Account & access
Do I need an account to check if something is a scam?
No. You can check a suspicious handle, website, phone number or crypto wallet right now without signing up — every visitor gets 3 free scans every 24 hours, and the entire public scam database is open to read without any login.
The scanner at /social-scan works the moment you arrive. Paste an X, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram or Discord handle, a website URL, or a wallet address, and you get a plain-language verdict. Signed-out visitors are limited to 3 scans per 24 hours; a free account raises that limit substantially.
Separately, the public scam registry at /scams — and every individual scam page it links to — is fully readable without an account. If someone already reported the entity you are worried about, you can read the reports, evidence summaries and community notes without ever signing in.
What an account adds is memory and monitoring: your scan history, a watchlist, real-time alerts when a new scam matches something you checked, and saved items. The lookup itself never requires one.
In practice
- 3 free scans per 24 hours with no account — just open the scanner.
- The public scam database at /scams is readable by anyone.
- Share links (/scan/<id> verdicts) open without login.
- A free account raises the daily scan limit and adds history, watchlist and alerts.
Related questions
Why is there a scan limit before I sign in?
The 5-scans-per-day visitor limit stops bots and scrapers from draining the scanner. Signing up free raises the limit immediately.
Is the GACS account really free?
Yes. There is no paywall on core safety features. A free account unlocks higher daily scan limits, history, watchlist and alerts. Optional paid tiers exist for continuous monitoring and family protection, but personal safety basics stay free.
How do I activate my free Shield account?
Open /signup, choose email and password or Google sign-in, and you are in. Activation takes under a minute and immediately raises your daily scan limits and unlocks the dashboard.
See the full list on the Access FAQ page.