Sometimes, scammers pretend to be the rightful owners of found items, aiming to deceitfully acquire them for resale or to extort a reward from the actual owner. To avoid giving an item to a scammer, confirm the claimant's ownership by asking questions about details that a genuine owner would know. Also, ensure that the photo in the listing doesn't reveal the answer to your verification question.
General Guideline: If you found an item in a specific place (like under a bench or a seat), ask the claimant to describe exactly where and under what circumstances they lost it. This applies to all item categories.
Typical Questions for Verifying the Owner
Electronics:
Was the device in a case? What color was it?
If it's a phone, what is depicted on the screensaver?
If it's a camera, are there any identifiable photos on it?
Are there any visible signs or defects on the device?
If available, please provide a photo of the lost electronic item or of you with it.
Wallet:
What items are in the wallet? (Do not reveal any content beforehand)
Can the owner name the exact amount of money in the wallet? (Again, do not reveal this first)
Are there any special items or documents in the wallet they can describe?
Do they know any card number or other identification data in the wallet?
If possible, please provide a photo of the lost wallet or of you with it.
Keys:
Are there any identifiers or unique elements on the keys? (e.g., a tag, brand, keychain)
If you have a photo of the keys or of you with them, kindly provide it. |nBag:
Can they describe specific details of the bag? (e.g., size, color of stitching)
What personal items are inside?
If you have a photo of the lost bag or of you carrying it, please share it.
Clothing:
Can they describe the clothing? (e.g., size, brand)
Please provide a photo of the lost clothing item or of you wearing it, if available.
Jewelry:
If the jewelry is a pair (like earrings), can they provide a photo of the other piece?
Can they describe the jewelry in detail?
Kindly provide a photo of the lost jewelry item or of you wearing it, if available.
Animal:
Does the animal have an identifier (tag, collar, chip)?
Are there any unique features or characteristics?
Do they have a photo with the animal? Please provide it if available.
Documents:
Can they show another document with the same name and surname?
Ask them to name parts of the data covered in a photo.
If you have a photo of the lost document or of you with it, it would be helpful to provide it.