Rendezvous that result from phone and internet chatline contacts can be dangerous, as one Vancouver man found. (CBC)

Vancouver police are warning users of phone and internet chat lines to be wary after a man was bound and beaten Sunday by someone he met on the phone.

The two men made plans to meet in person at the victim's home, police spokesperson Const. Anne Longley said Monday.

After letting the man in, the victim, 52, was punched, tied to a chair, and robbed of his wallet and car keys. The victim's cries for help eventually were heard by a neighbour, who called police.

The victim's car was later recovered on Vancouver's east side and a 29-year-old man has been charged with robbery, possession of stolen property and unlawful confinement, police said.

Meetings like this are rife with risk said Longley.

"If you've met them through a chat line or social networking sites you really need to take basic safety precautions in mind," Longley said. "Always meet the person at a public place where you can get help easily."

This kind of assault is under-reported because the victim feels embarrassed by what happened, the police spokesperson said.