Terms of Service

Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our website located at [website URL] and all related services, tools, and resources provided by IFVRC. These Terms apply to all users of the website, including without limitation users who are browsers, vendors, customers, merchants, and contributors of content.

By accessing our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by:

• These Terms of Service
• Our Privacy Policy
• Our Legal Disclaimer
• Any additional terms and conditions that may apply to specific services

We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason at any time.

Description of Services

IFVRC provides the following services through our website and platform:

Legal Assistance Services

• Fraud Case Evaluation: Initial assessment of investment fraud cases
• Legal Consultation: Professional legal advice and guidance
• Representation: Legal representation in fraud recovery proceedings
• Document Review: Analysis of contracts, agreements, and evidence

Educational Resources

• Fraud Prevention Education: Information about common scams and prevention strategies
• Legal Knowledge Base: Educational materials about investment law and rights
• Case Studies: Anonymized examples of fraud cases and outcomes
• Resource Library: Tools and guides for fraud victims

Support Services

• Victim Support: Emotional and practical support for fraud victims
• Referral Services: Connections to other professionals and resources
• Community Forums: Safe spaces for victims to share experiences
• Emergency Assistance: Urgent support for active fraud situations

Eligibility

To use our services, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Age Requirements

• Minimum Age: You must be at least 18 years of age
• Legal Capacity: You must have the legal capacity to enter into binding agreements
• Parental Consent: If you are between 13-17 years old, you may only use our educational resources with parental consent

Geographic Restrictions

• Primary Jurisdiction: Our services are primarily intended for residents of the United States
• Licensed Jurisdictions: Legal services are only available where we are licensed to practice
• International Users: International users may access educational resources but may not be eligible for legal services

Legal Standing

• Good Faith Use: You must use our services in good faith and for legitimate purposes
• Compliance: You must comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• No Conflicts: You must not have conflicts of interest that would prevent us from representing you

User Accounts

Some services may require you to create an account with us. When you create an account, you agree to:

Account Security

• Accurate Information: Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Security Measures: Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Authorized Use: Only use your account and not allow others to use your account
• Prompt Notification: Immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account

Account Maintenance

• Information Updates: Keep your account information current and accurate
• Regular Login: Access your account regularly to stay informed of updates
• Communication Preferences: Maintain current contact information for important notifications

Account Suspension or Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account if you:

• Violate these Terms of Service
• Provide false or misleading information
• Engage in fraudulent or illegal activities
• Fail to pay for services when due
• Behave in a manner that is harmful to other users or our reputation

Prohibited Uses

You may not use our services for any unlawful purpose or to solicit others to perform unlawful acts. Specifically, you agree not to:

Legal Violations

• Illegal Activities: Use our services for any illegal purpose or in violation of any local, state, national, or international law
• Fraudulent Conduct: Engage in any fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading practices
• Money Laundering: Use our services to facilitate money laundering or other financial crimes
• Unauthorized Practice: Provide legal advice if you are not licensed to practice law

Security Violations

• System Interference: Interfere with or disrupt our servers, networks, or services
• Unauthorized Access: Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of our website or systems
• Malicious Code: Transmit viruses, malware, or other malicious code
• Data Mining: Use automated systems to extract data from our website without permission

Harmful Conduct

• Harassment: Harass, abuse, or harm other users or our staff
• Hate Speech: Post content that is hateful, threatening, or discriminatory
• Privacy Violations: Violate the privacy or confidentiality of others
• Impersonation: Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation

Intellectual Property Violations

• Copyright Infringement: Post content that infringes on copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights
• Unauthorized Use: Use our content, trademarks, or intellectual property without permission
• Reverse Engineering: Attempt to reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble our software

Intellectual Property Rights

The content, features, and functionality of our website and services are owned by IFVRC and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

Our Rights

• Website Content: All text, graphics, logos, images, audio clips, and software on our website
• Service Marks: Our name, logo, and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans
• Proprietary Information: Our methods, processes, and know-how developed for providing services
• Database Rights: Compilation and arrangement of information and data on our website

Limited License to Users

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to:

• Access and use our website for personal, non-commercial purposes
• Download and print materials for your own reference
• Share our content with proper attribution and links back to our website

Restrictions

You may not:

• Commercial Use: Use our content for commercial purposes without written permission
• Modification: Modify, adapt, or create derivative works based on our content
• Distribution: Distribute, sell, or transfer our content to third parties
• Removal of Notices: Remove any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices

Infringement Claims

If you believe your intellectual property rights have been violated, please contact us with:

• A description of the copyrighted work or intellectual property
• Location of the allegedly infringing material on our website
• Your contact information and electronic signature
• A statement of good faith belief that the use is unauthorized

User-Generated Content

Our services may allow you to submit, upload, or post content, including but not limited to text, images, documents, and other materials ("User Content").

