What we collect. When you register: your email address, an optional display name, and either an Amazon Order ID or, if you use photo verification, a photograph of a specific page of your copy of the book. As you play: your answer submissions with their timestamps, and a log of account events (registration, emails sent to you, submissions, results). That’s the whole list.

What we use it for. To run the puzzle: delivering Clue 18, verifying ownership, timing your badge, showing the leaderboard, sending you the case emails when you solve, and answering support questions. Nothing else.

What’s public. Only the leaderboard — and it shows only your chosen display name (or an auto-generated “Claimant #” if you didn’t choose one), your badge tier, and your rank. Your email address is never displayed anywhere. Whether you’ve solved the second puzzle is never displayed anywhere.

Verification photos. Used solely to confirm you own a copy, reviewed by a human, and deleted within 30 days of the approve/reject decision. They are stored privately in the meantime and are never published, shared, or used for anything else.

Email. We send at most three transactional emails, all part of the game: your Clue 18 delivery, and the two case emails triggered by your own correct answers. We do not send marketing email unless you separately opt in to series news, and you can withdraw that anytime.

What we don’t do. We don’t sell or rent your data. We don’t run ads. We don’t use tracking beyond what’s needed to keep the site working (session cookies and standard server logs).

Retention and deletion. Account data is kept while the site operates so your badge and record persist. Email privacy@VanesGoldIsntLost.com to ask what we hold about you or to have your account and data deleted; deletion removes you from the leaderboard.

Children. The site isn’t directed at children under 13, and we don’t knowingly collect their data.

Changes. If this policy changes, the date below changes with it, and material changes will be noted on this page.

Crimson Wake Press · Effective date shown at deployment · Questions: privacy@VanesGoldIsntLost.com