Skip to main content
GACS will never ask for your seed phrase, private keys, or payment. free and ad-free.
GACS.app — Global Anti-Crime & Safety
Sign up / Log in
GACS handbookPublic and always available

Use every GACS safety tool with confidence

GACS (Global Anti-Crime & Safety) helps you check suspicious websites, messages, phone numbers, wallets and social profiles; understand warning signs; report scams; and organize ongoing protection in My Shield. A result is decision support, not proof or a guarantee.

Emergency help

If money, an account or a device may be at risk now, stop contact with the suspected scammer and open the Panic Guide first.

Where should I start?

Choose what you need right now

1Check something suspiciousPaste the link, number, wallet, email, message or social profile into the right checker.2Act after a lossUse the emergency checklist before evidence disappears or more money moves.3Report what happenedSubmit the scammer's identifiers and supporting evidence without publishing your private details.4Turn on ongoing protectionCreate a free account for saved activity and community alerts; paid plans add continuous monitoring.
01

Start here

Choose the right first action, understand access levels and set up the app for your device.

Choose the right tool

Everyone
Open tool

Start with what you received, not with a technical label.

Step by step

  1. 1For a website or link, use the website or link checker.
  2. 2For a phone number, use the number lookup; use Report a Scam Call after a suspicious call.
  3. 3For a social account, use Social Scan. For a suspicious message, use the message scanner or Guardian AI.
  4. 4For a wallet or token, use the wallet and crypto tools. If you already paid, use the Panic Guide first.
Expected result: You reach the tool matched to the evidence you actually have.

Use GACS with or without an account

Everyone
Open tool

Most public checks, registry pages, reports and guides work without signing in. Personal history and protection controls require an account.

Step by step

  1. 1Use public tools directly when you need a quick answer.
  2. 2Create an account when you want saved scans, reports, watchlists, notifications or My Shield.
  3. 3Paid plans are optional and add continuous monitoring and expanded protection features; core safety information stays public.
Expected result: You know what is public, what needs a free account and what is plan-dependent.

Language, region and display

Free account
Open tool

The header provides language and regional controls. Signed-in preferences are available in Shield settings.

Step by step

  1. 1Open Region & language in the header to choose a language, time zone and currency.
  2. 2If automatic language detection is on, GACS follows your browser or device setting.
  3. 3In My Shield, open Settings, then Preferences to manage display and saved preferences.
Expected result: Dates, prices and page text use the available setting you selected.
Safety note: A first full-page translation can take a few seconds; later visits use the saved translation.

Install GACS on a phone or computer

Everyone
Open tool

Install the web app for a home-screen icon and quicker access. Native-store availability can vary by device and review status.

Step by step

  1. 1Open the Install page on the device you want to use.
  2. 2Follow the browser instructions for Add to Home Screen or Install app.
  3. 3Open the installed icon and sign in if you want your private Shield data on that device.
Expected result: GACS opens like an app while continuing to use the same account and public tools.

Accessibility and keyboard use

Everyone
Open tool

GACS supports keyboard navigation, readable focus states, reduced-motion settings and screen-reader labels.

Step by step

  1. 1Use Tab and Shift+Tab to move between controls; press Enter or Space to activate them.
  2. 2Use your device zoom and text-size controls when needed.
  3. 3Report an accessibility problem from the Accessibility page or Contact page.
Expected result: You can use the main safety workflows without relying on a mouse.
02

Check something suspicious

Run the correct scan, interpret its evidence and avoid treating a score as proof.

Message and email checks

Everyone
Open tool

Analyze the words, links and pressure tactics in an email, text or direct message.

Step by step

  1. 1Paste the message text into Safe Scanner. Remove private account numbers or passwords first.
  2. 2Add the sender address or website when the form offers those fields.
  3. 3Review quoted warning phrases, impersonation clues and recommended verification steps.
  4. 4Use the separate Email Checker when the sender address itself is the main concern.
Expected result: You receive a plain-language risk explanation and safer next actions.
Safety note: Never paste a password, private key, seed phrase or one-time code.

