VastOutlet ("VastOutlet," "we," "us," or "our") operates www.vastoutlet.com (the "Site"), a digital safety and personal finance resource including our Threat Rating Engine, Active Threats Dashboard, Crisis Action Planner, and blog. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.
By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.
1. Information We Collect
Threat Indicators. When you use the Threat Rating Engine, we collect the domain, email address, or phone number you submit for analysis. We do not require you to identify yourself to use this tool.
Scam Submissions. When you submit a report through "Report a Scam," we collect the indicator you're reporting (domain, email, phone number), your description of what happened, any files or evidence you choose to upload, and, if you provide it, your email address for follow-up.
Newsletter Information. If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address.
Contact Form Information. If you contact us directly, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message.
Automatically Collected Information. Like most websites, we automatically collect certain information when you visit, including your IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, and referring website, typically through cookies and similar technologies (see Section 5).
Crisis Action Planner Responses. If you use the Crisis Action Planner, we collect the answers you provide to generate your personalized action checklist. These responses are used to generate your results and are not linked to your identity unless you separately choose to email yourself the checklist.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Provide, operate, and improve the Threat Rating Engine, Active Threats Dashboard, and Crisis Action Planner
- Review and moderate scam reports before any public publication
- Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
- Send newsletter content, if you've subscribed (you can unsubscribe at any time)
- Monitor and analyze usage trends to improve the Site
- Detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, or abuse of our own tools
- Comply with legal obligations
3. Public Sharing of Threat Intelligence
When you submit an indicator through "Report a Scam," our team reviews and moderates the submission. If approved, the indicator itself (the domain, email, or phone number) and a description of the associated scam pattern may be published on our public Active Threats Dashboard. We strip personally identifying information — including your name and the email address you used to submit the report — from any publicly published entry. We do not publish your identity as the source of a report.
4. How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share information with:
- Service providers who perform functions on our behalf, including our content management system (Sanity.io), our database and backend infrastructure provider (Supabase), and our hosting provider. These providers are contractually restricted from using your information for any purpose other than providing services to us.
- Advertising partners, specifically Google AdSense, as described in Section 6 below.
- Law enforcement or regulators if required by law, subpoena, or legal process, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
- In connection with a business transfer, such as a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, in which case information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
5. Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate the Site, remember your preferences, and understand how visitors use the Site. You can control cookies through your browser settings; note that disabling cookies may affect Site functionality.
6. Google AdSense Advertising
VastOutlet uses Google AdSense and may work with other third-party advertising vendors to display advertisements on the Site.
- Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this Site or other websites.
- Google's use of advertising cookies enables Google and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this Site and/or other sites on the internet.
- You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings or, for participating vendors generally, www.aboutads.info.
- If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, we obtain your consent for the use of non-essential cookies, including advertising cookies, before they are set, through a consent management platform. You may withdraw or change your consent at any time through the consent preferences link available on the Site.
7. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Scam report submissions and associated personal identifiers are retained for internal review purposes and may be deleted or anonymized after moderation is complete.
8. Your Privacy Rights
If you are in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have the right, subject to applicable law, to access, correct, delete, or restrict the processing of your personal information, to object to processing, and to data portability. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to request deletion, and the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. We do not sell personal information as defined under the CCPA.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information in Section 12.
9. Children's Privacy
The Site is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.
10. Data Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, including encryption and secure SSL protocols, to protect information submitted through the Site. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the revised policy on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Site after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, contact us at: