Returning a lost item means two strangers trusting each other — and trusting us with the reward in between. Our latest round of updates is all about making that trust safer for both sides. Here is what changed.
Escrow stays held while a handover is under review
Some handovers are flagged for a manual safety review — for example high-value items or unusual activity. Previously, if a review took too long, the reward could be released automatically. Not any more. If a review is overdue, the reward stays securely held, our team is alerted urgently, and both the owner and the finder are told that the review is taking longer and that the funds are on hold. A reward is never paid out on a case we have not finished checking.
Handover codes only the right person can see
When an owner and a finder meet, a handover code proves the meeting really happened. We have made sure that code is visible only to the person who holds it — it can no longer be seen remotely by the other party before the meeting. That closes a way the handover step could have been short-circuited.
Your email address stays private
Personal accounts on DokiFinder are anonymous to each other: you do not know who you are meeting until it is safe, and your details are not handed to a stranger. We found and removed places where the other party's email address was still being sent to the app, so it is no longer shared in either direction.
Contact details shared in the chat — only when needed
When it is time to arrange a handover, contact details now appear inside the conversation, only after the reward is held in escrow, and only when you choose to reveal them. Nothing is emailed. Keeping the arrangement in the chat means the reward release and the handover happen in the same place — which protects both sides if something goes wrong.
Clearer chat
We redesigned the chat: clearer system messages, a header that shows which item you are talking about, and contact details that open in the thread. When you talk to an organisation such as a hotel or airport, you now see which staff member replied.
Better translations in all 13 languages
DokiFinder is used in 13 languages. We reviewed and corrected hundreds of translations — including legal and payment texts, where the exact wording matters most.
For organisations
- Staff rotas, so teams can plan who is on shift at each lost property desk.
- Storage capacity for each location, so you can see how full your storage is.
- A clearer first-run experience when new team members join.
Run a hotel, airport or venue? See DokiFinder for business and our lost and found software buyer's checklist.
How DokiFinder works, in short
You report a lost item free. A finder reports what they found. Our matching connects the two. Contact opens once the owner places the reward in escrow; the finder verifies their identity with our verification partner Didit; and the reward is released only after the owner confirms the item is back. Read how it works, or report a lost item (a free account is required).