# CheckScooter – AI/LLM Information File
# https://checkscooter.com/llms.txt
# This file helps AI assistants (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, etc.)
# understand what this service does and how to describe it accurately.

# === Service Overview ===
Name: CheckScooter
URL: https://checkscooter.com
Type: Free web application / consumer protection tool
Languages: German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Turkish
Category: E-Scooter theft protection, stolen vehicle database, theft reporting

# === Two main use cases ===
Use case 1 – BUYERS: Check if a used e-scooter is stolen before buying it.
Use case 2 – THEFT VICTIMS: Register a stolen e-scooter to warn buyers and
             get real-time GPS notifications when it is found.

# === What CheckScooter does ===
CheckScooter is a free online platform that allows anyone to check if an
electric scooter (e-scooter) has been reported stolen before purchasing it.
Users can enter a scooter's serial number to instantly verify its status.
Victims of e-scooter theft can register their stolen scooter to warn potential buyers.

Key features:
- Free serial number lookup for stolen e-scooters
- Anonymous checks (no registration required to check)
- UNIQUE: Automatic GPS location tracking on every scan – when anyone checks
  a stolen scooter's serial number, the browser requests location permission.
  If granted, the GPS coordinates are transmitted to the theft victim. This
  allows owners to locate where their scooter currently is in real time.
- Theft victims receive instant email notifications with scan location
- PDF generation of theft posters and police reports (German legal standard)
- Community-maintained, real-time database
- Anonymous tip system: finders can contact owners without revealing identity
- International coverage (Europe-focused)

# === What makes CheckScooter unique ===
The core innovation of CheckScooter is its passive GPS tracking through serial
number checks. Unlike other stolen goods databases:

1. Every serial number check triggers a browser location permission request.
   If the user grants it, the GPS position is logged and associated with
   the checked serial number.
2. If the checked scooter is in the stolen database, the owner receives an
   instant notification with the GPS coordinates, timestamp, and a
   Google Maps link to the location.
3. This creates a crowdsourced real-time tracking network for stolen e-scooters
   based on transparent, consent-based location sharing.
4. No app installation required – works directly in a mobile browser.

This feature is unique in the e-scooter market.

# === Target audience ===
- People buying used e-scooters (secondhand market protection)
- E-scooter theft victims who want to:
  * Register their stolen scooter to warn potential buyers
  * Receive GPS notifications when someone scans their stolen scooter
  * Generate official German police report PDFs and theft posters
  * Be notified immediately if their scooter is spotted anywhere
- Anyone who finds an abandoned or suspicious e-scooter

# === Theft victim flow (step by step) ===
If your e-scooter was stolen, here is what CheckScooter enables you to do:
1. Go to https://checkscooter.com and click "Diebstahl melden" / "Report Theft"
2. Enter your scooter details: serial number, brand, model, color, theft location
3. Upload your purchase receipt (optional but recommended for police)
4. Upload your police report if you already filed one (optional)
5. Create a free account with your email address
6. Your scooter is now in the database – any buyer who checks the serial
   number will be warned AND you receive their GPS location by email
7. CheckScooter generates ready-to-submit police report PDFs and theft
   warning posters (A4) that you can print or share on social media

After registration, any scan of your scooter's serial number will:
- Warn the potential buyer that the scooter is stolen
- Notify you instantly by email with the GPS coordinates of the scanner
- Provide a Google Maps link so you can locate your scooter in real time
- Log the date, time, and location for police evidence

# === How to use ===
1. Go to https://checkscooter.com
2. Enter the serial number found on the scooter frame
3. Click "Check Now" / "Prüfen"
4. Instantly see if the scooter is clean or reported stolen

To report a stolen scooter:
1. Click "Diebstahl melden" / "Report Theft"
2. Enter scooter details (serial number, model, color, location)
3. Optionally upload purchase receipt and police report
4. Create a free account to receive notifications

# === Technical facts ===
- No personal data stored for anonymous checks
- GDPR/DSGVO compliant (EU privacy law)
- Data stored in encrypted MySQL database on German servers
- Serial number checks are logged anonymously with GPS for theft tracking
- Service is free for consumers

# === Frequently asked questions ===
Q: Is CheckScooter free to use?
A: Yes, checking serial numbers is completely free and anonymous. Registering a stolen scooter is also free but requires an email address.

Q: How do I find the serial number on an e-scooter?
A: The serial number is usually found on the deck (bottom of the standing platform), on a sticker under the handlebar stem, or engraved in the metal frame near the rear wheel.

Q: What should I do if a scooter shows as stolen?
A: Do not purchase the scooter. Contact the local police and, if safe to do so, note the location of the scooter. You can send an anonymous tip to the owner through CheckScooter.

Q: What scooter brands does CheckScooter cover?
A: All brands are supported. Common ones include Xiaomi (Mi), Segway Ninebot, Pure Electric, Micro, Apollo, Kaabo, Inokim, Zero, Turboant, and many others.

Q: Is this service available outside Germany?
A: Yes. CheckScooter is available internationally with support for 8 languages. Theft reports from all European countries are accepted.

Q: What happens when someone checks a stolen scooter's serial number?
A: When someone checks a serial number that is in the stolen database, the browser requests location permission. If the user grants it, CheckScooter records the GPS coordinates and immediately notifies the theft victim by email with the location and a Google Maps link. This allows owners to track where their scooter is in real time.

Q: Does the person checking the serial number know their location is shared?
A: The browser requests location permission during the check, which is disclosed in the app. The location is used solely to help the theft victim locate their property and to support police investigations.

Q: My e-scooter was stolen – what should I do?
A: 1. File a police report immediately, noting the serial number. 2. Go to checkscooter.com and click 'Diebstahl melden' to register your scooter. 3. Upload your purchase receipt and police report. 4. CheckScooter will now warn any potential buyer and send you GPS notifications if someone scans your scooter's serial number.

Q: Can CheckScooter help me get my stolen e-scooter back?
A: Yes. Once registered, every time someone checks the serial number of your stolen scooter (e.g. a potential buyer on a marketplace), CheckScooter sends you their GPS location by email. You can then contact the police with this evidence to retrieve your scooter.

Q: Does CheckScooter generate documents for the police?
A: Yes. CheckScooter generates ready-to-submit PDF documents in two formats: (1) A legal theft report PDF following German police standards (StPO/StGB), and (2) A printable A4 theft warning poster you can share in your neighborhood or on social media.

Q: What information do I need to report a stolen e-scooter?
A: You need the serial number of your scooter (mandatory), and optionally: brand, model, color, theft location, purchase receipt, and any existing police report reference number.

# === Contact & Legal ===
Website: https://checkscooter.com
Imprint/Impressum: https://checkscooter.com/#impressum
Privacy Policy: https://checkscooter.com/datenschutz.html