If you’re planning to explore (or re-enter) the world of dating apps, you’re in luck, because early January is the height of online dating season. However, that doesn’t mean you should dive in head-first without a plan. Here are a few online dating resolutions that might help you find what you’re looking for in the new year.

The show, adapted from the popular true crime podcast of the same name, is a fictionalized version of the very real story of Debra Newell, a wealthy divorcee who fell for a seemingly perfect man with a troubling past.

The eponymous “Dirty John” is John Meehan (Eric Bana), who met and wooed Newell (Connie Britton) through an online dating site. Their whirlwind romance led to a quick marriage, but Newell’s children were convinced their mother’s new love wasn’t the man he seemed to be. Criminal records, lies, and other disturbing red flags were soon uncovered, leading to a terrifying and violent ordeal for Newell and her family.

What is it about the holidays that seem to ignite the spark for uncoupled people? Some say the combination of cold weather and the holidays creates a need for cuddles, also known as “cuffing season." With all the single ladies and men jumping online to find a date for the festive season, it also brings out the scammers, or catfishers.

Whether you’re hopping onto Match.com, Zoosk, or other online dating app, you’re likely to see a fresh crop of daters joining the scene, especially right after the first of the year. Catfishers know this, too. In fact, catfishers, or people who pose as someone else looking for love, have managed to scam nearly $1 billion out of those longing for love since 2015 in the United States and Canada. The catfish scam is only getting worse, and you’re likely to encounter one regardless of which dating site you use.

Recently, online dating turned to financial disaster for several women in the Midwest when they were duped by the same man. One woman in Ohio contacted local police when she was tricked into sending thousands of dollars to a man she met online. Another woman in Indiana was targeted by the same man, it seems, on OurTime, an online dating website for older single men and women.

While one woman only lost $1,000 to this man who claimed to be a German citizen working in Dubai, the other secured a $30,000 loan to send. The people who operate OurTime didn’t comment on the vetting process for those who create profiles on the website.

Finding “the one” can be hard enough, but as a single parent, the search seems even more difficult. Whether you’ve been raising your child or children on your own since the beginning, you’ve been widowed, or you went through a nasty public divorce, jumping back into the dating scene might seem intimidating.

Getting Out There

It may seem like you’re surrounded by all things kid-related and you’ll never meet Ms. or Mr. Right, but you can increase your odds of finding love if you choose the right places. Bookstores, farmer’s markets and street fairs are all great places for you and your little ones – and for potentially making a connection.

Like any other goal, choosing the right person to date requires a strategic approach. There are a few tactics that can make you stand out from the sea of profiles and attract the kind of partner you’king for. On the flip side, making some rookie mistakes can hurt your chances of finding quality matches – or worse, put you in serious danger.

While today’s teens may still do this, modern technology has given them dozens of other ways to meet and contact potential partners, from social media and chat apps, to online communities and dating websites. Although Tinder does not allow users under age 18, there are plenty of other apps your teen may use to connect with strangers online, including using a fake birthdate to bypass the system.