1. Introduction
ReclaimGuard Legal ("we", "us", or "our") is a licensed body authorised for all legal services, regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 830575), registered in England and Wales (Company No. 13438429). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use our website and services.
We comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
- Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, postal address
- Case Information: Details about your fraud case, transaction records, communications with fraudsters, financial documentation
- Identity Verification: Passport, driver's license, proof of address (required for anti-money laundering compliance)
- Financial Information: Bank statements, cryptocurrency wallet addresses, transaction IDs
- Communication Records: Emails, phone calls, meeting notes, and correspondence
2.2 Information Automatically Collected
- Website Analytics: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, time spent on pages
- Cookies: We use essential cookies for website functionality and analytics cookies to improve our services
- Log Files: Server logs that record technical information about your visit
3. How We Use Your Information
We process your personal data for the following purposes:
- Legal Services: To provide legal representation, investigate your case, and pursue fund recovery
- Blockchain Analysis: To trace stolen cryptocurrency and identify perpetrators using Chainalysis technology
- Legal Proceedings: To prepare court documents, communicate with opposing parties, and present evidence
- Communication: To respond to inquiries, provide updates, and maintain client relationships
- Compliance: To fulfill anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) obligations
- Service Improvement: To analyze website usage and improve our services
- Legal Obligations: To comply with court orders, regulatory requirements, and law enforcement requests
4. Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data based on:
- Contractual Necessity: To fulfill our legal services agreement with you
- Legal Obligation: To comply with AML/KYC requirements, court orders, and applicable regulations
- Legitimate Interests: To pursue legal claims, prevent fraud, and improve our services
- Consent: For marketing communications (which you can withdraw at any time)
5. How We Share Your Information
We may share your information with:
- Legal Partners: Specialist investigators, legal advisors, and forensic experts working on your case
- Blockchain Analysts: Chainalysis and other forensic investigators authorized to trace your funds
- Law Enforcement: Police, National Crime Agency, and international authorities investigating fraud
- Financial Institutions: Banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, and payment processors for fund recovery
- Courts and Tribunals: When filing legal proceedings or responding to court orders
- Regulators: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and equivalent overseas regulators where applicable
- Service Providers: IT support, cloud storage, document management systems (under strict confidentiality agreements)
- International Partners: Partner firms in our network when cross-border assistance is required
We never sell your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes.
6. International Data Transfers
Cryptocurrency fraud often involves international transactions. We may transfer your data outside the UK to:
- International partner firms and legal advisors
- International law enforcement agencies
- Foreign courts and legal authorities
- Cloud service providers with servers in other countries
When transferring data internationally, we ensure adequate protection through:
- UK adequacy decisions (for countries deemed to have adequate data protection)
- Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the UK ICO
- Binding Corporate Rules for multinational organizations
7. Data Security
We implement robust security measures to protect your information:
- Encryption: All data transmission uses SSL/TLS encryption
- Access Controls: Strict authentication and authorization protocols
- Secure Storage: Encrypted databases and secure cloud storage
- Employee Training: Regular data protection and security training for all staff
- Physical Security: Secure offices with controlled access
- Incident Response: Procedures to detect, respond to, and report data breaches
- Regular Audits: Periodic security assessments and penetration testing
8. Data Retention
We retain your personal data for as long as necessary:
- Active Cases: Throughout the duration of your case and legal proceedings
- Closed Cases: For 6 years after case closure (in line with UK limitation periods under the Limitation Act 1980)
- Financial Records: For 7 years (required by HMRC)
- Website Analytics: For 26 months
- Marketing Communications: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
After the retention period expires, we securely delete or anonymize your data.
9. Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:
- Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data we hold
- Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
- Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal obligations)
- Right to Restriction: Limit how we use your data in certain circumstances
- Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
- Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
- Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing communications
- Right to Complain: Lodge a complaint with the ICO
Important Note: Some rights may be limited where we are required by law to retain case records, or where deletion would prejudice ongoing investigations.
10. Confidentiality
All information you share with ReclaimGuard Legal in connection with your case is treated as strictly confidential. This means:
- Your case information will not be disclosed to any third party without your consent, except as required by law
- Confidentiality obligations continue after the termination of our services
- We retain case records as required by applicable regulations and limitation periods
- You may request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time
11. Cookies Policy
Essential Cookies
Required for website functionality (session management, security, accessibility).
Analytics Cookies
Google Analytics (anonymized) to understand website usage and improve services.
Marketing Cookies
Only used with your consent for retargeting and marketing campaigns.
You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may affect website functionality.
12. Third-Party Services
Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services:
- Chainalysis (blockchain intelligence platform)
- Google Analytics (website analytics)
- Cloud storage providers (document management)
- Email service providers (client communication)
These third parties have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for their privacy practices.
13. Children's Privacy
Our services are not directed at children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have collected data from a child, please contact us immediately.
14. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of material changes by:
- Posting the updated policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date
- Sending email notifications to active clients
- Requesting consent where required by law
15. Contact Information
For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your data rights, please contact us:
16. Regulatory Information
ReclaimGuard Legal is a licensed body authorised for all legal services since 29/04/2022, regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 830575), registered in England and Wales (Company No. 13438429), registered address: Altrincham, WA14 4DR, England.
The SRA Standards and Regulations can be viewed at www.sra.org.uk.
17. Complaints
If you are not satisfied with how we handle your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with: