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Part 1 — Staying Safe Online

Getting to know someone through the app before meeting them in person is one of the best things you can do for your safety. Marula is designed to make those early conversations natural and fun — here are a few things to keep in mind while you are in that stage.

01 Take your time getting to know someone

There is no rush. The best connections build gradually. Chat through the app, use the language lessons and phrasebook to practice with your match, and let the conversation develop naturally before deciding whether you want to meet in person.

02 Keep personal details private for now

Until you feel comfortable with someone, keep personal information like your home address, workplace, phone number, and financial details to yourself. Marula has everything you need to chat safely — there is no need to move things off the app before you are ready.

03 Be honest — and look for honesty

We ask everyone on Marula to use real photos and accurate information in their profiles. If something feels off — if someone's story keeps changing, if they are reluctant to video call, or if they are pushing unusually hard for personal information — trust your gut.

04 Never send money to someone you have not met

Regardless of how long you have been talking or how much you feel you know them, never send money, gift cards, or financial details to someone you have not met in person. This is one of the most common forms of online romance fraud, and it can happen to anyone.

05 Use the in-app translation thoughtfully

Our translation feature is there to help you connect — not to replace genuine communication. Be aware that translated messages can sometimes lose nuance or context. If something in a translated message seems unexpected or out of character, it is okay to ask your match to clarify.

Part 2 — Meeting in Person for the First Time

Before you go
  • Meet in a public place — a café, a bar, a park, or a busy restaurant. Avoid private spaces like someone's home or a quiet location for a first meeting.
  • Tell a friend or family member where you are going, who you are meeting, and when you expect to be back. A quick message with your match's first name and the location is enough.
  • Arrange your own transportation to and from the date so you are never dependent on your match to get home.
  • Keep your phone charged and make sure you have enough data or a local SIM if you are traveling.
  • If you are meeting in a city you do not know well, look up the venue in advance so you know exactly where you are going.
During the date
  • Have a backup plan — let a friend know to check in with you at a certain time. A simple "text me at 9pm" gives you a natural exit if you need one.
  • Look after your drinks. Do not leave them unattended and be cautious about accepting drinks you did not see poured.
  • Stay in control of how much you drink, especially in an unfamiliar place.
  • If something feels wrong at any point, it is completely okay to leave. You do not owe anyone an explanation — your comfort and safety come first.
  • Keep an eye on your belongings, especially in busy venues or while traveling.
After the date
  • Let your friend know you are home safe.
  • If the date went well and you want to see the person again, great. If not, you are not obligated to explain yourself — a polite message is always appreciated but never required.
  • If anything made you uncomfortable, you can report it on Marula through the in-app reporting tool. Your report is confidential.

Part 3 — Dating While Traveling

✈️ Traveling to meet someone?

If you are planning a trip specifically to meet someone from Marula, make sure you have a solid independent plan — your own accommodation, a return ticket, and a trusted person at home who knows your itinerary. Never rely entirely on someone you have not met before to be your travel plan.

Before you travel
  • Research the local laws and social norms of the country you are visiting. Dating customs, LGBTQ+ rights, and public behavior laws vary significantly between countries. What is completely normal in one place may be sensitive or even illegal in another.
  • Make sure your accommodation is booked independently. Do not stay with someone you have never met in person, no matter how well the online conversation has gone.
  • Share your full travel itinerary with someone at home — where you are staying, how to reach you, and when you plan to return.
  • Save the local emergency number for wherever you are traveling. In the EU it is 112. In the US it is 911. In other countries it varies — look it up before you go.
  • Make a note of the address and contact details of your country's nearest embassy or consulate, just in case.
Staying safe in a new city
  • Use the same rules as at home for a first meeting — public place, tell someone where you are going, arrange your own transport.
  • Get a local SIM card or activate international roaming before you arrive so you are never without connectivity.
  • Be aware that being in an unfamiliar place can make it harder to read a situation quickly. Take things more slowly than you might at home and trust your instincts even more.
  • Be thoughtful about sharing your accommodation address. A hotel lobby is a perfectly reasonable place to meet someone for the first time rather than giving out your room number.
  • Keep a small amount of local cash accessible in case you need to get somewhere quickly.
Language barriers and safety
  • Use Marula's in-app translation to help communication, but be patient with imperfect translation. Tone and nuance can get lost — a message that reads as blunt or strange in translation might not have been intended that way.
  • If you are unsure about something someone has communicated, it is okay to slow down and ask them to clarify. A good match will understand.
  • Learn a few key phrases in the local language before you travel — not just the romantic ones. Knowing how to say 'I need help,' 'Where is the nearest hospital,' and 'Please call the police' in the local language can genuinely matter in an emergency.
  • Our language modules are focused on dating vocabulary, but we always recommend picking up some basic safety phrases before arriving in a new country.

Part 4 — Specific Situations Worth Knowing About

If you feel pressured

A real connection never requires you to move faster than you are comfortable with — emotionally, physically, or with the relationship itself. If someone is pushing you to share personal information, meet up before you are ready, or do anything that makes you uncomfortable, that is a red flag. You can slow things down, change the subject, or step back entirely. Marula is here to help you find genuine connections, and genuine connections respect your pace.

If you think a profile might be fake

Signs that a profile may not be genuine include: photos that look too professional or do not match the person's described lifestyle, a story that keeps changing, an unwillingness to video call, requests for money or financial help, and unusually intense romantic interest very quickly. If you suspect a profile is fake or that someone is misrepresenting themselves, please report them through the in-app tool so we can investigate.

If something goes wrong

If you ever feel unsafe — on the app or after meeting someone in person — please contact us immediately at contact@maruladating.com. For urgent situations, always contact local emergency services first. We take every report seriously and every report is confidential.

If you are LGBTQ+ and traveling

LGBTQ+ rights and social acceptance vary enormously between countries, and in some places same-sex relationships are not legally recognized or may be criminalized. Before traveling to meet someone from a different country, please research the legal and social environment there. Organizations like ILGA World (ilga.org) publish up-to-date information on LGBTQ+ laws by country. Your safety always comes first.

Part 5 — Resources and Getting Help

On Marula

  • Report a user: use the flag icon on any profile or message to submit a report
  • Contact us: contact@maruladating.com — mark urgent messages 'Urgent — Safety'
  • Delete your account: Settings → Account → Delete Account
  • Block a user: tap their profile → Block

Emergency and safety resources

  • Emergency services: 911 (US) / 112 (EU) / 999 (UK) / 000 (Australia)
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline (US): 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788
  • RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline (US): 1-800-656-4673 or rainn.org
  • Crisis Text Line (US): text HOME to 741741
  • Your country's embassy or consulate abroad: keep this saved before you travel
  • ILGA World — LGBTQ+ safety by country: ilga.org

Online safety resources

  • Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for online fraud: ic3.gov
  • FTC romance scam reporting: reportfraud.ftc.gov
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