Frequently asked questions
Everything people ask about GACS — how the scanner works, what data we store, how to report a scam, and what creators get. Can't find your answer? Send us a question.
About GACS
What is GACS.app?+
GACS (Global Account & Content Scanner) is a free public-safety tool that detects social-media impersonators, crypto scams, phishing links, and fraudulent websites. Paste a profile URL, domain, or wallet address — get a Safe / Caution / Danger verdict in under 5 seconds.
Is GACS really free?+
Yes. The core scanner — social impersonator checks, website checks, wallet checks, and the public scam database — is free forever for individuals. We never paywall safety. Optional paid tiers exist for creators who want continuous monitoring of their own following list.
Who built GACS and why?+
GACS was built by an independent developer who watched a family member lose $40,000 to a fake crypto influencer on X. The site exists to make 30-second impersonator detection available to anyone before they send money, click a link, or DM a fake support account.
Is GACS affiliated with X, Meta, Google, or any government agency?+
No. GACS is an independent public-safety project. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or paid by any platform, exchange, or government.
How the scanner works
How does GACS detect impersonators?+
Each scan runs the account through 30+ signals: account age vs claimed history, handle similarity to verified owners, follower / engagement ratios, bio keywords associated with scams, the verified-handle registry, learned patterns from confirmed fraud reports, and live image hashing against known scam profile pictures.
How accurate is GACS?+
On benchmark sets of confirmed impersonator accounts, the scanner currently flags 94% with a Caution or Danger verdict and produces a false-positive rate under 3% on verified owner accounts. Accuracy improves daily as confirmed reports feed the learning loop.
Why does the same account sometimes get a different verdict later?+
Verdicts are point-in-time. Scammers swap profile pictures, change handles, and add or drop blue checks within hours. We re-evaluate from scratch on every scan and incorporate the latest learned patterns.
What platforms does GACS support?+
X (Twitter), TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram, Discord, and arbitrary websites and wallet addresses. Facebook and LinkedIn are on the roadmap.
Does GACS work on mobile?+
Yes — the site is a responsive PWA. You can install it from your browser menu and run scans without opening the App Store.
Privacy & data
Does GACS store my personal data?+
No. Anonymous scans store only the target URL/handle/address and the verdict — never who scanned it. Authenticated users get a private scan history they own and can delete at any time. Read the full privacy policy at /privacy.
Do I need an account to scan?+
No. Anonymous users get 10 free scans per rolling 7-day window. Creating a free account removes the throttle and unlocks saved scans, alerts, and the watchlist.
Do you sell data or run ads?+
Never. GACS has no ad tracking, no third-party analytics that profile users, and no data brokers. We accept donations and offer optional paid tiers; that's the entire business model.
Where is GACS hosted?+
On Cloudflare edge workers with a Supabase Postgres backend. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest.
Reporting & community
How do I report a scam?+
Use the Report Scam button on any scan result, or go directly to /report. Confirmed reports feed the public scam database and the learning loop that improves verdicts for everyone.
How do I report an impersonator pretending to be me?+
Follow the step-by-step playbook at /someone-is-impersonating-me — it covers evidence collection, platform reporting, and follow-up.
Can I dispute a verdict on my own account?+
Yes. Email proof@gacs.app from an address tied to the account, or use the contact form linked from the verdict page. Verified owners are added to the trusted-handle allowlist.
Where is the public scam database?+
Browse it at /global-scam-database — every confirmed report becomes a permanent page so the next victim can find it via Google search.
Creators & businesses
I'm a creator — can GACS scan my entire following list?+
Yes. The /creator-safety-toolkit page has the workflow. Upload your follower export or connect your account and we'll surface impersonators in your reply threads, fake giveaway accounts in your mentions, and recovery-scam DMs targeting your audience.
Can I embed a GACS verified badge on my site?+
Yes — visit /badge after verifying ownership and copy the embed snippet. The badge shows live verification status and links to your authoritative account.
Do you offer an API?+
Yes — see /developers for endpoints and rate limits, or /api-docs for the OpenAPI spec.
Contact & press
How do journalists request data, stats, or quotes?+
Use the press inquiry form at /press-kit. We respond to credentialed press within 24 hours and can provide aggregated scam-trend data on request.
How do I contact support?+
Open the feedback form at /feedback or email help@gacs.app. We answer every email.
How do I report a vulnerability?+
See /responsible-disclosure for the security contact and our scope.
Related
Mission, team, and why this exists.
The 30+ signals behind every verdict.
How we score, weight, and surface findings.
What we store, what we don't, and your rights.
Every confirmed report becomes a public page.
Paste a profile URL — verdict in 5 seconds.
Explore the full GACS map
- Run a free scan
Check any social handle, website, or wallet in seconds.
- Scam Education Hub
Searchable index of every GACS guide, scanner, and article.
- Scam statistics 2026
Latest FTC, FBI and GASA numbers, sourced and dated.
- AI scam report
Deepfakes, voice clones, and AI-driven impersonation.
- About GACS
Who we are, how we're funded, and our editorial standards.