PHUKET, Thailand – A dispute over a lost mobile phone has ignited debate on Thai social media after a rider who allegedly found a foreign tourist’s device was accused of demanding thousands of baht in exchange for returning it. The controversy erupted after a Facebook page shared an audio recording and details of the incident, which involved a foreign tourist who reportedly lost a mobile phone while visiting Phuket. According to the post, a Thai intermediary helping the tourist recover the device contacted the man who claimed to have found the phone. During the discussions, the finder allegedly requested 5,000 baht as compensation for returning the device. The amount was later negotiated down to 2,000 baht and then 1,500 baht.
In the audio clip circulated online, the tourist’s representative asked whether the phone could be returned without payment. The man reportedly responded that if no money was offered, he would leave the phone somewhere and the owner could retrieve it independently. When asked where the phone would be left, the man allegedly declined to specify a location, saying he had traveled from Thalang district, incurred fuel costs, and believed he deserved a reward for his efforts. The man also reportedly insisted he had not stolen the phone and said he could simply discard it if he wished, adding that he would gain nothing from doing so.
The incident quickly attracted widespread attention online, with many social media users criticizing the alleged demand for payment as a condition for returning someone else’s property. Critics argued that such behavior could damage Phuket’s image as an international tourist destination. Others, however, noted that while it may be reasonable for a property owner to voluntarily offer a reward or cover transportation costs, any gesture of appreciation should be given freely rather than demanded as a prerequisite for the return of lost belongings.
