HeyBeacon Privacy Policy
Last updated: September 2026
The short version
- You don't need an account, and we don't ask for your name, email or phone number to run a check.
- We automatically mask personal information in the things you submit.
- We use checks to spot scams and protect other people. We never sell your personal information, and we don't use your submissions to train AI models.
- Anything we share with others to fight scams is de-identified or aggregated and never linked to you.
1. Who we are
HeyBeacon is powered by Falkin Limited (company number 15971664, registered in England and Wales, registered office Arquen House, 4-6 Spicer Street, St Albans, AL3 4PQ, United Kingdom), which runs this service and is responsible for your personal information ("we", "us", "our").
2. What we collect
Checks you run. What you type, paste or upload, the result, and when the check was run. Submissions can contain personal information about you or others. We automatically mask it when you submit and don't use it. We don't mask details that belong to a suspected scammer, such as their phone number or website.
Device and usage information. Your IP address, approximate location (country or region), browser and device type, how you use HeyBeacon, and the website or ad that brought you to us.
Information you choose to give us. Your email address if you sign up for early access or updates, survey or interview responses, messages to our support team, and details we need to send you a reward.
Cookies. See our Cookie Policy.
3. How we use it
| Why we use it | Legal basis (UK) |
|---|---|
| To run your check and show you the result | Our contract with you (our Terms) |
| To detect and prevent scams, test the accuracy of our results and analyse scam trends | Legitimate interests (protecting people from scams) |
| To keep HeyBeacon secure and working, and to understand how it's used | Legitimate interests (running a safe, reliable service), and consent for analytics cookies |
| To show and measure our ads | Consent |
| To send early access invitations and updates | Consent |
| To run surveys, interviews and rewards | Legitimate interests (improving HeyBeacon) |
| To comply with the law and protect our rights | Legal obligation, or legitimate interests |
We analyse submissions using automated tools, including AI models from third-party providers. They process submissions only to return a result, don't keep them, and don't use them to train their models.
4. Who we share it with
- Service providers who help us run HeyBeacon, such as hosting, AI analysis, analytics and email providers. They may only use your information to provide services to us.
- Advertising partners, who receive cookie and device information to measure our ads, never the content of your checks. In the UK this only happens with your consent.
- Organisations that help fight scams. We only share scam indicators (such as a suspicious link or phone number) that are not linked to you, and aggregated insights.
- Authorities, where the law requires it.
- A buyer or successor, if our business or HeyBeacon is sold, reorganised or transferred.
We don't sell personal information.
5. International transfers
Some of our service providers are outside the UK, including in the United States. When we transfer personal information outside the UK, we rely on UK adequacy regulations or approved contractual safeguards.
6. How long we keep it
- Checks: in masked form for up to 7 years, for scam detection and trend analysis.
- Device and usage information: up to 24 months.
- Email address: until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete it.
- Survey and interview responses: up to 3 years.
We may keep information longer where the law requires it. De-identified and aggregated information may be kept indefinitely.
7. Security
We use technical and organisational measures designed to protect your information. No system is completely secure, but we work hard to keep your information safe.
8. Your rights
UK: You can ask to access, correct or delete your personal information, restrict or object to how we use it, or receive a copy of it. You can withdraw consent at any time. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).
US: Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct or delete your personal information and to opt out of targeted advertising. Our use of advertising cookies may count as "sharing" under California law. You can opt out through cookie settings on our site, and we honour Global Privacy Control signals. If we decline your request, you can appeal by replying to our decision.
To make a request, email support@heybeacon.com. Because we don't use accounts, we may ask for details to find your information, and once information is masked we may not be able to link it to you. We may decline a request where the law allows, for example where it would prejudice the prevention of fraud.
9. Children
HeyBeacon is for people aged 18 and over. If you think a child has used HeyBeacon, please contact us and we will delete their information.
10. Changes
We may update this policy from time to time and will change the date at the top when we do.