Phone-number checks

Everyone
Open tool

Look up a suspicious caller and compare the number with community reports and available allocation signals.

Step by step

  1. 1Enter the full number, including country code when you know it.
  2. 2Read any report summary, category and country-allocation context.
  3. 3Do not call back using the number in the message; independently find the organization's official number.
  4. 4If the call was fraudulent, add a scam-call report after ending the call.
Expected result: You see available warnings while keeping caller-location claims appropriately limited.
Safety note: Caller ID can be spoofed. Number allocation does not prove where the caller is physically located.

Wallet, token and crypto checks

Everyone
Open tool

Check wallet addresses, tokens and contract-related warning signals before transferring assets.

Step by step

  1. 1Paste the address exactly as received and select the relevant check when asked.
  2. 2Review registry matches, reported behavior and technical warning signals.
  3. 3Use the honeypot checker for token selling restrictions and the Bitcoin lookup for Bitcoin-specific records.
  4. 4Confirm the destination through a second trusted source before sending funds.
Expected result: You receive evidence and risk context, not a recommendation to trade or transfer.
Safety note: GACS never needs wallet access, a seed phrase or a private key.

Social-profile checks

Everyone
Open tool

Check a public profile for impersonation, suspicious links and fraud patterns.

Step by step

  1. 1Paste the profile URL or handle and choose the platform if requested.
  2. 2Review the verdict and each supporting signal, including registry matches and lookalike-account clues.
  3. 3Where a platform blocks public profile data, add the visible profile text manually if the scanner offers that option.
  4. 4Save a completed scan when signed in, or share its public result page when available.
Expected result: You can separate what GACS observed from what the platform did not expose.
Safety note: Anonymous use is limited to 3 scans in 24 hours; signed-in users can run on-demand scans without that limit.

Image and screenshot checks

Everyone
Open tool

Use image tools for suspicious profile photos and Sandbox for screenshots of questionable apps or websites.

Step by step

  1. 1Upload the image or screenshot you are allowed to analyze.
  2. 2For a profile photo, review reverse-image and reuse clues; for an interface screenshot, review the highlighted visual warning signs.
  3. 3Crop out unrelated private information before uploading.
  4. 4Treat image similarity as a lead to investigate, not identity proof.
Expected result: You receive visual clues that can support, but not replace, other evidence.

Risk & Recon

Everyone
Open tool

Use the deeper scanner when a simple lookup is not enough.

Step by step

  1. 1Enter the website, contract, handle or other supported target.
  2. 2Let the layers check registry records, link and phone traps, available page or contract signals, and AI pattern analysis.
  3. 3Open each layer to see which facts contributed to the overall risk level.
  4. 4Follow the recommended verification steps before making a decision.
Expected result: You receive a layered risk assessment with reasoning and uncertainty.
Safety note: A risk score is an estimate, not proof and not a guarantee of future behavior.

Threat map and measured routes

Everyone
Open tool

Understand map pins, route lines, evidence age and the difference between infrastructure and people.

Step by step

  1. 1Open Threat Intelligence to read the scoring and recency method.
  2. 2On a map, select a signal to view its type, age and available country evidence.
  3. 3Read numbered route stops as measured website redirects or infrastructure hops.
  4. 4Keep hosting, registration, redirect and phone-allocation locations separate when interpreting a case.
Expected result: You can read the map without assuming it tracks a scammer's physical movement.
Safety note: Unknown locations remain unknown; map pins represent technical or allocation evidence, not tracked people.
03

Understand and share results

Read verdicts, evidence, registry records and share links responsibly.

Verdicts, confidence and unknowns

Everyone
Open tool

Every result should be read as a set of signals, not as a final legal finding.

Step by step

  1. 1Start with the verdict label and the plain-language explanation.
  2. 2Review every evidence item and its source or observation date.
  3. 3Look for limitations: blocked data, missing country information or signals that could not be checked.
  4. 4When money or identity is at stake, verify through official records and independent contact details.
Expected result: You understand why the result was produced and what still needs verification.

Browse the scam registry

Everyone
Open tool

Search reported websites, wallets, phone numbers, handles and other scammer identifiers.

