Video chat with strangers: 10 safety rules

Most conversations go fine. But as anywhere online, a few people try to take advantage of others. These 10 rules are enough to avoid most problems.

Updated 1 November 2026

The 10 rules

1. Never share personal details: full name, address, school or workplace, phone number.
2. Don't share your social media with someone you just met: it reveals your name, friends and photos.
3. Check what's behind you: mail, a recognisable window view, a badge, a uniform.
4. Never undress on camera, however friendly the other person seems — it's the entry point for sextortion (see below).
5. Be wary of links sent in the chat: don't click, don't download.
6. Never send money to a stranger, whatever the story.
7. Assume you could be recorded: recording is forbidden, but it can't be technically prevented 100%.
8. Use a VPN if you like: on peer-to-peer video, the other person can technically see your IP address.
9. Skip without explaining as soon as you feel uncomfortable.
10. Report anyone who breaks the rules — that's how abusers get removed.

Sextortion: the number one threat

The script is almost always the same: an attractive person encourages you to undress on video, records it, then threatens to send it to your friends and family unless you pay.

If it happens to you:

• Don't pay. Paying almost never ends the blackmail — it fuels it.
• Cut all contact and block them everywhere.
• Keep evidence: screenshots of messages, usernames, payment details they asked for.
• Report it to the police and tell someone you trust. You are the victim, not the one at fault.

Your IP address and peer-to-peer video

On iStrangr, as on most video chats, audio and video travel directly between the two participants using WebRTC. That's what guarantees our servers never see your conversations — but it also means the other person can technically learn your IP address, which reveals your approximate city and internet provider. A VPN hides it. More details in our privacy policy.

What iStrangr does on its side

• Access limited to adults (18+), with age confirmation.
• Rules shown before your first session.
• A Report button in every chat: the last 3 messages are kept as evidence.
• Graduated sanctions: instant kick, 7-day ban, then 6-month ban.
• Illegal content is reported to the authorities.

Where to report a problem

Use the in-chat Report button first. For serious issues — threats, blackmail, anything involving minors — contact your local police. In the EU, many countries have a dedicated hotline for illegal online content; in Belgium, Child Focus handles anything involving minors.

Frequently asked questions