Online dating is convenient, fast, and fun. But most early warning signs show up in chat — long before you ever meet someone in person. To save yourself from stress and unpleasant situations, it’s important to know when it’s better to end the conversation and move on. At LinkUp, we want your dating experience to feel safe and comfortable, so we put together the key red flags that mean you should stop chatting right away.

1. They ask for money or “temporary help”
This is classic online scamming. Even if the story sounds believable — a broken phone, a ticket home, lost documents — it’s still manipulation.

Never send money to someone you don’t know in real life.

2. They keep trying to move the conversation off the app
If someone is pushing hard to switch to WhatsApp, private Telegram, or phone calls, that’s a reason to be cautious.
Sure, some people prefer other platforms, but a healthy person won’t pressure you or rush the process.

3. They bring up sexual topics you didn’t agree to
If they jump into sexual conversations, send explicit photos, or ask for yours — that’s a serious boundary violation.
Respectful communication is always based on mutual consent.

4. They seem “too perfect” to be real
Unrealistic achievements, over-the-top compliments, a flawless persona — these can be signs of a fake profile or a manipulator.
Genuine people don’t try to be perfect; they show who they actually are.

5. They guilt-trip you or put pressure on you
Lines like:
“Wow, if you don’t reply right now, I guess you don’t care”
“I put in so much effort and you don’t appreciate it”
—that’s emotional manipulation.
Healthy communication never relies on guilt or pressure.

6. They’re constantly negative or toxic
If the person complains nonstop, belittles others, is sarcastic, rude, or hostile — it won’t magically get better later.
Toxicity is a huge red flag from the start.

7. Their stories don’t add up
Changing details, inconsistent facts, messy timelines — all of this can mean the person is hiding something.
If you’re noticing confusion where there shouldn’t be any, it’s safer to walk away.

Why ending the conversation matters
Stopping the conversation isn’t rude or weak — it’s self-protection. In online dating, you don’t owe anyone continued communication if something makes you uncomfortable. At LinkUp, we stand by one simple rule: your comfort matters more than someone else’s expectations.

If the vibe shifts and the chat stops feeling good, just swipe on.
There’s definitely someone ahead who will make things feel easy.