Privacy Policy
The short version: we check your message or screenshot and then discard it. We don't keep it, sell it, or build a profile on you. The only exception is if you choose to share it with us when you rate a result. RuseCheck has no accounts, no ads and no tracking cookies.
WHO WE ARE
RuseCheck is operated by CN Universal Corp, a Canadian corporation ("we", "us"). We are responsible for the personal information handled through rusecheck.ca.
WHAT WE COLLECT
- What you paste or upload. The text of a message, or a screenshot. These often contain names, phone numbers, email addresses or other details, both yours and the other person's.
- Basic technical information. Your IP address and the time of your request, which our hosting provider records for security and to limit abuse.
- Feedback, if you give it. When you answer "Was this result right?", we store your answer along with the result RuseCheck showed and which warning signs it found. We also store any comment you type to explain what was wrong. We store the message itself only if you tick the box to share it.
We do not ask for your name, email or any account details to use RuseCheck.
HOW WE USE IT
- The instant check runs entirely in your browser. That text is not sent to us.
- The AI review sends your text or screenshot to our AI provider, Anthropic, to analyze it and return a result to you. We use it only to give you that result.
- Your IP address is used to limit how many AI checks one person can run in an hour, so the service stays available and affordable.
- Feedback is used only to measure how accurate RuseCheck is and to improve its scam detection. Messages you choose to share may be read by us to write better rules.
We do not use your messages to advertise to you, and we do not sell or rent personal information.
HOW LONG WE KEEP IT
- Our servers do not store your messages or screenshots. They are processed and discarded once your result is returned.
- Feedback, including any message you chose to share, is kept for up to 12 months and then deleted. Screenshots are never stored.
- Anthropic automatically deletes API inputs and outputs within 30 days, unless longer retention is needed to enforce its usage policies or comply with the law. Anthropic states it does not use API data to train its models by default.
- Rate limit records (IP address and time) are held in temporary memory for up to one hour.
- Hosting logs kept by our hosting provider are short-term and used for security and troubleshooting.
WHO ELSE HANDLES IT
- Anthropic, PBC (United States): AI analysis.
- Netlify, Inc. (United States): website hosting and storage of feedback.
- Google Fonts (United States): loads the fonts on this site, which shares your IP address with Google.
Because these providers are in the United States, your information may be processed outside Canada and be subject to US law, including lawful access by US authorities. We choose providers that commit to protecting the information they handle.
YOUR CHOICES
- Before uploading a screenshot, you can crop or cover details you don't need checked, like your own phone number or address.
- You can use the instant check alone by not pressing Check for an AI review. The instant check never leaves your browser.
- Rating a result is optional, and sharing the message with your rating is a separate choice. Leave the box unticked and only your answer is kept.
- You can ask us what personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or withdraw consent. Because we don't store your messages, in most cases we will have nothing to return.
COOKIES
RuseCheck does not use cookies or tracking pixels. Your language choice may be remembered in your browser, without being sent to us.
CHILDREN
RuseCheck is meant for adults. If you are under 14, please ask a parent or guardian to check a message for you.
SECURITY
Information is sent over encrypted connections (HTTPS). Our AI provider key is stored only on our server. No system is perfectly secure, but we limit risk by not storing your messages at all.
PRIVACY OFFICER AND CONTACT
Our Privacy Officer is responsible for how we protect personal information. For questions, requests or complaints, email privacy@rusecheck.ca.
If you are not satisfied with our answer, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or, in Quebec, the Commission d'accès à l'information.
CHANGES
If we change this policy, we will update the date at the top. Significant changes will be shown on the main page.