Safety Tips

Never send money, especially over wire transfer, even if the person claims to be in an emergency. Wiring money is like sending cash — it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace where the money went. Never share information that could be used to access your financial accounts. If another user asks you for money, report it to us immediately.

For tips on avoiding scams, check out some advice from the U.S Federal Trade Commission on the FTC website.

For tips on avoiding romance scams, check out some advice from the U.S Federal Trade Commission on the FTC website.

Never share personal information, such as your social security number, home or work address, or details about your daily routine (e.g., that you go to a certain gym every Monday) with people you don’t know. If you are a parent, limit the information that you share about your children on your profile and in early communications. Avoid sharing details such as your children’s names, where they go to school, or their ages or genders.

For tips on Protecting Your Personal Information and Data, check out some advice from the U.S Federal Trade Commission on the FTC website.

Keep conversations on the BoardGameHive.ro platform while you’re getting to know someone. This will give you time to understand if a user is with bad intentions. Avoid to share with them your location, where you live, your phone number, email address or other ways to reach out to you, unless you trust and know them enough to make you feel safe, but even then, try to proceed with cautions.

Watch out for “scammers” who claim to be interested in playing board games, only to find out latter that they intend only so sell their games.

Such a behavior is misleading and not tolerated, because it can disrupt people trust in the new participants to the invites.

Watch out for “scammers” who claim to be interested in playing board games, only to deceive the participants so that they can steal or do any other kind of harm later.

You know when someone’s crossed the line and when they do, we want to know about it. Block and report anyone that violates our terms. Here are some examples of violations:

o Requests for money or donations

o Underage users

o Harassment, threats, and offensive messages

o Inappropriate or harmful behavior during or after meeting in person

o Fraudulent profiles

o Spam or solicitation including links to commercial websites or attempts to sell products or services

You can report any concerns about suspicious behavior. For more information, check out our Community Guidelines.

Be sure to pick a strong password, and avoid logging into your account from a public or shared computer. BoardGameHive.ro will never send you an email, notification, or chat message asking for your username and password information — if you receive such a thing asking for account information, report it immediately to FeedbackUs.

Take your time and get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or chat off BoardGameHive.ro. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to screen for any red flags or personal dealbreakers. A phone or video call can be a useful screening tool before meeting.

Meet for the first few times in a populated, public place — never at your home, your date’s home, or any other private location. If your date pressures you to go to a private location, end the date.

Tell a friend or family member of your plans, including when and where you’re going. Have your cell phone charged and with you at all times.

We want you to be in control of how you get to and from the place you gather with the participants from the invite, so that you can leave whenever you want. If you’re driving yourself, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan such as a ride-share app or a friend to pick you up.

Be aware of the effects of drugs or alcohol on you specifically — they can impair your judgment and your alertness. If any participant to the invite tries to pressure you to use drugs or drink more than you’re comfortable with, hold your ground and end the gathering for the board games.

Know where your drink comes from and know where it is at all times — only accept drinks poured or served directly from the bartender or server. Many substances that are slipped into drinks to facilitate sexual assault are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Also, keep your phone, purse, wallet, and anything containing personal information on you at all times.

It’s okay to end the date early if you’re feeling uncomfortable. In fact, it’s encouraged. And if your instincts are telling you something is off or you feel unsafe, ask the bartender or server for help.

Be careful while traveling

We recognize and believe in the importance of being inclusive of all gender identities and sexual orientations, but the reality is this: nowhere in the world is without potential risk, and some countries have specific laws that target LGBTQ+ people.

Check out the laws around you when you travel to a new place and research what types of legal protection, if any, are available to you based on sexual orientation.

It’s important to exercise extra caution if you choose to connect with new people in these countries - as some law enforcement have been known to use apps and websites as tools for potential entrapment. Some countries have also recently introduced laws that criminalize communications between individuals on same-sex dating applications or websites and even aggravate penalties if that communication leads to sexual encounters.

Visit ILGA World to see the latest sexual orientation laws by country.

Source: ILGA World, Updated March 2019

Remember — even if you follow these tips, no method of risk reduction is perfect. If you have a negative experience, please know that it is not your fault and help is available. Report any incidents to BoardGameHive.ro, and consider reaching out to one of the resources below. If you feel you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance, call your local law enforcement agency. Here are some options available:

• Call 112 – for Romania,

• 112 is also the European emergency phone number, available everywhere in the EU, free of charge. 112 network-based location.

• Call 911 – for U.S. or Canada