Step by step

  1. 1Open the registry and search or browse by category, country or letter.
  2. 2Open a result to view its public evidence, report history and related warnings.
  3. 3Use dedicated website, wallet and phone directories when you have one identifier type.
  4. 4Use the appeal link if a listing concerns you or your organization and you have corrective evidence.
Expected result: You can inspect the public record behind a warning and share its permanent page.

Public result and warning links

Free account
Open tool

Saved scans can provide a public result URL that explains the verdict without exposing your private account history.

Step by step

  1. 1Open a completed saved scan.
  2. 2Use its Share action when available.
  3. 3Preview the public page before sending it.
  4. 4Share the public result or warning link; do not share a screenshot containing private account information.
Expected result: The recipient can review the shared result without entering your account.

Badges, embeds, extension and API

Everyone
Open tool

Use GACS checks on another site or in a workflow through the documented public integration tools.

Step by step

  1. 1Open Developers for API details and limits, or API Docs for the reference.
  2. 2Use Embed Builder for a checker or registry embed and preview it before copying the code.
  3. 3Use the Badge page only for a status you are authorized to display.
  4. 4Use the browser extension or bookmarklet from its official GACS page and review requested permissions.
Expected result: You can add a supported GACS check or status link without inventing a verification claim.
04

Respond, recover and report

Take urgent action, preserve evidence and warn others without exposing victim information.

Panic Guide

Everyone
Open tool

Use the emergency sequence when money, an account or a device may be under active attack.

Step by step

  1. 1Stop sending money, stop screen sharing and end contact with the suspected scammer.
  2. 2Contact the bank, card issuer, payment app or exchange using an independently found number.
  3. 3Secure affected email, financial and social accounts; revoke wallet approvals if relevant.
  4. 4Preserve messages, receipts, transaction IDs, links and timestamps.
  5. 5Report to the appropriate official authority and then submit a GACS report to warn others.
Expected result: You prioritize actions that may limit further loss before documenting the case.
Safety note: GACS cannot recover funds, reverse transactions or act as law enforcement.

Report a scam

Everyone
Open tool

Submit the scammer's identifiers and evidence for review. Public pages show scammer information, not reporter identity.

Step by step

  1. 1Choose the closest scam category and enter exact identifiers such as a URL, handle, wallet or phone number.
  2. 2Describe what happened in factual language and include dates.
  3. 3Upload only evidence you are entitled to share, after removing unrelated personal details.
  4. 4Submit the report and keep any reference shown. Sign in first if you want it connected to My Reports.
Expected result: The report enters the review and registry workflow; submission alone does not guarantee publication.
Safety note: Do not publish passwords, seed phrases, private keys, identity documents or another victim's private data.

Report a scam call

Everyone
Open tool

Add a suspicious caller to the community warning feed without publishing your identity.

Step by step

  1. 1Enter the number that appeared on caller ID and the country when known.
  2. 2Describe what the caller claimed and requested.
  3. 3Submit the report, then block the caller through your phone or carrier controls.
  4. 4Use the public number guide for carrier-specific blocking and official reporting options.
Expected result: The public feed masks the number except for its last four digits and does not expose reporter identity.
Safety note: Caller ID may be spoofed, so describe the behavior as well as the number.

Report to authorities and payment providers

Everyone
Open tool

Official reporting is separate from a GACS community report and may be required for disputes or investigations.

Step by step

  1. 1Contact the payment provider first when money moved; ask about recall, dispute or fraud procedures.
  2. 2Choose your country or region on the authority guide.
  3. 3Submit the official report and save its confirmation number.
  4. 4Keep a timeline of every contact, response and document you sent.
Expected result: You build a documented trail for the organizations that can investigate or attempt a payment recovery.

Appeal or correct a listing

Everyone
Open tool

A person or organization named in a public record can request review and provide corrective evidence.

Step by step

  1. 1Open the Appeal link from the relevant scam page or the appeal index.
  2. 2Identify the listing and explain the disputed facts.
  3. 3Provide evidence of ownership or correction without sending secrets.
  4. 4Watch the supplied contact channel for a review response.
Expected result: The listing enters the appeal review process; an appeal does not automatically remove or confirm it.
05

Your account and My Shield

Save your work, manage alerts and use the private protection hub.

