Asking here because you guys tend to give more honest answers than most places online. My go-to move is always suggesting a public first meet at a coffee shop or bar — keeps everything casual.
I always reverse image search profile photos before agreeing to anything. Takes thirty seconds and saves a lot of grief. Bots are everywhere, but they're usually pretty easy to spot if you ask a specific question early on.
Video call before you meet — it's the fastest way to confirm someone is who they say they are.