Safety Guide
Choose your username carefully
Make sure your username isn’t close to your real name.Use a nickname or think of something random. But also keep in mind overtly sexual, provocative or controversial usernames could attract the wrong kind of attention.
Read profiles carefully
Members update their profiles to include the information they want you to know. Your first step should be to read profiles thoroughly. If you find anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t communicate with them and report it to the Sparkler team.
Protect your privacy
While we generally recommend editing your profile to include basic information to help our matching service, do NOT reveal your surname, home or email addres, workplace information or any phone numbers until you completely trust the person your chatting with. Don’t feel pressured to provide these details. Your in charge.
Ask to see photos
If you’ve been corresponding with someone and their profile doesn’t include a photo or they refuse to provide a picture be suspicious. You have a right to ask for more than one photo. Check the background of any picture as well, as this can reveal more about the person.
NEVER send money to anyone
Under no circumstances should you give out your bank account details or offer your credit card numbers to anyone, no matter how good their reasons for asking might appear. Never send money to people you have met through Sparkler. Please alert us immediately if anyone asks you for money.
Report abuse
If another member’s behavior is giving you cause for concern, or if someone’s being downright abusive, please let our team know. It’s as easy as filling in the form on the Contact us page.
All complaints are treated in the strictest confidence and could result in, amongst other things, the suspension or deletion of the offending member’s profile.
Phoning + Texting
If messaging has gone well and you want to move to the next step, phoning first is recommended before meeting in person
Call or text the person only when you feel confortable, and remember there is no hurry to meet once you start talking or texting on the phone.
Avoid sending revealing photos. You never know what the other person is doing with them and they can never truely be deleted.
Meeting
Make sure to meet in a public place and notify a friend of your location and the time. Keep your phone near by and checkin regularly.
Be independent, don’t rely on the other person for transportation. Ring a friend or drive yourself.
If you feel uncomfortable at any time make for an exit. You don’t need to make an appology or give a reason why. Disappear into the crowd and call a friend.
Health
Sometimes a date might go further than you anticipated. Despite how strong these feelings might be, you can stop what is happening at any time, and you don’t need to apologise or give a reason. If it doesn’t feel right to you, then stop.
If you are ready to take it further, it is important to use protection. Remember it only takes one time to contract something, so be sure to use condoms. If you do slip-up, it’s really important to get a check-up from your GP, Sexual Health clinic, Family Planning clinic or the NZAF.