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How to Stay Safe When Chatting with Strangers Online

Practical tips for random text, voice and video chat: what never to share, how to spot scams, and what to do if something goes wrong.

By TalkKiwi TeamUpdated 6 min read

Talking to strangers online can be fun and eye-opening: you meet people you would never cross paths with, hear new accents and swap stories from the other side of the world. A few simple habits keep it that way. This guide covers what never to share, how to spot the most common scams, and exactly what to do if a chat goes wrong.

1

Never share personal details

Your full name, home address, school or workplace, phone number, social media handles and passwords should stay private. A friendly chat does not need any of them, and a genuine stranger will not push for them.

  • Watch the background on video. Letters, school uniforms, street signs and windows can give away more than you think.
  • Keep payment details to yourself. Nobody on a random chat needs your card, bank or gift card codes.
  • Use the anonymity you have. On TalkKiwi your real name and email are never shown to strangers, even if you sign in, and signed-in users can hide their country flag.
2

Watch out for common scams

Most scams on random chat sites follow the same few scripts. Learn them once and they are easy to spot:

  • “Add me on another app.” Moving you off-platform, away from moderation and report buttons, is the first step of many scams.
  • Links. Guests on TalkKiwi cannot send links at all, which stops most phishing. Be careful everywhere else, and never enter a password on a page a stranger sent you.
  • Sob stories and money requests. A sudden emergency, a ticket they cannot afford, a gift card “just this once”. No genuine stranger needs your money.
  • Too flirty, too fast. Someone who pushes the chat towards sex within minutes is often setting up blackmail.
  • Blackmail (“sextortion”). Someone records you and threatens to share it unless you pay. Never undress on camera. If it happens, do not pay: read our guide on what to do about sextortion.
3

Choose the mode you are comfortable with

You decide how much of yourself to show. If you do not want to show your face at all, use voice chat with no camera, or anonymous text chat, instead of video chat. You can change modes whenever you like.

4

You are in control

Press Next (or Esc twice) the moment a chat feels wrong. You do not owe anyone an explanation, and you never have to finish a conversation that makes you uncomfortable.

  • Mute or turn your camera off at any time during voice and video calls.
  • Skip politely or not at all. A quick “bye” is nice, but leaving is always fine.
  • Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it usually is.
5

Report, then move on

Use the flag button to report nudity, harassment, hate, spam or anyone who seems under 18. Reports reach human moderators with the last messages attached, and the most serious reports, such as anyone who seems underage, are reviewed first. Rule breakers are banned by account and device.

Do not argue with someone who breaks the rules. Report them, skip, and let the moderators handle it.

6

If something goes wrong

  1. Leave the chat straight away.
  2. Report the person with the flag button so moderators can act.
  3. Keep the evidence if you were threatened: usernames, messages and the time.
  4. Contact the police if someone threatens you or asks for money.
  5. Talk to someone you trust. Free, confidential support is available at findahelpline.com.

More help is in our Safety Centre.

7

If you are under 18

TalkKiwi is for adults only. If you are younger, please leave: this site is not built for you, and accounts of anyone underage are removed.

Want to know more? Read the Community Rules or our Privacy Policy.

Frequently asked questions

What should I never share with a stranger online?

Your full name, address, phone number, school or workplace, social media, passwords and payment details.

How do I spot a scam on random chat?

Be wary of anyone who asks you to move to another app, send money or gift cards, click a link or undress on camera.

What should I do if something goes wrong?

Leave the chat, report the person and block them. If you are threatened, keep the evidence and contact the police.

Ready to try it?

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Written by the TalkKiwi Team

We build and moderate TalkKiwi, a free random chat site for adults. Our guides come from running video, voice and text chat every day. Read our Safety Centre and Community Rules.