> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.theabot.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set up a tripwire channel

> Arm and test a decoy Discord channel that turns unexpected member posts into high-confidence scam evidence.

A tripwire is a decoy text channel where regular members should not post. A message in the armed channel becomes high-confidence automation evidence. Thea can remove the message and place it in your private AutoMod log channel for review.

The tripwire is intentionally conservative:

* It can quarantine a message.
* It cannot kick or ban a member by itself.
* It ignores staff, bots, and webhooks.
* It does not process messages that already existed when you armed it.

## Before you start

You need:

* **AutoMod** enabled.
* A Discord text channel that regular members can see or reach as part of your decoy design.
* **Manage Messages** for Thea in that channel.
* A private AutoMod log channel if you want quarantined messages and review buttons.

<Warning>
  Do not use a normal conversation channel as the tripwire. Any unexpected
  regular-member message in a healthy, armed tripwire is treated as suspicious.
</Warning>

## Arm the channel

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select the channel">
    Open **Settings → Scam defense → Tripwire channel**, choose the decoy text
    channel, and click **Save**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the topic marker">
    In Discord, edit that channel and add this exact marker to its topic:

    ```text theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
    [thea-tripwire]
    ```

    The marker is case-sensitive. The channel name does not arm the tripwire.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Grant Manage Messages">
    Check the channel's permission overrides and confirm Thea can manage
    messages there. A deny on the channel overrides a permission granted by the
    server role.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the effective policy">
    Open **Settings → Scam defense**. The **Effective scam policy** card must
    show automated enforcement as effective. If it says **observe only**, the
    card explains the active plan, provider, rollout, or safety gate.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Both the saved channel ID and the topic marker must match. This two-part setup prevents an accidental dropdown selection from silently turning a busy channel into a decoy.

There is no customer-facing **Beta features** switch for the tripwire. If **Effective scam policy** names a staged-rollout gate, contact Thea support with the server name. Changing the channel setup will not remove an operator rollout gate.

## Test the tripwire

1. Wait up to 30 seconds after saving the dashboard setting.
2. Use a regular test account.
3. Confirm the account has none of these permissions: **Manage Messages**, **Manage Server**, or **Moderate Members**.
4. Confirm its roles and the channel are not listed under **Settings → AutoMod → Exemptions**.
5. Send a new message in the armed channel.

When enforcement is effective, Thea removes the message and reposts it to the AutoMod log channel with review controls. The tripwire itself never times out, kicks, or bans the account.

## Troubleshooting

| Symptom                                     | Check                                                                                                                                                                               |
| ------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| The message remains and no finding appears  | Confirm the selected channel, click **Save**, add the exact `[thea-tripwire]` topic marker, and wait for the configuration refresh.                                                 |
| A test account does not trigger it          | Check the account's effective Discord permissions. An account with **Manage Messages**, **Manage Server**, or **Moderate Members** is treated as staff regardless of its role name. |
| The finding appears but the message remains | Open **Settings → Scam defense → Effective scam policy**. A staged-rollout or safety gate can keep detection active while limiting actions to observe-only.                         |
| The action reports a permission ceiling     | Grant Thea **Manage Messages** in the tripwire channel and ensure no channel override denies it.                                                                                    |
| Quarantine review is unavailable            | Set a private channel under **Settings → AutoMod → Log channel** and confirm Thea can send messages there.                                                                          |
| You tested an old message                   | Send a new message. Arming the channel is not retroactive.                                                                                                                          |

If the checks pass but no finding is created, record the channel name, test time, and server name before contacting support. Those details let support locate the metadata-only pipeline result without needing the message body.

## Disable the tripwire

Open **Settings → Scam defense → Tripwire channel**, select **Tripwire disabled**, and save. You can also remove the topic marker as an immediate second safety measure.

## Related

* [Scam defense](/moderation/scam-defense)
* [AutoMod actions and exemptions](/moderation/automod)
* [Scam incidents](/moderation/scam-incidents)