How to stay safe while chatting anonymously

Talking to strangers online can be genuinely fun: you meet people you’d never cross paths with, from other cities, colleges and walks of life. But anonymity cuts both ways. The person on the other side is anonymous too, and you cannot verify anything they say.

The good news: a few simple habits remove almost all of the risk.

1. Keep your identity out of the chat

The whole point of anonymous chat is that nobody knows who you are. Keep it that way.

Never share:

Your full name, phone number or email
Your home address, college, office or daily routine
Social media handles (Instagram, Snapchat, Telegram)
Photos of yourself, your house or anything with a visible location
Your UPI ID, bank details, card numbers or OTPs — ever

Chatavi blocks phone numbers, emails, UPI IDs and links automatically, but people can still try to spell them out (“nine eight seven…”). If someone does that, it’s a red flag.

2. Recognise the common scams

Most online scams follow a script. Once you know it, it is easy to spot.

The sudden emergency: “My wallet was stolen, can you send ₹500 on UPI? I’ll return it tomorrow.” You will not get it back.
The investment tip: “I made ₹50,000 last week trading, let me show you the app.” Fake trading and “task” apps are one of the most common frauds in India.
Moving you off the platform: “This app is boring, add me on Telegram.” Scammers want to get you somewhere without filters or reporting.
The romance hook: Someone becomes very affectionate very fast, then needs money, gifts or photos.
Sextortion: Someone pushes for intimate photos or a video call, then threatens to share them unless you pay. Never send intimate images to anyone you met online.

If money or personal photos come up with a stranger, end the chat. There is no exception to this rule.

3. Trust your gut and use Next

You don’t owe anyone a conversation. If a chat makes you uncomfortable — pushy questions, sexual comments, guilt-tripping, threats — tap Next. You don’t need to explain or be polite about it.

4. Report, don’t argue

If someone breaks the rules, use the Report button instead of fighting back. Reporting saves a copy of the conversation for our moderators, which lets us ban people who harass others. Arguing just gives them attention.

5. Look after your mental health

Strangers can say hurtful things precisely because they are anonymous. Remember that their words say more about them than about you. If a conversation leaves you shaken, take a break.

If you are feeling low, overwhelmed or unsafe, you can talk to a trained counsellor at Tele-MANAS: 14416 — it is free, confidential, available 24×7 and in many Indian languages.

6. If something goes wrong

Lost money or were threatened online? Call the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 as quickly as possible, or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Acting fast improves the chance of stopping a payment.
Immediate danger? Call 112.
Problem with a Chatavi user? Report in the app, then contact our Grievance Officer.

Quick checklist

☐ No real name, number, address or socials
☐ Never send money, UPI, OTPs or photos
☐ Leave any chat that moves to money, photos or another app
☐ Report rule-breakers
☐ Tap Next whenever you want

Stay curious, stay anonymous, and enjoy the conversations that are worth having.