Community Guidelines
Our Purpose
FinderHelper exists to help people get their stuff back. These guidelines keep the platform safe, helpful, and trustworthy for everyone - parents, students, neighbors, and community members alike.
Be Honest
- Only post items you've actually found or lost
- Use accurate descriptions and real photos
- Don't claim items that aren't yours
- Don't post the same item multiple times
Be Respectful
- Treat everyone with courtesy
- No harassment, threats, hate speech, or discriminatory language
- Respond to messages in a timely and helpful way
- Understand that not every match will lead to a recovery - that's okay
Prohibited Content
The following are not allowed:
- Illegal items (weapons, drugs, stolen property)
- Sexually explicit or inappropriate content
- Violent, threatening, or graphic content
- Drug-related content or promotion
- Spam, advertising, or selling
- Other people's personal information without consent
- Unsafe usernames, group names, chat messages, or item descriptions
- Anything posted with intent to scam or defraud
Screening helps, but does not replace reports: FinderHelper checks photos and text inputs to reduce explicit or unsafe content before it reaches the community. If something still slips through, please report it.
No Rewards or Ransoms
FinderHelper is built on goodwill. You may not:
- Demand payment for returning a found item
- Hold items for ransom
- Charge "finder's fees"
If an owner voluntarily offers a thank-you, that's their choice. But nobody should feel pressured to pay to get their stuff back.
Reporting Violations
- Tap the red flag icon on supported listings, messages, groups, and thank-you posts to report them
- Use Report Helper in the chat menu
- If the app says you already reported something, the matching report is still pending review
- After a report has been reviewed or dismissed, you can report the same content again if it needs another look
- All reports are reviewed by our team
Enforcement
Violations may result in:
- Content removal
- Group unlisting or removal
- Temporary account restrictions
- Permanent suspension for serious or repeated violations
If a moderation decision affects your content or account, FinderHelper may show a notice with the reason when one is available.
Remember: Every post on FinderHelper is a chance to help someone. Be the kind of community member you'd want to run into.