Screening Enquiries and Building a Personal Safety Plan

This guide is intended as general information for adults. Individual circumstances and applicable rules can differ. Take time to make informed decisions, protect your privacy and seek qualified independent advice where appropriate.

Use a consistent screening process

Decide what information you need before considering an enquiry and apply the same process consistently. Be cautious with inconsistent names, changing stories, pressure to move immediately to another platform or requests for sensitive documents without a clear reason.

Keep control of communication

Use accounts you control and avoid sharing private numbers or personal profiles unnecessarily. Do not open unexpected files or links. Never share one-time passcodes, account recovery codes or banking credentials.

Make a check-in plan

Tell a trusted person when you expect to be available and agree on check-in times and an escalation plan. Share only the information they need. Consider a separate work device or account and keep emergency contacts accessible.

Trust your boundaries

You can decline, pause or end any interaction. Pressure, threats, coercion, blackmail or attempts to bypass your stated boundaries are warning signs. Preserve relevant messages if safe to do so and seek support from appropriate services if you feel threatened.