Help Center

Find information about reports, optional search services, privacy, and local lost-property procedures.

How does ReportLost.org work?

You can publish a free public listing or choose one of two optional search services. Each option has a separate scope and one-time fee.

  1. Free listing: your report is published publicly on ReportLost and may be found through public search.
  2. Automatic search, $12: public-web monitoring runs for six months. Potential matches are reviewed before notification.
  3. Team-assisted search, $25: includes 12 months of public-web monitoring, manual research, direct contact with relevant services, report submission, and local social sharing under group rules.
  4. Local notice: the team-assisted search can include a visual notice for relevant local groups using a protected relay address.

ReportLost is independent of public agencies. Offices and venues set their own procedures, and item recovery is not guaranteed.

Pricing & Options

Free listing

$0

  • • Your report is published in our public database
  • • A searchable public listing
  • • Does not include team outreach or active web monitoring

Automatic search

$12 — one-time, never a subscription

  • • Public-web monitoring for 6 months: daily the first week, then weekly, then monthly
  • • Loss report certificate, downloadable (not an official document)
  • • Printable sheet of QR stickers linked to your relay address
  • • Does not include local outreach or a published notice

Team-assisted search

$25 — one-time, never a subscription

  • • Report submitted to appropriate lost-property services
  • • Relevant services and likely venues contacted based on the loss location
  • • Visual notice submitted to relevant local pages and groups where posting is available
  • • Anonymous relay email address linked to your case
  • • Public-web monitoring for 12 months: daily the first week, then weekly, then monthly
  • • Loss report certificate, downloadable (not an official document)
  • • Printable sheet of QR stickers linked to your relay address

Privacy & Safety

  • Anonymity by default: for each report, we generate a dedicated relay email address (e.g., itemXXXXX@reportlost.org). This protects your personal address while allowing people to contact you securely.
  • Data minimization: only the details necessary to identify the item are shown publicly. Sensitive personal data is never published.
  • Safe interactions: communicate through our platform whenever possible and beware of anyone asking for payment or codes to “verify” ownership.

Managing your report

If you need to correct information or remove a report, please contact support@reportlost.org. Our team will assist promptly.

Practical tips after you lose something

These steps can significantly improve the odds of recovering your property:

  • Retrace your steps: note exact times and locations; contact and visit the venues where the item may have been left (transport desk, café, venue staff, security).
  • Contact official lost‑and‑found services: airlines, train and bus companies, city services, campus or venue offices. Provide a concise description and a way to confirm ownership.
  • Phones & electronics: enable Lost Mode/Find My, remotely lock the device, and notify your carrier. Consider reporting the IMEI/serial to your carrier or relevant registry.
  • Wallets, IDs, keys: block cards, monitor statements, and contact the issuer for replacements. For keys, consider re‑keying locks if sensitive addresses are involved.
  • Proof of ownership: gather photos, serial numbers, purchase receipts, or unique identifiers to speed up verification.
  • Community channels: check local community groups and bulletin boards relevant to the area where the loss occurred. Avoid posting personal contact details; use our relay email.
  • Stay alert to scams: never pay a “release fee,” never share verification codes, and meet in public places when recovering an item.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does ReportLost.org do?

A free report is published as a searchable public listing. The $12 option includes six months of monitoring, a ReportLost certificate, an anonymous address, and QR stickers linked to it. The $25 option adds manual research, direct service contact and report submission, local social sharing, and 12 months of monitoring.

How are matches handled?

With a paid search service, a potential match is reviewed by a team member before you are notified. You can then review its source and decide whether it may be your item.

Is my personal email exposed?

No. Each report uses a dedicated relay address (e.g., itemXXXXX@reportlost.org) so your identity remains protected while still allowing secure contact.

Can I edit or delete my report myself?

Self‑service deletion is not available yet. Please email support@reportlost.org and we will update or remove the report for you.

Which report option should I choose?

Choose the free listing to publish a searchable report. Automatic search ($12) adds six months of public-web monitoring, a ReportLost certificate, an anonymous address linked to the report, and printable QR stickers linked to it. Team-assisted search ($25) adds manual research, direct service contact and report submission, local social sharing, and 12 months of monitoring. Recovery is not guaranteed.

Contact

Need more help? Email us at support@reportlost.org.