects your identity until you decide to reveal it through email or IM. Also, leave any personal contact information out of your profile or username.

Use extra caution when accessing your account from a public or shared computer so that others are not able to view or record your password or other personal information. If you share your computer with others, disable the auto sign-in feature to your account and clear all saved passwords.

Note: KnownDonorRegistry.com will never send you an email asking for your username and password information. Any such communication should be reported immediately.

Be Web Wise

Be wary of communications that ask you to act immediately, offer something that sounds too good to be true, or asks for personal information. There are certain red flags to watch for that may indicate you're dealing with a scammer. Be aware of anyone who...

• Quickly asks to talk or chat on an outside email or messaging service
• Claims to be from U.S. but currently travelling, living or working abroad
• Asks you for money
• Vanishes mysteriously from the site, then reappears under a different name
• Talks about "destiny" or "fate"
• Asks for your address to send you gifts or other unrelated activities 
• Makes an inordinate amount of grammar and/or spelling errors
• Sends you emails containing strange links to third-party websites

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's advice to avoid online personal scams is available here: http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0004-online-dating-scams

Be cautious and use common sense. If personal details provided by another person don't seem to add up, they behave suspiciously or pressure you for personal or financial information – block communications with that person and report them to us immediately.

Block and report suspicious users

You can block and report concerns about any suspicious user by using the Report Violation link at the top of every page on KDR.

Additionally, please report anyone who violates our terms of use. Examples of terms of use violations include:

• Asking you for money or donations
• Members sending harassing or offensive emails/IMs
• Members behaving inappropriately after meeting in person
• Fraudulent registration or profiles
• Spam or solicitation, such as invitations to call 1-900 numbers or attempts to sell products or services

Your involvement will help keep the community fun and enjoyable.

Offline Safety Tips

First meetings are exciting, however, always take precautions and use the following guidelines.

Get to know the other person before meeting them offline

Use the technology on KnownDonorRegistry.com that protects your anonymity to get to know someone before disclosing personal information or meeting in person. We don't conduct criminal background checks on our users, so if you would like more information about someone, we recommend using the Internet and government resources available to everyone. This can include typing the person's name into a search engine, reviewing public information made available by government offices, or using a paid service to obtain a full background report.

Always meet in public

Meet for the first time in a populated, public location – never in a private or remote location, and never to the other person's home or apartment.

Stay in a public place

It is best not to go back to the other person's home or bring them back to yours on the first meeting. If the other person pressures you, end the meeting and leave at once.

Tell a friend

Inform a friend or family member of your plans and when and where you're going. If you own a mobile phone, make sure you have it with you.

Stay sober

Keep a clear mind and avoid doing anything that would impair your judgment and cause you to make a decision you could regret.

Drive yourself to and from the first meeting

Just in case things don't work out, you need to be in control of your own ride – even if you take a taxi.

Keep personal items with you at all times

You don't want to risk having personal information stolen. If you're drinking, keep your drink with you at all times so it can't be tampered with.

Long Distance Meetings

Long distance meetings pose special safety concerns to take into account. Keep these tips in mind.

• Stay in a hotel. Check into your own room and avoid staying in the other person's home. If you can't afford a hotel, you shouldn't go.
• Use a taxi or rental car to get to and from the airport. Securing your own ride is important. Even if the person you're meeting volunteers to pick you up from the airport, do not get into a personal vehicle with someone you've never met.
• Keep your hotel location confidential. The person you're meeting should respect your privacy until you know each other.
• Remember to keep your family and friends posted. Tell someone who you are meeting, where you are going and when you will return.

About The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA)

The National Cyber Security Alliance is a non-profit organization. Through collaboration with the government, corporate, non-profit and academic sectors, the mission of the NCSA is to empower a digital citizenry to use the Internet securely and safely protecting themselves and the technology they use and the digital assets we all share. NCSA works to create a culture of cyber security and safety through education and awareness activities. NCSA board members include: ADP, AT&T, Bank of America, EMC Corporation, ESET, Facebook, Google, Intel, McAfee, Microsoft, PayPal, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Symantec, Trend Micro, Verizon and Visa.

About STOP. THINK. CONNECT.

The campaign was developed by the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Messaging Convention, a public-private partnership established in 2009 and led by The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) and National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) to develop and support a national cyber-security awareness campaign. In October 2010 the White House, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Messaging Convention launched the campaign. The Department of Homeland Security provides the Federal Government's leadership for the campaign. Industry, government, non-profits and education institutions participate in STOP. THINK. CONNECT.