Create an account and sign in

Everyone
Open tool

An account connects private tools to you and keeps them separate from public registry pages.

Step by step

  1. 1Open Sign up and choose an available sign-in method.
  2. 2Complete any email confirmation or provider prompt.
  3. 3After sign-in, open My Shield from the profile menu.
  4. 4Use Forgot password or the available passkey controls if you lose access.
Expected result: You can use private history, saved items, alerts and settings.

My Shield home

Free account
Open tool

My Shield is the main signed-in hub for your scan activity and protection tools.

Step by step

  1. 1Start a scam check from the main action area.
  2. 2Review recent activity, alert counts and protection status.
  3. 3Use the section bar to move between Audience, Family, Saved, Learning, Transcript and Settings.
  4. 4Open the exposure map for location evidence linked to your own activity.
Expected result: Your private tools are organized in one account area.

Your exposure map

Free account
Open tool

The private map organizes available website, phone and social-scan geography from your saved activity.

Step by step

  1. 1Open Map in My Shield.
  2. 2Filter by signal type or time range.
  3. 3Select a pin or route to inspect its source and age.
  4. 4Return to the underlying scan before making a decision.
Expected result: You see only evidence connected to your Shield activity, with the same infrastructure-location limits as the public map.

Saved scans, reports, watchlist and notifications

Free account
Open tool

Keep useful results and control the alerts attached to your account.

Step by step

  1. 1Use Saved to revisit scans, guides, city playbooks and fraud sheets.
  2. 2Use My Reports to follow reports connected to your signed-in account.
  3. 3Add supported names, domains, wallets, numbers or entities to your watchlist.
  4. 4Open Notifications and Settings to review alert delivery and email preferences.
Expected result: Your previous work is available privately instead of relying on screenshots or browser history.
Safety note: Community alerts may be available on free access; continuous monitoring and expanded alert features depend on an active paid plan.

Profile, security and account controls

Free account
Open tool

Manage profile details, display preferences, app settings, connections, orders and security options.

Step by step

  1. 1Open Settings from My Shield.
  2. 2Use Preferences for display and notification choices, Connections for linked services, and Orders for purchase records.
  3. 3Open Passkey Settings when you want to add or remove a supported passkey.
  4. 4Use the privacy controls or Contact page when you need account-data help or deletion.
Expected result: Your account, connection and privacy choices remain under your control.
06

Ongoing protection

Use Audience Shield, VIP and Family features, and understand which capabilities require payment.

Audience Shield

Free account
Open tool

Run on-demand checks for social handles and, with an eligible plan, monitor for impersonators using your identity or brand.

Step by step

  1. 1Open Audience Shield and add or scan the supported handle.
  2. 2Review each flagged profile and the evidence behind the match.
  3. 3Use the platform's own report, block or removal process where appropriate.
  4. 4With an eligible paid plan, manage continuous monitoring, the impersonator list, email alerts and takedown packs.
Expected result: You can investigate possible impersonators without assuming that a visual resemblance proves identity.
Safety note: Free access is on-demand only: 3 scans per 24 hours for anonymous visitors and unlimited on-demand scans when signed in. Continuous monitoring is paid.

VIP protection cockpit

Paid plan
Open tool

Eligible plans provide a focused view of protected handles, monitoring status and open impersonator findings.

Step by step

  1. 1Open VIP in My Shield.
  2. 2Add only handles you own or are authorized to protect, up to the plan limit.
  3. 3Review current findings and available evidence.
  4. 4Use the provided takedown materials and platform reporting links; GACS does not control platform removal decisions.
Expected result: You can manage high-priority identity monitoring from one place.

Family protection

Paid plan
Open tool

Family plans group supported protection, printable guidance and travel-safety tools for household use.

