Privacy Policy

EFFECTIVE DATE: APRIL 1, 2026 — NYCFRAUD.ORG

NYCFRAUD.ORG is committed to protecting the privacy and safety of our readers, subscribers, and sources. This policy describes what information we collect, how we use it, and the specific protections we apply for individuals who submit tips or contact us regarding government misconduct.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Email subscribers: When you sign up for alerts, we collect your email address. We use this solely to send you investigation updates and alerts. We do not collect your name, location, or any other identifying information at signup.

Standard web analytics: We may collect anonymized, aggregated data about page traffic (e.g., number of page views per article) using privacy-respecting analytics that do not track individuals across sites.

Donations:Donation transactions are processed by Stripe. We do not store payment card information. Stripe's privacy policy governs the handling of payment data.

TIP SUBMISSIONS — SPECIAL PROTECTIONS

NO IP LOGGING FOR TIP SUBMISSIONS

We do not log IP addresses, timestamps, device fingerprints, or metadata associated with tip-related email submissions to admin@nycfraud.org. Source identities are held in strict confidence and are never disclosed without explicit written consent.

NYCFRAUD.ORG is a professional news-gathering medium. Under the New York Shield Law (N.Y. Civil Rights Law § 79-h), we assert all available protections for the identities of confidential sources and unpublished news-gathering materials, including notes, drafts, and communications with sources.

If you are considering submitting a tip about government fraud, waste, or abuse, we recommend using a non-work device and network. For maximum protection, consider using a ProtonMail or similar encrypted email address created on a separate device.

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

—Email addresses are used only to send you alerts and investigation updates you requested.
—We do not sell, rent, trade, or share your personal information with any third party for commercial purposes.
—We do not use your information for targeted advertising.
—We may share information with law enforcement only if required by a valid court order, and only after exhausting all legal challenges available to us.

NY SHIELD ACT COMPLIANCE

NYCFRAUD.ORG complies with the New York Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security (SHIELD) Act (N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 899-bb). We implement and maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for any private information we hold, appropriate to the size and nature of our operations. In the event of a qualifying breach, we will notify affected New York residents as required by law.

DATA RETENTION

Email subscribers:Your email address is retained until you unsubscribe. To unsubscribe, reply to any alert email with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line or email admin@nycfraud.org.

Deletion requests: To request deletion of your data, email admin@nycfraud.org. We will confirm deletion within 30 days.

CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this policy as our practices evolve. Material changes will be announced via the site and in subscriber alerts. The effective date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.

QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS