Meet only if you feel ready, and treat an online gaming friendship as unverified until you know the person offline. If you are under 18, involve a caregiver before making any plan; the FBI says, “Don’t meet an online friend in person without your caregiver knowing or going with you.” If you decide to proceed, tell a trusted person the plan, meet in a busy public place, and keep your own way home.
Before agreeing to meet, consider whether you feel comfortable
Playing together for months can make someone feel familiar, but it does not confirm their real-world identity. Online profiles can be fake, and a photo or video call is not proof of who someone is. You can take more time, change your mind, or say no.
- Do not agree because of urgency, guilt, threats, gifts, or a request to keep the meeting secret.
- If you are comfortable, ask for a recent photo or suggest a live video call. An Garda Síochána recommends these as precautions; neither one proves identity.
- Save the person’s profile and relevant messages. The Australian eSafety Commissioner recommends taking a screenshot of the profile and sharing it with someone you trust before meeting.
- Keep your home address, school, workplace, regular routes, passwords, financial details, and live location private. Share the meeting location only with a trusted contact.
If you are a minor, tell a caregiver before discussing or arranging an in-person meeting. A caregiver can help assess the plan and accompany you. Do not meet secretly or rely on the online friend to make the arrangements.
How do I safely meet a friend from an online game in person?
Plan a short first meeting in a busy public place where other people or staff are present, such as a café or shopping centre. Stay in public, and choose daytime if practical; Victoria Police specifically advises meeting during daylight hours.
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Tell someone you trust the plan
Give a trusted person the other person’s profile or username, the exact venue, when you expect to arrive, and when you expect to be home. Agree on a check-in time and what they should do if you do not check in. Share your live location if appropriate and comfortable, using a trusted person’s private contact rather than posting it publicly.
Keep control of your trip home
Arrange your own transport to and from the meeting. Do not depend on the person you are meeting for a ride, and make sure you have a backup way home, such as enough money for another transport option or someone who can pick you up.
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Keep your phone available and the meeting easy to leave
Charge your phone and keep it accessible. A portable power bank may be useful for a long day, but it is optional. Choose a simple, short first meeting and decide beforehand that you can end it early without negotiating.
What should I tell someone before I meet my online gaming friend?
Be specific enough that your trusted contact could check on you or help you leave. Share:
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- The person’s game profile or username and any name they have given you.
- The venue and your planned arrival and departure times.
- Your expected return time, check-in time, and the action you want them to take if you miss the check-in.
- Your transport plan and, if useful, your live location.
Choose someone who will take your concern seriously. For minors, that should include a caregiver before any meeting is planned.
What if my gaming friend wants to keep the meeting secret?
Treat secrecy as a warning sign, especially if the person also pressures you to meet quickly, asks for personal information, requests money or images, offers valuable gifts, or pushes you to move to a more private chat platform. These behaviors warrant caution; they do not by themselves prove that a particular crime has occurred.
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You do not owe the person a meeting, an explanation, private images, money, or personal details. The FBI’s guidance says “No” is an acceptable answer to any request. If a player makes you uncomfortable, stop responding, block or report the account through the game or platform, and ask a trusted adult or other trusted person for help. Keep relevant messages and screenshots; FBI guidance says not to delete chats or shared images or videos if you are being targeted.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should I do during the meeting?
- Stay in the public place you agreed on, keep your belongings with you, and retain control of your transport.
- Follow your check-in plan with your trusted contact.
- If the person tries to move the meeting to a private place, pressures you to conceal it, or interferes with your ability to leave, end the meeting and move toward staff or another populated area.
- Leave if you feel uneasy. New Zealand Police advises people not to feel bad about cutting a meeting short; you do not need to prove that something is wrong before you go.
If you are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services. An Garda Síochána gives 999 for emergencies in Ireland; emergency numbers differ by country, so use the number for where you are.
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How can caregivers reduce risks in online games?
Talk with children and younger teens about who they play and chat with, and make clear that they can come to you without automatically losing game access or being punished. The goal is to make it easier for them to disclose an uncomfortable interaction and get help.
- Review the game’s privacy and communication settings together. Depending on the game, controls may limit friend requests from strangers, chat, visibility of personal information, and gift sharing.
- Set age-appropriate rules for contact with people the child does not know offline. FTC guidance recommends discussing rules and, where appropriate, limiting chat to known friends.
- For children and younger teens, consider avoiding higher-risk features such as private messaging, gifts, content sharing, or livestreaming, with supervision suited to the child’s age and the game’s features.
- Teach the child how to block and report players, and to tell a trusted adult if someone asks for personal information or makes them uncomfortable.
- If a child is targeted, preserve relevant communications and screenshots rather than deleting chats or shared media.
Warning signs identified by the Australian eSafety Commissioner include a gaming contact trying to become close very quickly, asking for private information, giving high-value gifts, demanding secrecy, encouraging a move to a more private platform or video chat, or asking for sexual content. Treat these as reasons to pause, seek help, and use platform reporting tools—not as proof of a specific offense.
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