Do not send money
Never send money, gift cards, bank details, cryptocurrency, or payment codes to someone you met online, even if their story sounds urgent.
Safety Center
Stay safer while meeting new people
Penpal America helps adults build meaningful friendships through text chat, voice calls, and video calls. These safety tips help you protect your privacy, spot suspicious behaviour, and use reporting and blocking tools with confidence.
Do not share your home address
Keep your home address, workplace, school, daily routine, and exact location private until you have strong real-world trust.
Protect personal information
Be careful with phone numbers, passwords, identity documents, financial details, private photos, and anything that could identify or expose you.
Report suspicious behaviour
Report users who ask for money, pressure you, send indecent content, impersonate someone else, or make you feel unsafe.
Block uncomfortable users
You do not owe anyone continued access to you. Block anyone who harasses, pressures, threatens, or repeatedly ignores your boundaries.
Stay on-platform while trust builds
Do not move conversations to another app too quickly. Penpal America's reporting, blocking, and moderation tools work best on-platform.
Warning signs to take seriously
Trust your instincts. If something feels rushed, secretive, or financially motivated, slow down and use the safety tools available.
- They quickly ask for money, gift cards, payment help, or investment support.
- They pressure you to leave Penpal America soon after meeting.
- They avoid normal conversation but push romance, secrecy, or urgency.
- They ask for private photos, documents, passwords, or verification codes.
- They claim emergencies that require immediate payment.
- Their story changes, their profile feels fake, or they refuse reasonable boundaries.
Voice and video call safety
- Use voice and video calls only when you feel ready.
- Keep personal documents, addresses, and private surroundings out of camera view.
- End the call if someone records you, pressures you, or behaves inappropriately.
- Turn off voice or video calls in profile settings if you do not want to receive calls.
- Report missed-call harassment or repeated unwanted call attempts.
What to do if something feels wrong
Stop replying, block the user, and submit a report from the chat. Include the clearest reason and any helpful detail. Admin review helps identify unsafe behaviour and protect the wider community.