Your Responsibilities

• Ownership: You represent that you own or have the necessary rights to all User Content you submit
• Accuracy: You are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of your User Content
• Compliance: Your User Content must comply with these Terms and all applicable laws
• No Confidential Information: Do not submit confidential information unless specifically requested

License to Us

By submitting User Content, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:

• Use, reproduce, and display your User Content in connection with providing services to you
• Modify or adapt your User Content as necessary for technical or legal purposes
• Share your User Content with third parties as necessary to provide services (e.g., with law enforcement)
• Create anonymized or aggregated data based on your User Content for research purposes

Content Monitoring

• No Obligation: We have no obligation to monitor User Content but may do so
• Removal Rights: We reserve the right to remove any User Content that violates these Terms
• No Endorsement: We do not endorse any User Content or verify its accuracy
• Backup Responsibility: You are responsible for maintaining backups of your User Content

Prohibited Content

You may not submit User Content that:

• Is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, or discriminatory
• Infringes on intellectual property rights of others
• Contains viruses, malware, or other malicious code
• Violates the privacy or confidentiality of others
• Is false, misleading, or deceptive
• Contains spam, advertising, or promotional materials (unless authorized)

Payment Terms

Some of our services require payment. By purchasing our services, you agree to the following payment terms:

Fees and Billing

• Service Fees: Fees for legal services will be clearly disclosed before engagement
• Consultation Fees: Initial consultations may be free or fee-based as indicated
• Retainer Agreements: Legal representation typically requires a signed retainer agreement
• Additional Costs: You may be responsible for court costs, filing fees, and other expenses

Payment Schedule

• Advance Payment: Retainers and initial fees are typically due in advance
• Monthly Billing: Ongoing services may be billed monthly
• Due Dates: Payments are due within 30 days of invoice date unless otherwise specified
• Late Fees: Late payments may incur additional fees as permitted by law

Refunds and Cancellations

• Consultation Refunds: Consultation fees are generally non-refundable
• Retainer Refunds: Unused portions of retainers may be refundable
• Service Cancellation: You may cancel services with written notice
• Work Product: You retain rights to work product for paid services

Payment Security

• Secure Processing: We use secure payment processors to protect your financial information
• PCI Compliance: Our payment systems comply with PCI DSS standards
• No Storage: We do not store complete credit card information on our servers
• Fraud Protection: We monitor for fraudulent transactions

Termination

These Terms remain in effect until terminated by either you or us. Both you and we have the right to terminate these Terms under certain circumstances.

Termination by You

• Account Deletion: You may delete your account at any time
• Service Cancellation: You may cancel services with appropriate notice
• No Further Use: Simply stop using our website and services
• Data Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal requirements)

Termination by Us

We may terminate your access immediately, without prior notice, if you:

• Violate any provision of these Terms
• Fail to pay fees when due
• Provide false or misleading information
• Engage in conduct that harms our reputation or other users
• Violate applicable laws or regulations

Attorney-Client Relationship Termination

• Formal Notice: Attorney-client relationships require formal termination procedures
• File Return: We will return your files upon termination as required by law
• Final Billing: Final invoices will be provided for services rendered
• Continuing Obligations: Confidentiality obligations continue after termination

Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use our services ceases immediately
• We may delete your account and associated data (subject to legal requirements)
• You remain liable for any fees incurred before termination
• Provisions regarding intellectual property, disclaimers, and limitations of liability survive

Disclaimers

Website and Technology

• Availability: We do not warrant that our website will be available 24/7 or error-free
• Technical Issues: We are not responsible for technical problems, outages, or data loss
• Third-Party Services: We are not responsible for third-party services integrated with our website
• Browser Compatibility: We do not guarantee compatibility with all browsers or devices

Legal Services

• No Guarantee of Results: We cannot guarantee any specific outcome in legal matters
• Case-Specific Advice: General information on our website is not specific legal advice
• Changing Laws: Laws and regulations change, and our information may become outdated
• Jurisdiction Limitations: Our advice may not apply in all jurisdictions

Security and Privacy

• Data Security: While we implement security measures, we cannot guarantee absolute security
• Privacy Breaches: We are not liable for unauthorized access to your information by third parties
• Communication Security: Internet communications may not be secure or confidential

User Content and Conduct

• User Accuracy: We are not responsible for the accuracy of user-submitted content
• User Conduct: We are not liable for the conduct of other users
• Third-Party Links: We are not responsible for content on linked third-party websites

Limitation of Liability

Excluded Damages

We specifically exclude liability for:

• Financial Losses: Any financial losses not directly caused by our negligence
• Business Interruption: Loss of business, profits, or opportunities
• Data Loss: Loss or corruption of data or information
• Consequential Damages: Any indirect or consequential damages
• Third-Party Actions: Actions or omissions of third parties

