Privacy Policy
How we collect, use, and protect your personal information. Our commitment to privacy and security.
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
At Scam Not Me, we understand the importance of privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information when you visit our website, use our services, or interact with us in any way. It also outlines your choices regarding your personal information.
We recognize that privacy is particularly important to our senior audience, and we take special care to ensure our practices are clear, understandable, and respectful. Our approach to privacy mirrors our approach to scam prevention: transparent, accessible, and focused on your protection.
Information We Collect
We collect only the information needed to provide and improve our services.
Information You Provide to Us
Type of Information | When Collected | Purpose |
---|---|---|
Contact Information |
When you contact us, report a scam, sign up for newsletters, or request resources | To respond to your inquiries, send requested information, and provide support |
Location Information |
When you report a scam or select your region in the region selector | To provide region-specific resources and track scam trends by location |
Scam Details |
When you report a scam or share your experience | To analyze scam patterns, create alerts, and develop educational materials |
Survey Responses |
When you participate in surveys or provide feedback | To improve our services and educational materials |
Accessibility Preferences |
When you adjust accessibility features on our website | To provide a personalized, accessible experience |
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain information is collected automatically to help us improve your experience and our services:
Device and Usage Information
- Device type and browser
- Operating system
- IP address (anonymized)
- Pages visited and time spent
- Referring website or source
Cookies and Similar Technologies
- Essential cookies for website functionality
- Preference cookies for saved settings
- Analytics cookies to improve our services
- No third-party advertising cookies
Important: We do not collect sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers, financial account details, or health information unless absolutely necessary for a specific service you've requested.
How We Use Your Information
We use your information responsibly and only for the purposes described below.
To Communicate With You
- Respond to your inquiries and requests
- Send requested resources and information
- Provide scam alerts and newsletters (with your consent)
- Share updates about our services
To Provide Our Services
- Deliver region-specific resources
- Create and distribute scam alerts
- Develop educational materials
- Track and analyze scam patterns
- Remember your accessibility preferences
To Improve Our Services
- Analyze website usage and patterns
- Identify areas for improvement
- Enhance the user experience
- Develop new resources based on needs
- Monitor and maintain website performance
Legal Basis for Processing (for visitors from the European Economic Area)
We process your personal information under the following legal bases:
- Consent: When you explicitly agree to our use of your information
- Contract: When necessary to provide services you've requested
- Legitimate Interests: When it's in our legitimate interests to improve our services and protect against fraud
- Legal Obligation: When required to comply with applicable laws
Information Sharing
We are careful about how and with whom we share your information.
Who We Share Your Information With
We May Share With:
- Service Providers: Third parties who help us operate our website and provide our services (such as email providers, analytics providers, and hosting services)
- Partner Organizations: Trusted organizations we collaborate with to provide resources or support (with your consent)
- Law Enforcement: When required by law, court order, or legal process
- Fraud Prevention Authorities: To help combat scams and protect consumers (in anonymized form)
We Will Never Share With:
- Marketers or Advertisers: We do not sell or rent your personal information
- Data Brokers: We do not provide your information to data aggregation companies
- Unauthorized Third Parties: We maintain strict controls over access to your information
Our Commitment: We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
Anonymized and Aggregate Information
We may share anonymized, aggregated information that does not identify you personally. For example:
- Statistics about scam reports by region
- Trends in scam types and tactics
- Demographics of website visitors (in aggregate form)
This information helps raise awareness about scams and inform prevention efforts.
How We Protect Your Information
We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal information.
Our Security Practices
We use industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including:
- Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption
- Access controls and authentication
- Regular security assessments
- Staff training on data protection
- Secure data storage systems
Data Retention
We keep your personal information only as long as necessary to:
- Provide the services you've requested
- Comply with legal obligations
- Resolve disputes
- Enforce our agreements
We regularly review our data retention policies and remove unnecessary information.
Data Breach Procedures
In the unlikely event of a data breach, we will:
- Promptly investigate the incident
- Notify affected individuals as required by law
- Work with authorities as necessary
- Take steps to minimize harm
- Implement measures to prevent future incidents
Your Role in Data Security
While we take measures to protect your information, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We encourage you to help protect your personal information by:
- Using strong, unique passwords for your accounts
- Being cautious about what information you share online
- Keeping your devices and software updated
- Signing out of your accounts when using shared computers
Your Rights and Choices
You have control over your personal information and how it's used.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal information we have about you
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
- Delete your personal information (with certain exceptions)
- Restrict or object to our processing of your information
- Withdraw your consent at any time
- Data portability (receiving your data in a structured format)
- Lodge a complaint with a data protection authority
How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using one of these methods:
- Email: privacy@scammenot.org
- Mail: Scam Not Me, 123 Prevention Plaza, Suite 456, Anytown, ST 12345
- Phone: 1-800-555-SCAM (7226)
We will respond to your request within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request to protect your privacy and security.
