When someone says they have found your relative

A message saying “we found them” can change the mood of an entire family. Before broadcasting it, establish who is making the claim and how it can be checked. If the message describes immediate danger or urgent care needs, contact the appropriate emergency service.

Clarify the claim

Ask whether the sender personally has contact, is repeating another message, or has only seen a similar photograph. Record the source and time. Avoid supplying a stream of private details that the sender can simply repeat back as apparent proof.

Pass the claim to the responsible authority or case contact through a known channel. Do not rely exclusively on contact details supplied by the unknown sender.

Keep the next step safe

• Who is the source?
• What direct information do they have?
• Can an appropriate professional verify contact?
• Is money, secrecy, or a private meeting being demanded?

Do not travel to an isolated location or arrange a handover solely on the basis of an online message. Follow the guidance of the responsible service.

Update others carefully

Tell the coordinator that a contact claim is being assessed, rather than declaring a confirmed reunion. Keep public appeals consistent with the actual status until an appropriate update is established.

When contact is confirmed, ask what the person wants shared. Their location and personal circumstances do not automatically become public information because other people helped with the search. A safe outcome includes respecting what happens after the initial relief.