1. Who we are
Calm Lantern ("we", "us", "our") is a consumer scam-detection service operated from the United States. By using our website, mobile experience, SMS service, or any other Calm Lantern product (together, the "Service"), you agree to these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy.
2. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the United States to use the Service.
3. The Service
The Service accepts a piece of text or a link from you and returns a written assessment of whether it appears to be a scam. The assessment is based on automated checks (reputation databases, domain registration data, brand-impersonation matching, and a large language model) and is provided for informational purposes only.
The Service is not professional advice. It is not legal, financial, accounting, medical, or any other regulated advice. We do not guarantee that any specific message is or is not a scam. You are responsible for your own decisions about whether to engage with a message, click a link, send money, or take any other action.
4. Accounts
You may create a free account by providing a valid email address. We use a passwordless magic-link sign-in. You are responsible for keeping access to your email account secure. If you suspect unauthorized access, contact us immediately.
You may delete your account at any time from the account page. Deletion cancels any active subscription effective at the end of the current billing period and removes your personal data per our Privacy Policy.
5. Free tier and quotas
The free tier permits a limited number of checks per calendar month per account or per IP address (currently 5 per free account, 3 per anonymous IP). We may adjust these limits at any time. Quota usage resets at the start of each calendar month.
6. Paid plans
We offer paid plans with higher quotas. Current plans, prices, and quotas are shown on our pricing page. By subscribing, you authorize us (through Stripe) to charge your payment method on a recurring basis until you cancel.
6.1 Billing
- Subscriptions auto-renew at the end of each billing cycle (monthly or annual).
- Charges are made through Stripe. We do not store your full card number.
- You can change your plan, update your payment method, or cancel at any time through the Manage Subscription button on your account page.
6.2 Cancellation
You may cancel at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. You retain access to paid features until that date and we will not charge you again.
6.3 Refunds
See our Refund Policy.
6.4 Disputes and chargebacks
If you dispute a charge, please contact us first at the email on our contact page. We will work with you to resolve any issue. Filing a chargeback without contacting us first may result in immediate suspension of your account.
6.5 Price changes
We may change prices for new billing periods. We will give you at least 14 days' notice by email before any price change applies to your subscription. You may cancel before the change takes effect if you do not agree.
7. Acceptable use
You agree not to misuse the Service. Specifically, you agree to comply with our Acceptable Use Policy. Violations may result in throttling, suspension, or permanent termination of your account without refund.
8. SMS service
If you enroll a phone number through the Manage Phones section of your account, you consent to receive text messages from Calm Lantern at that number, including a one-time verification code and verdict replies for messages you submit by SMS. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP at any time to opt out. Reply HELP for help.
9. Privacy
Our handling of your information is described in the Privacy Policy. By using the Service you consent to that handling.
10. AI
We use AI models to help generate verdict text. See our AI Statement for details on what we use, what we don't claim, and the limits.
11. Intellectual property
The Service, including all software, text, design, and trademarks, is owned by Calm Lantern. You may use the Service for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not copy, scrape, mirror, resell, or build a competing service from our output.
12. Disclaimers
The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranty of any kind, express or implied. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or accurate in any specific case. We are not responsible for any decision you make based on a verdict.
13. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, in no event will Calm Lantern's total liability to you for all claims arising out of or relating to the Service exceed the greater of (a) the amount you paid us in the 12 months before the claim arose, or (b) one hundred US dollars ($100).
We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including lost profits, lost data, or harm to reputation.
14. Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Calm Lantern from any claims, damages, or expenses arising out of your misuse of the Service or your violation of these Terms.
15. Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time for violations of these Terms or our Acceptable Use Policy. We will refund any prepaid amount for unused time when termination is not the result of abuse.
16. Governing law and disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States and the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute that cannot be resolved informally will be brought in the state or federal courts located in Delaware. You waive any objection to venue in those courts.
17. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be announced by email to active accounts at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes acceptance.
18. Contact
Questions about these Terms? Email us at legal@calmlantern.com.