Privacy Policy

Overview

The Investment Fraud Victims Rights Center ("we," "us," "our," or "IFVRC") is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, use our services, or interact with us.

This policy applies to information we collect:

• On our website and through our online services
• In email, text, and other electronic communications
• When you report fraud or seek assistance
• Through our chatbot and support systems
• Via telephone or in-person consultations

Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect the following types of personal information:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address
• Identification Information: Date of birth, Social Security number (when required for legal assistance)
• Financial Information: Details about losses, bank account information (for recovery purposes), investment account details
• Case Information: Details about fraud incidents, communications with scammers, evidence and documentation
• Legal Information: Information related to legal proceedings, law enforcement reports

Automatically Collected Information

• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on our site, click patterns
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies

Information from Third Parties

• Information from law enforcement agencies
• Public records and databases
• Information from other victims or witnesses
• Social media platforms (when you interact with our content)

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

Providing Services

• Investigating and documenting fraud cases
• Providing legal assistance and representation
• Connecting you with appropriate resources and support
• Facilitating recovery efforts and asset tracing
• Coordinating with law enforcement agencies

Protection and Prevention

• Identifying patterns and trends in fraudulent activities
• Warning others about known scams and fraudsters
• Improving our fraud detection capabilities
• Enhancing our protective measures and services

Communication

• Responding to your inquiries and providing support
• Sending case updates and important notifications
• Providing educational content about fraud prevention
• Notifying you of relevant legal developments

Website and Service Improvement

• Analyzing website usage to improve user experience
• Customizing content based on your interests
• Conducting research and analytics
• Testing new features and functionality

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

Law Enforcement and Legal Proceedings

• With law enforcement agencies investigating fraud
• In response to valid legal processes (subpoenas, court orders)
• To comply with legal obligations and regulations
• To protect our rights and the rights of others

Service Providers

• Legal professionals and consultants working on your case
• Technical service providers (hosting, analytics, security)
• Payment processors and financial institutions
• Communication and support platforms

Public Safety

• Warning others about active scams (with anonymized information)
• Cooperating with industry fraud prevention efforts
• Sharing threat intelligence with security organizations

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our website:

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for website functionality and security
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how you use our website
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• Marketing Cookies: Used to provide relevant content and measure effectiveness

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through:

• Our cookie consent banner and preference center
• Your browser settings (though this may affect functionality)
• Third-party opt-out tools for analytics and advertising

Third-Party Tracking

We may use third-party services for:

• Website analytics (Google Analytics, etc.)
• Security monitoring and fraud prevention
• Customer support and chat functionality
• Social media integration

Data Security

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information:

Technical Safeguards

• End-to-end encryption for sensitive communications
• Secure data storage with industry-standard encryption
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Multi-factor authentication for access controls
• Secure backup and disaster recovery procedures

Administrative Safeguards

• Limited access on a need-to-know basis
• Regular security training for staff
• Background checks for personnel handling sensitive data
• Incident response and breach notification procedures

Physical Safeguards

• Secure facilities with controlled access
• Locked filing cabinets for physical documents
• Secure disposal of sensitive materials
• Environmental controls and monitoring

Your Privacy Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access and Portability

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to Information: Understand how your data is being processed

Correction and Updates

• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Update: Modify your contact preferences and settings

Deletion and Restriction

• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal obligations)
• Right to Restriction: Limit how we process your information
• Right to Object: Object to certain types of processing

Marketing and Communications

• Opt-out Rights: Unsubscribe from marketing communications
• Communication Preferences: Choose how and when we contact you

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for different periods depending on the purpose:

Legal Case Information

• Active Cases: Throughout the duration of legal proceedings
• Closed Cases: Minimum of 7 years after case closure (as required by legal professional standards)
• Appeals Period: Extended retention during potential appeal periods

Website and Analytics Data

• Website Usage: 24-26 months for analytics purposes
• Contact Forms: 3 years for follow-up and service improvement
• Chat Logs: 1 year for support and training purposes

Communications

• Email Communications: 3-7 years depending on content and purpose
• Support Tickets: 2 years for service improvement
• Marketing Communications: Until you opt out or request deletion

We may retain information longer if required by law, for legitimate business purposes, or to protect our legal interests.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. When we transfer data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place:

• Adequacy Decisions: Transfers to countries deemed adequate by relevant authorities
• Standard Contractual Clauses: Use of approved contract terms for data protection
• Binding Corporate Rules: Internal rules ensuring consistent protection standards
• Certification Programs: Participation in recognized privacy certification schemes

Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18.

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will:

• Delete the information as soon as reasonably practicable
• Not use the information for any purpose
• Not disclose the information to third parties
• Notify parents or guardians if required by law

If you believe we may have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately.

California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to Know

• Categories of personal information we collect
• Sources of personal information
• Business or commercial purposes for collection
• Categories of third parties with whom we share information

Right to Delete

Request deletion of personal information we have collected about you (subject to certain exceptions).

Right to Opt-Out

We do not sell personal information. If this changes, California residents will have the right to opt out.

Non-Discrimination

We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

How We Notify You

• Website Notice: Prominent notice on our website
• Email Notification: Direct email to registered users for significant changes
• Last Updated Date: Always displayed at the top of this policy

Effective Date

Changes become effective 30 days after posting, unless:

• You provide explicit consent to earlier implementation
• Changes are required by law (effective immediately)
• Changes are purely administrative or for clarification

Your continued use of our services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:

Response Times

• General Inquiries: 1-2 business days
• Privacy Rights Requests: 30 days maximum
• Urgent Privacy Concerns: 24-48 hours
• Data Breach Reports: Immediate response

For urgent matters outside business hours, please use our emergency contact line or online chat support.