Woman may rent to virtual stranger

Dear Amy: A longtime Instagram follower of mine sent me a PM the other day complimenting me on my photography skills.

We got to talking and he then admitted that he also likes me. Since then, we text, video chat and share our respective lives through the powers of social media.

He lives in Brazil, I in the U.S. I am 15 years older than he — I am about to be 46. We hit it off really well, and he has not done what many guys interested in me have done. He has not asked for — or sent — nude photos.

He claims to be single and not looking for marriage. He wants to come to the U.S. to see if he wants to live here permanently.

I have thought about opening my home for a few weeks with him paying for lodging. That could help me, as I am between jobs, and he could save on hotel costs.

He will be applying for a travel visa. Do you think I should do this? Wondering Woman Dear Wondering: Let’s recap: THE OTHER DAY, you two met over social media.

So far, he has demonstrated his princely qualities by not asking for — or sending — nude photos.

And now — mere days after virtually meeting him, you have somehow unearthed a scheme to bring him into your home for several weeks.

The first thing you need to do is to raise your standard of what you have the right to expect from other people.

You also need to tap into your own common sense regarding your personal security.

If you want to make money from renting out a room, register on a room rental site and go through the appropriate process of vetting renters.

If he wants to visit the States, he should locate a nearby room rental where he will have to submit a credit card, be vetted and pay for his lodging.

If you are determined to rent to him specifically, then do so through a legitimate rental site, and not through a casual arrangement from someone who may have deliberately sought you out as a way out of Brazil. Imagine an open-ended stay in your home with someone you end up detesting? Once in, it could be very challenging to get him out.

If you are unemployed, you would serve yourself better by marketing your skills and lining up your next job.

Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. e-mail: askamy@tribune.com