Safety
Safe Dating: Relax and Be Yourself
Your real name and address stay private, ID checks are open to everyone, and real people are on hand around the clock.
- Free to join
- 18+ only
Protected at every step
Every protection below works for you from the day you join.
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ID Verification (Blue Tick)
Optional government ID verification with visible badge.
Why it matters Confirms users are genuine and reduces catfishing risk.
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Video Verification
Live video check with moderators to confirm identity without documents.
Why it matters Provides authenticity without sharing sensitive ID.
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Age Assurance
AI age estimation with additional checks where required.
Why it matters Prevents underage access and protects vulnerable users.
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Safe Usernames
Your real name and email are never shown publicly.
Why it matters Prevents stalking, unwanted contact, and being traced on social media.
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Location Privacy
Shows only your nearest town or city, never your exact address or live location.
Why it matters Keeps your home and real-world location private.
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Instant Blocking
Block any user immediately so they can no longer contact or see you.
Why it matters Puts you fully in control of who can interact with you.
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Easy Reporting Tools
Report users or content quickly from within the platform.
Why it matters Allows rapid action against abuse or inappropriate behaviour.
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User Rating System
Every user has a reputation score based on behaviour and feedback.
Why it matters Helps you quickly judge who is trustworthy before engaging.
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One-Click Feedback
Instantly upvote or downvote interactions with a single click.
Why it matters Encourages respectful behaviour and flags bad experiences early.
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Off-Platform Contact Alerts
Detects attempts to move conversations to external apps like WhatsApp.
Why it matters Warns you about common scam tactics.
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Behaviour Monitoring (AI)
Automatically detects unusual or suspicious activity patterns.
Why it matters Identifies scammers, bots, or harmful users early.
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Proactive Content Moderation
All images, videos, and text are screened on upload using AI and human review.
Why it matters Stops harmful or inappropriate content before it reaches users.
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Swift Takedown Policy
Rapid response to requests to remove unauthorised or harmful content.
Why it matters Minimises exposure and protects your privacy and rights.
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Explicit Image Protection
Potentially sensitive images are blurred with a warning before viewing.
Why it matters Prevents unwanted exposure to explicit content.
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24/7 Human Support
Real support team available via chat, phone, and messaging.
Why it matters Ensures fast help when you need it most.
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Safe Dating Guidance
Helpful tips and reminders built into the platform.
Why it matters Supports safer decisions both online and when meeting in person.
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Secure Infrastructure
Hosted on PCI-compliant cloud infrastructure with full SSL encryption (e.g. Microsoft Azure).
Why it matters Keeps your personal data, messages, and payments safe.
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Industry Safety Standards
Aligned with best practices through its involvement with the Online Dating and Discovery Association.
Why it matters Ensures we follow and help shape global safety standards.
Kindness is lovely. Pressure is a warning
Romance scammers look for people they think will be grateful for attention, and they often pick on anyone who has been made to feel unattractive. The pattern is nearly always the same: a striking profile, a lot of flattery very quickly, a reason they cannot meet or video call, and then a problem only money can fix. Some send intimate photos early, ask for yours, and then threaten to share them. None of this makes you foolish if it happens to you. A few habits protect you from almost all of it.
- Keep the conversation on the site until you have met. The site warns you when someone pushes to move to WhatsApp or text, and it is fair to ask why they are in a hurry.
- Ask for a short video call before you meet. Anyone genuine will understand, however camera-shy they are.
- Never send money, gift cards, travel fares or bank details to someone you have not met, whatever the story.
- Do not send intimate photos to someone you have not met. If anyone threatens to share images of you, stop replying, keep the messages, report the profile and contact the police.
- Meet somewhere public and busy, get yourself there and home, and keep your drink in sight.
- Tell a friend where you are going and who with.
- If something feels wrong, trust that feeling. Leave, then block and report the profile from the site, so the moderators can act quickly.
Respect is a house rule
On a site called The Ugly Bug Ball, people are trusting each other with something tender: how they feel about the way they look. Mocking someone's appearance, sending cruel messages or joining to make fun of people goes against our house rules and everything the site is for. If anyone makes you feel small, block them and report them, and the moderators can act quickly. Our guide to whether The Ugly Bug Ball is legit explains what happens behind the scenes to keep fake profiles out, and our first date ideas are all easy, public places to meet.
Your safety questions, answered
Can other members see my real name?
No. Members see your username. Your real name and email are never shown, and your location shows only your nearest town or city.
Are members verified?
Any member can be, with ID or a live video check, and a badge shows who is. Verification is optional, so look for the badge. Photos, videos and text are screened by software and by people as they are uploaded.
Someone was rude about my looks. What can I do?
Block them straight away and report the profile, so the moderators can act. Mocking another member goes against our house rules.
Someone asked me for money. What should I do?
Do not send it, stop replying and report the profile. Asking a match for money is one of the clearest signs of a scam.
Is the site only for adults?
Yes. The Ugly Bug Ball is strictly for adults aged 18 and over. Age is estimated automatically, with further checks where the law requires them.
Help is always a message away
Real people are on hand day and night, and you can reach them from your account whenever you need them.
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