The online dating universe is growing more rapidly than we could have ever imagined: It seems every day, there’s a new app meant to connect users with their true loves or fun flings. But, as fun as it may be swiping left and right every day, there’s also a dark side to online dating, as Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) recently reported after reviewing data from police forces. According to the NCA, 184 people reported that they were raped during their first face-to-face meeting by someone they met online in 2014 — a 450% increase from the 33 people in 2009. Since rape tends to be under-reported, and victims who met their attackers online may be more reluctant to come forwarded, the NCA warns the number could be 10 times higher than the 184 reported.

The NCA also gathered and analyzed further data of reported rapes after online meetings between 2003 and 2015, and found that 85% of the victims were women, 41% started their dates at a residence, and 71% of the alleged attacks occurred at either the victim’s or offender’s home.

Sadly, it’s not entirely surprising. The NCA’s Serious Crime Analysis Section (SCAS) pointed out in the report that not only has there been a massive surge in the popularity of online dating, but also relationships that begin online tend to progress more quickly than ones that start offline. With the veil of anonymity that the internet provides, people tend to feel safer and freer, meaning they’re more likely to open up with personal details and vulnerability that they wouldn’t usually share with strangers. The increased perception of trust and closeness that comes with building a relationship online leads victims to take more risks than they otherwise would.

But it’s not all about trust and closeness. The Internet also tends to foster bolder sexual communication in new relationships than face-to-face interaction. While a person may flirt or act a certain way online, that doesn’t mean he or she intends to extend that intimacy or physicality to real life, which can often lead to mismatched expectations between the victim and the offender.

“Time spent communicating online or money spent on traveling to meet or on the other person may foster expectations that the relationship will progress even more rapidly upon meeting, or may even create the attitude that an individual has a right to get what they want from that meeting,” the NCA report noted.

All of this doesn’t mean that you need to completely avoid online dating, but it does mean you should be aware and take steps to avoid potentially dangerous situations. Get Safe Online, offers tips on how to date safely on the internet, like choosing anonymous, non-sexual usernames; keeping your personal and contact details private; taking your time; doing your own research; and discontinuing (and reporting) any communication if it’s offensive, insulting, or threatening, or if someone requests money. If you do ultimately meet someone face-to-face, follow the below tips from Get Safe Online to be as safe as possible:

Plan it. Say it. Do it.

It’s your date. Agree on what you both want from it before you meet up. Don’t feel pressured to meet before you’re ready or for any longer than you’re comfortable with — a short first date is fine. Meet in public. Stay in public.

The safest plan is to meet somewhere public and stay somewhere public. Make your own way there and back and don’t feel pressured to go home with your date. If you feel ready to move to a private environment, make sure your expectations match your date’s. Get to know the person, not the profile.

The way people interact online isn’t always the same face-to-face. Don’t be offended if your date is more guarded when meeting in person, or if things don’t progress as fast face-to-face. Not going well? Make your excuses and leave.

Don’t feel bad about cutting a date short if you’re not keen. You don’t owe the person anything, no matter how long you’ve been chatting or what’s been suggested. If you’re raped or sexually assaulted on your date, help is available.

No matter what the circumstances, sexual activity against your will is a crime. Police and charities are here to help and support you.

The National Network to End Domestic Violence provides a list of rape and sexual assault helplines and resources on its website.

Related: How Two Girls Are Teaching Students Their Rights to Fight Campus Sexual Assault

Check out ​Teen Vogue​’s February issue cover star, Amandla Stenberg.