Safety on Bunkd
Finding a flatmate online means meeting a stranger IRL. Here's what we do to make that safer — and what you should do.
What Bunkd does
Phone-verified profiles
Every Bunkd account is created via a verified Indian phone number (OTP). No phone, no profile. We also enforce one account per phone number, so fake profile farms can't operate at scale on the platform.
Email verification (optional but recommended)
Users can also verify their email — a green badge shows on their profile. We recommend matching mostly with email-verified profiles when possible.
Block and report
Block anyone, anytime, from inside the chat or their profile. A blocked user disappears from your feed, their messages disappear from your inbox, and they can't see or contact you again. Reporting sends a flag to our review queue with the reason (Fake Profile, Scam / Spam, Inappropriate, Harassment) — we review every report.
Private data stays private
Your phone number, email and exact location are never exposed in your card to other users. Other users only see your name, age, photos, approximate area, rent, lifestyle tags and bio. See our Privacy Policy for the full data flow.
Push notifications respect quiet hours
We don't send push notifications between 10 PM and 8 AM IST. Match emails and message notifications are batched, never spammy.
What you should do — Red flags 🚩
Most users on Bunkd are real, fellow Indians looking for a flatmate. But the internet is the internet. Treat these as instant red flags:
- "Send me money to hold the room" — never pay anyone before you've seen the flat in person and met the people. Real flatmates never ask for advance via UPI.
- Pressuring to take the chat to WhatsApp / Telegram immediately — staying in-app for the first few messages keeps you protected. If they refuse, that's a flag.
- The "broker" pretending to be a flatmate — Bunkd is for individuals. If someone is offering you "multiple flats" or "PG options", they're probably a broker. Report them.
- Photos that look stock or model-y — reverse-image-search the profile photo if your gut says something is off.
- Refusing a video call or a meet before signing — anyone serious about a flatshare will happily do a 10-minute video before you commit.
Tips for your first IRL meeting
- Meet in a public place first — a cafe near the flat, not the flat itself. Coffee for 30 minutes tells you a lot.
- Tell a friend — share the time, place and the person's Bunkd profile with a friend or family member.
- See the flat in daylight — schedule the flat viewing during the day. You'll spot the things landlords hide at night.
- Meet the existing flatmates (if Host) — if someone has a room to fill, ask to meet the other current flatmates too. They live with the person you're about to live with.
- Don't sign or pay on the spot — sleep on it. A real opportunity will still be there the next morning.
- Verify ID + rent agreement — when you do sign, see Aadhaar (with masked digits is fine), see the original rent agreement, and ensure your name goes on it.
How to report someone
From any user's card, tap the three-dot menu → Report. Pick a reason. We review every single report. You can also email support@getbunkd.in with screenshots if you've encountered something serious (threats, harassment, scams). Reports are anonymous to the reported user.
If something has gone wrong
If a Bunkd interaction has spilled into the real world in a concerning way:
- You're in immediate danger — call 112 (national emergency) or 100 (police).
- Women's helpline — 1091.
- Cyber crime — file at cybercrime.gov.in.
- Email Bunkd at support@getbunkd.in with the user's name and any screenshots, and we'll suspend their account immediately while we investigate.