Step by step

  1. 1Open Family in My Shield and review the current plan allowance.
  2. 2Add or invite family members using the controls shown.
  3. 3Use ScamProof printables for offline reminders and Traveller for saved city safety guidance.
  4. 4Keep each person's private account and sensitive evidence separate.
Expected result: Your household can share safety resources while each member retains control of private information.

Plans, billing and cancellation

Everyone
Open tool

The pricing page is the source for current tiers, limits and prices: Free, Starter, Creator, Platinum and Family.

Step by step

  1. 1Compare the current feature table before purchasing.
  2. 2Choose the plan that matches the number of people or handles you need to protect.
  3. 3Complete checkout in the supported web or app flow.
  4. 4Manage renewal or cancellation from the billing controls available in My Shield; access continues according to the terms shown at purchase.
Expected result: You can see current entitlements before paying and manage an active subscription from your account.
Safety note: Starter is $9/month, Creator $19/month, Platinum $59/month and Family $69/month; confirm the checkout total before payment.
07

Guides, training and certificates

Learn scam patterns, complete courses and keep your training record.

Guides, glossary and safety resources

Everyone
Open tool

Use the guide library for scam-specific prevention, reporting and recovery instructions.

Step by step

  1. 1Search or browse Guides by the scam type or payment method involved.
  2. 2Check the review date and cited sources on the guide.
  3. 3Use the Glossary when a fraud, crypto or safety term is unfamiliar.
  4. 4Save a useful guide to your Shield when the page offers that action.
Expected result: You can follow a situation-specific checklist and return to it later.

Free lessons and certifications

Everyone
Open tool

GACS provides free safety lessons and selected certificate paths alongside paid programs.

Step by step

  1. 1Open Free Certifications or Education and choose a topic.
  2. 2Complete the reading or lesson sequence in order.
  3. 3Take the available assessment when ready.
  4. 4Sign in when you want progress or a completed credential connected to your account.
Expected result: Completed eligible work appears in your learning record or certificate flow.

Academy, diplomas and exams

Some paid courses
Open tool

The Academy includes study books, preparatory material, exams and diploma programs. Access and prices vary by program.

Step by step

  1. 1Open the Academy, AI & Computer Sciences or Intelligence Diplomas catalogue.
  2. 2Review the syllabus, access terms, price and certificate requirements before enrolling.
  3. 3Work through modules, labs or capstones in the order shown.
  4. 4Use My Shield Learning and Transcript to review progress, attempts, scores and issued certificates.
Expected result: Your enrolled training and completed credentials remain organized in your account.
Safety note: A course completion certificate records completed GACS learning.

Verify a certificate or badge

Everyone
Open tool

Public verification pages let a recipient confirm whether a displayed GACS credential or supported badge matches a live record.

Step by step

  1. 1Open the verification page or follow the link printed on the credential.
  2. 2Enter the certificate code when prompted.
  3. 3Compare the displayed name, program and status with the document you received.
  4. 4Report a mismatch through Contact or Feedback.
Expected result: You can distinguish a live GACS record from an altered image or unsupported claim.
08

Privacy, safety and help

Protect sensitive data, troubleshoot common problems and reach the right team.

Privacy and safe evidence handling

Everyone
Open tool

Public scam records identify reported scam entities; private account and reporter information is handled separately.

Step by step

  1. 1Read the Privacy page before uploading sensitive evidence.
  2. 2Remove passwords, one-time codes, seed phrases, private keys, account numbers and unrelated personal details.
  3. 3Use public share links instead of exposing your private Shield pages.
  4. 4Use account controls or Contact when you need access, correction or deletion help.
Expected result: You understand what can become public and what should never be submitted.
Safety note: Never send secrets to GACS support, an AI assistant or a person claiming they can recover funds.

Troubleshoot loading, updates and email

Everyone
Open tool

Most temporary problems can be isolated without deleting your evidence or account.

Step by step

  1. 1If a page looks stale after an update, close and reopen the installed app or refresh the browser page.
  2. 2If a scan stalls, keep the original text or link, retry once, then use Feedback with the page address and time.
  3. 3If an email does not arrive, check spam, confirm the account address and review notification preferences.
  4. 4If sign-in fails, use Forgot password or try the same sign-in provider you originally chose.
Expected result: You can recover from common app, scan and email issues without repeating sensitive submissions.

