“Always listen to your gut. If it’s telling you someone or a situation is dangerous, react quickly and get out.”

As a Senior Staff Writer at BuzzFeed, I cover real-life stories that explore relationships, lifestyle (including travel and beauty), and the internet's most fascinating trends.

"I was just in NYC where the CD scam is prevalent (a con artist asks you your name, they write your name on their music CD, and when you accept the CD, they intimidate you to pay for it). Just keep walking. Don't even smile at them."

"It goes against the instinct of good people, but FORGET POLITENESS. Do not stop to hear someone's story, no matter how harmless they seem. Better to be thought of as a jerk than to be a victim. (As mentioned in the article, if someone approaches you, say 'no' before they begin their pitch.) Tourists stop; seasoned locals have heard it all and do not. Do not walk around looking at your phone. Keep your head up and eyes open. Pay attention! Be safe, friends!"

"If you are walking alone and someone says something to you, it's a good idea to respond politely but do not stop walking. Allowing a stranger to control your actions with only a word is as good as painting a 'mark' on your forehead. If you stop, you're vastly increasing the likelihood of getting mugged or worse. If they follow you, start running. Don't worry about your pride — run."

"Now take it a step further. As you walk around, pick a landmark in the neighborhood you are moving through. Maybe it's a corner store, a park, a prominent intersection, or a house with a funny roof. It doesn't matter. Between the big city landmark and the smaller neighborhood landmark, you're basically triangulated to a pretty narrowly defined area. You can explore with a lot of confidence just by keeping your bearings on which direction your two landmarks are and if you're moving closer or further away from them."

"Always be aware of your surroundings and what's going on, especially in an unfamiliar area. Every so often, do a scan of your environment. A good example is when I was walking in an unfamiliar neighborhood in San Francisco (I'm originally from about 30 minutes south of SF), and I wasn't paying that much attention. I quickly scanned my environment and noticed a guy following me and dipping in and out of the shadows, trying not to be noticed. Once I noticed him, he looked startled and stopped following me. I'm not sure what he was planning on doing, but it could've ended poorly."

"No. If someone isn't a POS they will realize that the situation was misinterpreted. If they're actually dangerous, they will most likely make a big deal about how they're not going to hurt you. Don't be afraid to make a scene if you're afraid."

"Keep your hand on your cellphone as much as possible, and don’t use easy codes like your birthday."

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.