Additional Choices
Email Communications
You can opt out of receiving our emails at any time by:
- Clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any email
- Contacting us at privacy@scammenot.org
Please note that even if you opt out of marketing emails, we may still send you important service-related notifications.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
You can manage your preferences for cookies and similar technologies by:
- Using our Cookie Preferences Tool
- Adjusting your browser settings to block or delete cookies
- Using browser extensions designed for privacy protection
Please note that disabling certain cookies may impact some website functionality.
Children's Privacy
Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we discover that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will promptly delete that information.
If you believe we may have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us at privacy@scammenot.org.
International Data Transfers
We primarily store and process your information within the United States.
If we transfer your personal information to service providers in other countries, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information, such as:
- Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission
- Ensuring the recipient country has adequate data protection laws
- Obtaining your consent for the transfer when required
For more information about our data transfer practices, please contact us at privacy@scammenot.org.
Third-Party Links and Services
Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services.
These third-party sites have their own privacy policies and practices, which are not covered by this Privacy Policy. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit or services you use.
We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of third-party websites or services.
Important: When we provide links to other websites, such as government agencies for reporting scams, we carefully select these resources. However, their privacy practices are governed by their own policies, not ours.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
If we make significant changes, we will notify you by:
- Posting a notice on our website
- Sending an email to users who have provided us with their email address
- Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this Privacy Policy
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about our information practices.
Previous Versions: To view previous versions of our Privacy Policy, please contact us at privacy@scammenot.org.
Contact Us About Privacy Questions
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, we're here to help.
Email Us
Call Us
1-800-555-SCAM (7226)
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm ET
Write to Us
Scam Not Me
Attn: Privacy Officer
123 Prevention Plaza, Suite 456
Anytown, ST 12345
State-Specific Privacy Rights
Additional privacy rights may apply based on your state of residence.
-
California Residents
If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) provide you with specific rights regarding your personal information:
- The right to know what personal information we collect about you and how we use and share it
- The right to delete personal information we have collected from you (with certain exceptions)
- The right to correct inaccurate personal information
- The right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of your personal information
- The right to limit the use of sensitive personal information
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the methods described in the "How to Exercise Your Rights" section above.
We do not sell or share personal information as defined by the CCPA/CPRA. We have not sold or shared personal information in the past 12 months.
-
Colorado Residents
The Colorado Privacy Act provides Colorado residents with specific privacy rights, including:
- The right to access your personal data
- The right to correct inaccuracies in your personal data
- The right to delete personal data
- The right to data portability
- The right to opt out of certain processing of personal data
You can exercise these rights by contacting us using the methods described in the "How to Exercise Your Rights" section.
-
Virginia Residents
The Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act provides Virginia residents with specific privacy rights, including:
- The right to confirm whether we are processing your personal data
- The right to access your personal data
- The right to correct inaccuracies in your personal data
- The right to delete personal data
- The right to obtain a copy of your personal data in a portable format
- The right to opt out of certain processing of personal data
You can exercise these rights by contacting us using the methods described in the "How to Exercise Your Rights" section.
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Other States
As privacy laws continue to evolve, additional states may provide specific privacy rights to their residents. We are committed to complying with applicable privacy laws in all states where we operate.
If you have questions about privacy rights in your state, please contact us at privacy@scammenot.org.
Privacy Policy Summary
Here's a simplified overview of our privacy practices.
Topic | Key Points |
---|---|
Information We Collect | Contact information, location, scam details, device information, cookies |
How We Use Information | To communicate with you, provide services, improve our website |
Information Sharing | Service providers, partner organizations, law enforcement when required |
Your Rights | Access, correct, delete your information; opt out of communications |
Security | SSL encryption, access controls, regular security assessments |
Children's Privacy | We don't knowingly collect information from children under 18 |
Policy Updates | We'll notify you of significant changes to this policy |
Contact Us | Email privacy@scammenot.org or call 1-800-555-SCAM |
Note: This summary is provided for convenience only and does not replace the full Privacy Policy. We encourage you to read the complete policy for detailed information about our privacy practices.
Additional Privacy Resources
Learn more about privacy protection and your rights.