How It Works > Safety Zone ~ Sweemo

BE SURE. BE SAFE.

We want your Sweemo experiences to be positive and enjoyable. While you’re making the most of
life, just remember that the most successful explorers are the ones who live to tell the tale! A little
planning, a little thought – and some basic common sense – will keep you ahead of the game.

Protecting your computer

One of the best ways to protect your computer online is to install a firewall and up-to-date anti-virus software. It’s not foolproof, but it will cut down the risk of a third party spying on your internet activity or damaging your computer.

Safeguarding your computer against viruses is an important part of staying safe online. There are many viruses in circulation that threaten to damage your computer or spy on your Internet activities.

Protecting your identity

Guard your identity online as you would in any other aspect of life. You wouldn’t give your bank details or home address to someone you just met in the pub – or to a total stranger passing by. So don’t put personal contact information in your Sweemo profile or on community posts.
Regard your internet passwords as valuable information, just like your real name and personal phone numbers. It’s not a good idea to use one password for everything from your Sweemo profile to your online banking.
Never reply to any emails which ask for personal information, especially bank details and passwords.
For more information, check out www.getsafeonline.org which is sponsored by HM Government.
If some aspect of your direct contact with a seller or successful bidder makes you concerned about identity theft, contact feedback@sweemo.com .

Physical well-being

A successful Sweemo bid could take you to places you’ve never been before. That’s great. Enjoy this big wide world – but always share your plans with someone.

Tell someone
Tell them where you are going, who you’re meeting and when you plan to return. It’s one thing to leave the office on Friday with a smile and an air of mystery: if you’re not at your desk on Monday, you might need someone to send up a flare.

Be properly prepared
Whether you’re off to paint the Pyramids at sunset or bagging your first Munro, you’ll need to be properly prepared. All the stuff a caring and knowledgeable friend would want you to do for your physical wellbeing still applies. From sun block and water purifiers to wetsuits and comfortable shoes, make sure you know what your moment involves – and be prepared.

Check skills and experience
Don’t over-claim your skills or experience for physical activities like climbing or potholing. And if you are offering a moment, don’t understate the level of expertise needed to stay safe. When it comes to the real thing, lives could depend on it.

International travel

Passports, visas and permits
If you’re crossing borders – by land, sea or air – you’ll want to get there and back with as little hassle as possible. If you’re offering a Sweemo moment, offer as much useful information as you can. Successful bidders need to check out the usual travel essentials such as a valid passport, visas or other permits and licences.

Vaccinations and drugs
If you’re going far afield from the UK, find out which vaccinations you need at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. The Foreign Office www.fco.gov.uk is a good place to check out local customs, cultures and laws – especially on the obvious stuff like drugs and nudity.

A place to stay
Consider hotel accommodation – what you need to book in advance and what it’s likely to cost. It’s never a good plan to stay in another person’s home if you’ve never met them. You may also feel that it’s a good idea to keep your hotel location private in the first instance. It keeps your options open until that first eye-to-eye contact is made.

Airport pick-ups
Likewise, an offer to pick you up from the airport sounds really friendly. It probably is – but on a first meeting we strongly advise you to use taxis to get to and from the airport. You can arrange to meet up somewhere convenient after you’ve checked in. This is the time to stow any valuables securely and to call someone back home to say that you’ve arrived safely.

Phone home
And finally, don’t leave home without your mobile – with all those important new contact numbers in it.

Sexual and emotional wellbeing

Sometimes, adults get it horribly wrong. Meeting another person, whether planned or by chance,
can lead to a broken heart and much, much worse. There are a thousand reasons why people
mislead, misunderstand or abuse each other. Following a few simple guidelines makes it less
likely to happen to you.

Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, even after several successful bids or meetings,
always take the safe option.

Honesty
If you are offering a Sweemo moment to make new friends, remember that misleading personal descriptions or photos do no-one any real favours. It’s difficult to make friends with someone who feels like they just met a liar.

Anonymity
Think about using a third-party, anonymous email address rather than one which might immediately reveal your workplace. When choosing a name for that you might be tempted to use something wild or sexy to grab attention. Be aware of the sort of attention you’ll be getting – and take a look at Sweemo’s views on improper conduct in The Small Print.
Always stay anonymous online until you believe it’s right for you to develop the connection further. Only reveal your actual identity when you feel it’s safe to do so. Don’t feel you have to provide a telephone number if you don’t want to.
If you win a bid and the seller has to mail something to you, you can use a box number (or work address) if you are not happy about revealing your home postal address.

First meetings
First meetings should be in public, not in a private home or a remote location. This will allow you to assess the person or people you are meeting.
In social situations, keep an eye on your drinks. Plan to stay sober and alert. That also means not leaving drinks unattended, if you go to the bathroom for example. When you’re on new territory, it makes sense for everyone’s sake.

Abuse of Sweemo members

It’s just not nice. You are strongly encouraged to block abusers
from your own mail and to report them to feedback@sweemo.com

Abuse includes things like:

Sending offensive or bullying emails
Sending spam or emails which ask for subscriptions, donations or
money for any purpose other than an agreed winning bid
Using this service for criminal or dubious purposes
Making a fraudulent claim in a bid, offer or profile

Financial scams

Sweemo is about finding and enjoying life’s good experiences. It’s not about promoting pay-to-view sites or premium telephone lines (numbers beginning 09). If a Sweemo member directs you to one of these, please report it on feedback@sweemo.com
Sweemo is also not intended for the promotion of investment advice, investment opportunities or financial advice. That includes get-rich-quick seminars, property clubs and 101 other schemes. It sounds too much like work to us. If this is your business, you can advertise in lots of other places.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this important stuff. It's all here to keep you and all our users safe.

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