In most circumstances, the use of sex cams is extremely safe. However, sex cam users should be aware of the risks involved in cybersex. As with any goods or services sold over the internet, it is more than possible to be scammed by sex cam sites. Some paid cybersex websites take advantage of customers by offering them a service, taking their credit card information, and charging the card without delivering the promised services. Such internet scammers have collectively stolen millions of dollars from unfortunate customers. As a rule, it is best to avoid any cybersex site that sends emails to your inbox or solicits you through Craigslist, Facebook and other sites. When paying to use an online sex cam, it is impossible to know for sure whether it is a reputable business, but a little background research can save you a lot of headaches later.
Even if you don’t give out any financial information, you can easily be scammed by using the wrong adult site. Many cybersex domains are havens for hackers who can steal your personal information, dump files that take up massive amounts of storage space or even send viruses that crash your computer and create thousands of dollars worth of damage. The easiest way to avoid getting hacked by a lurker on a sex site is to use protective software on your computer. These programs will alert you to potentially hazardous websites and block viruses from attacking your computer. Personal judgement can also save you a headache or two. If the website looks like a huge scam, it probably is. You might be surprised how accurate your gut instinct is in assessing how trustworthy a given adult website will be.
Maintaining privacy is another major concern of cybersex users. While you can keep your financial information safe by not giving away your social security or credit card numbers to shady websites, there are other ways in which adult websites can invade your privacy and make your life difficult. Cybersex sites or users may access your domain information and disclose it to other parties. In a few rare cases, people have been stalked and harassed by hackers who managed to get a hold of private information while they used adult websites. While it is not out of the question to experience a privacy breach on a sex cam site, privacy issues are far more common on social networks such as Facebook and Myspace.
As in any online situation involving people you don’t know, it is important to guard your personal information when using a cybersex domain. If another user wants to know your name, either refuse to provide that information or give yourself a fake name. Don’t ever tell another adult website user where you live, work or go to school. Internet predators can take what might seem like a completely inadvertent piece of information and use it to trace you down. As such, the less personal information your reveal, the better. It may also be wise to avoid letting the webcam capture your face. Many cybersex community members make a point of only recording from the neck down. Despite the greatest of precautions, you may end up having sexual encounters that make you uncomfortable. If a user harasses or abuses you in any way, you need to report that person to the website staff and block him or her if possible. If the website fails to adequately block contact with the problem user, it is time for you to disband your account and find another website to use.
Engaging in virtual sex is not illegal in and of itself, but there are a number of laws regulating the adult internet industry. The anonymous nature of cybersex domains may make it easy to inadvertently break one of these laws. For example, although child pornography laws ban minors from utilizing adult websites, many cybersex communities abound with underage users. If older users engage in online sexual activity with underage users, they are unknowingly breaking the law. Whether done on purpose or not, sexual interaction with a minor is illegal and could lead to severe repercussions.
It is also important to understand your local and state laws before using a cybersex community. Certain obscenity laws may limit or completely ban the use of such websites, putting you at risk for unwanted encounters with local law enforcement. Be sure to carefully review all local laws that deal with internet use and adult materials before logging on to an adult website.
