Anna Garcia, a paralegal for a top law firm in Chicago says that she spends at least three hours before a date to choose an outfit, shave her legs, primp her hair and fine-tune her makeup. She says that after years of constantly hitting the dating scene, she knows she’s one to be at her best even if the date leads nowhere.

But that was before when Anna, suddenly tired of constantly having to leave work early and preparing for a possibly dull evening or a date that will have her split the bill, subscribed to an online dating site. Now she says she’s having the time of her life meeting new people she never thought she would in her small social circle.

Anna’s story is one of the better online dating stories. The internet, aside from offering you the possibility of true love could also scam you out of thousands of dollars and may even get you the possibility of being prey to perverts and sexual offenders. Picking a good online dating site becomes paramount. Here’s a mini guideline in making sure you get the best out of the online dating scene.

1. Make sure it’s legit. There are dozens, if not hundreds of dating sites that are actually operating illegally, meaning they’re just out to get your money, or worse, your identity. Identity theft has been a constant horror in the internet and dating sites, with their comprehensive “questionnaires” often lead to people suddenly racking up thousands in credit card debt without ever applying for one.

Choose the more established online dating sites and its better if any of your friends had actually used the service before. It may be a little obsessive but if you can check the site with the Better Business Bureau, the better. Also, be sure never to give personal information such as social security number, mother’s maiden name or business and home phone numbers.

2. Take advantage of the freebie. You can pick from thousands of online dating sites that offer free services. Some sites offer free online dating services without a trial period but if you want to upgrade to more features such as live video and audio chat, you can upgrade to a higher subscription package by paying with a credit card.

3. Feature-packed. Some sites have more features than others and more value for your time and money. The more common features include personalized profiles, photo uploads, automatic matches with other members and messaging options to other members. Upgraded accounts would include features such as live video and audio chat and secured emails. Other dating sites employ safety features by screening their applicants if they have previous criminal records or their true marital status.

4. Pick specialized sites. There are online dating sites that specialized in matching people of the same preferences, age, location or ethnicity. If you are Asian or want an Asian partner, you can find dozens of dating sites with this purpose. Other dating sites limit their members in certain age groups while some matches people only in a certain country or city. Whatever online dating site you choose, make sure your information is secure and cross your fingers that you will finally meet your match.