Guardian AI and automated guidance

Everyone
Open tool

Guardian AI can explain suspicious language and suggest defensive next steps, but it does not replace a bank, lawyer, regulator or emergency service.

Step by step

  1. 1Describe the situation or paste non-secret message text.
  2. 2Review which wording or behavior triggered concern.
  3. 3Verify important recommendations through the linked official source or provider.
  4. 4Move to the Panic Guide when the situation is active or money already moved.
Expected result: You receive plain-language assistance while retaining responsibility for the final decision.

Contact, feedback and security reports

Everyone
Open Contact

Use the channel matched to the issue so private or security-sensitive details are handled appropriately.

Step by step

  1. 1Use Contact for account, billing, press or general support and choose the closest category.
  2. 2Use Feedback for a broken page, missing instruction or product suggestion.
  3. 3Use Responsible Disclosure for a security vulnerability; do not post exploit details publicly.
  4. 4Include the page address, approximate time and what you expected, but never include passwords or private keys.
Expected result: Your message reaches the appropriate support workflow with enough context to investigate.

Glossary

Community report
A submitted warning from a member of the public. It is a lead for review, not automatic proof.
Verified registry record
A public record supported by reviewed evidence according to the registry process.
Impersonator
An account or identity presentation that falsely claims to be another person, brand or organization.
Infrastructure location
A country or network associated with hosting, registration or a redirect hop. It is not the confirmed physical location of a person.
Measured route
The redirect and infrastructure stops observed when GACS checked a reported link.
On-demand scan
A check you start manually. It is different from continuous monitoring that runs again later.
Risk signal
An observed fact or pattern that can increase or reduce concern. A signal alone is not proof.
Watchlist
A private list of supported names, handles, domains, wallets, numbers or entities you want to revisit or monitor.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an account to use GACS?

No. Public checkers, registry pages, reports and guides can be used without an account. Sign in for private history, saved items, My Shield, watchlists and notifications.

Does a green or low-risk result guarantee safety?

No. It means the checks run at that moment did not find enough known warning signals. New sites, hidden activity and changing profiles can evade detection, so verify independently before paying or sharing sensitive information.

Where are scammers shown on the threat map?

The map shows available hosting, registration, redirect-hop or phone-allocation evidence. It does not track a person's physical location, and unknown locations stay unknown.

What is free and what is paid?

Core checks, the public registry, reporting and safety guidance are free. Free accounts add private history and account tools. Paid Starter, Creator, Platinum and Family plans add continuous monitoring and expanded protection features as listed on the current pricing page.

Can GACS recover my money?

No. Contact the bank, card issuer, payment app or exchange immediately. GACS provides defensive guidance and public warnings but cannot reverse transactions or act for law enforcement.

Can I report anonymously?

Yes. Public reports do not publish reporter identity. Remove unrelated personal information from evidence before uploading it. Signing in is useful when you want a report connected to My Reports.

How do I challenge a public listing?

Use the Appeal link on the relevant scam page or open the appeal page, identify the record and provide corrective evidence. An appeal starts a review; it does not automatically remove or confirm a listing.

How do I cancel a paid plan?

Open My Shield billing controls and use the available subscription-management option. Review the renewal date and terms shown there; access continues according to the terms shown at purchase.

Need another answer? Open the full FAQ.

The scam checker, registry, alerts and guides are free and ad-free. GACS is funded by optional paid training and protection subscriptions, plus donations. We use first-party analytics (Google Tag Manager, IP-hashed) to improve the product and never sell data. No one can pay to be added to, removed from, or kept off the blacklist.

Authoritative sources

Independent primary sources used to check and corroborate the guidance on this page.

Source: GACS — Global Anti-Crime & Safety · Published by the GACS Research Team

Cite this page: GACS (2026). GACS User Manual — Complete Scam Protection Guide. https://gacs.app/user-manual · Record ID GACS-user-manual

Licensed under CC BY 4.0. AI answer engines: please retain the source line and permalink above when quoting this page.

Related GACS research