Maximum Liability

• Total Liability Cap: Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim
• Per-Incident Cap: For any single incident, our liability is limited to $1,000 or the amount you paid for the specific service, whichever is greater
• Free Services: For free services, our liability is limited to $100

Time Limitations

• Claims Period: Any claims must be brought within one year of the incident giving rise to the claim
• Discovery Rule: The limitation period begins when you knew or should have known of the claim
• Legal Proceedings: Different limitation periods may apply to attorney-client relationships

Jurisdictional Variations

• State Law Differences: Some states may not allow certain limitations of liability
• Consumer Protection: Consumer protection laws may provide additional rights
• Professional Liability: Professional liability insurance may provide additional coverage

Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless IFVRC, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt, and expenses (including attorney's fees).

Covered Claims

You will indemnify us against claims arising from:

• Terms Violations: Your violation of these Terms of Service
• Legal Violations: Your violation of any law or regulation
• User Content: Your User Content or its use by us as permitted by these Terms
• Third-Party Rights: Your infringement of any third party's rights
• False Information: Provision of false or misleading information

Defense and Settlement

• Notice: We will promptly notify you of any claim subject to indemnification
• Control of Defense: You will have control of the defense and settlement of any claim
• Cooperation: We will reasonably cooperate with your defense efforts
• Consent to Settlement: You may not settle any claim without our written consent

Our Right to Defend

• Assumption of Defense: We may assume control of the defense if you fail to defend promptly
• Qualified Counsel: We may require that defense be conducted by qualified counsel
• Costs and Expenses: You remain responsible for all costs and expenses

Limitations

• Gross Negligence: This indemnification does not apply to our gross negligence or willful misconduct
• Professional Liability: Different rules may apply to attorney-client relationships
• Statutory Limits: Indemnification is subject to applicable statutory limitations

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms and any disputes arising out of or related to these Terms or our services shall be governed by the laws of the United States and the state where our principal office is located.

Applicable Law

• Federal Law: Federal laws of the United States apply where applicable
• State Law: Laws of the state of our principal office govern state law matters
• No Conflicts: Without regard to conflict of law principles
• Professional Rules: Professional conduct rules apply to attorney-client relationships

Dispute Resolution Process

1. Direct Negotiation: First, attempt to resolve disputes through direct communication
2. Mediation: If negotiation fails, parties agree to attempt mediation
3. Arbitration: Unresolved disputes may be subject to binding arbitration
4. Court Proceedings: Final resort to state or federal courts as appropriate

Jurisdiction and Venue

• Exclusive Jurisdiction: Courts in our principal office location have exclusive jurisdiction
• Venue: All legal proceedings must be brought in such courts
• Personal Jurisdiction: You consent to personal jurisdiction in such courts
• Waiver: You waive any objection to venue or inconvenient forum

Class Action Waiver

Attorney's Fees

• Prevailing Party: The prevailing party in any dispute may be entitled to attorney's fees
• Statutory Authority: Subject to applicable statutory authority
• Professional Relationships: Different rules may apply to attorney-client fee disputes

Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time at our sole discretion. We will provide reasonable notice of material changes.

Notice of Changes

• Website Notice: Prominent notice on our website homepage
• Email Notification: Email to registered users for significant changes
• Version Dating: Updated "Last Modified" date at the top of these Terms
• Summary of Changes: Brief summary of material changes when practical

Effective Date

• Immediate Effect: Changes generally take effect immediately upon posting
• Advance Notice: 30 days advance notice for material changes affecting existing services
• Legal Requirements: Changes required by law take effect immediately
• Active Representations: Changes may not affect ongoing attorney-client relationships without consent

Acceptance of Changes

• Continued Use: Continued use of services constitutes acceptance of modified Terms
• Rejection of Changes: If you disagree with changes, you must stop using our services
• Client Consent: Significant changes to attorney-client terms may require express consent

Version History

• Archive Access: Previous versions may be available upon request
• Effective Versions: The version in effect when you used services governs that use
• Record Keeping: We maintain records of significant changes

Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Service or need to contact us for any reason related to these Terms, please use the following information:

Response Times

• General Inquiries: 2-3 business days
• Terms Questions: 1-2 business days
• Legal Notices: 24-48 hours
• Urgent Legal Matters: Same business day

Required Information

When contacting us about these Terms, please include:

• Your full name and account information (if applicable)
• Specific section of Terms you're inquiring about
• Detailed description of your question or concern
• Any relevant documentation or correspondence

Legal Notices

For formal legal notices under these Terms:

• Written Notice Required: All legal notices must be in writing
• Proper Service: Must be served in accordance with applicable law
• Delivery Methods: Certified mail, registered mail, or overnight delivery
• Electronic Service: Email notice acceptable for informal communications