Man helpfully returns expensive iPhone to owner, demands reward
Man helpfully returns expensive iPhone to owner, demands reward
2026-01-14
A Hsinchu resident has whipped up controversy online after he angrily complained he deserved a reward for finding an expensive smart phone and returning it to its owner. The man found an iPhone 17 Pro and took it to a police station. When the owner came to collect it, he demanded a 10% reward, which is roughly NT$3,000, but was rebuffed. While horrified netizens thought his demands went against the spirit of helping others, a lawyer says the demand was actually in accordance with Taiwanese law.
If you accidentally lose an expensive smart phone and then someone finds it, you should thank your lucky stars. But when a person found a smart phone and took it to a police station for the owner to claim, he demanded a 10% reward, which would be roughly NT$3,000. When the owner refused, he was infuriated and expressed this in an online post.
The netizen made a public post online saying: “I found the phone on the afternoon of New Year’s Day and asked the owner for a 10% reward. Isn’t that my right? I helped them find their phone, and kept it safe, but it seems like I’m trying to extort 10% from them. In the end, I didn’t receive the 10% and the police returned the phone to the owner. No matter what happens, I will file a lawsuit.” His lengthy and scathing tirade stunned many other netizens, and some said it would have been better if he’d never found it.
Member of the public
If someone demanded 10% from me, I might be stunned and feel uncomfortable, but if the object was important to me, I would give it.
Member of the public
I think it’s a bit unreasonable, because even if someone helped you find it, that doesn’t mean you should expect or demand something in return.
Returning lost property is a virtue, but when the finder’s demand for a 10% reward was refused, and he even threatened to sue the owner, it sparked heated discussions online. However, a lawyer said that it’s actually legal to claim compensation.
Li Chia-hao
Lawyer
According to the provisions of Article 805, Paragraph 2 of the Civil Code, the finder may request a reward from the owner, but the reward cannot exceed one-tenth of the property’s value. If the owner is unwilling to pay, the finder can file a lawsuit against the owner to request a reward.
In fact, there have been incidents in the past where people found watches or phones, and filed lawsuits after failing to get compensation. Although it’s lawful to ask for a reward, aggressively suing undermines the spirit of helping others out of goodwill.
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#lostandfound #reward #charity #law #controversial
民眾尋獲手機"要求3千元獎金" 遭拒怒發文撻伐失主
2026-01-14
拾金不昧是美德，但新竹有民眾撿到一支iPhone 17 Pro，送到派出所，讓失主領回，但他主張要索取10%獎金，大約3000元，最後遭拒，讓他氣到PO文，撻伐失主，引來大批網友傻眼，直呼’’不如不要撿’’，不過律師說，依法可以索償。
昂貴的智慧型手機，要是不小心掉了，能撿得回來，就該謝天謝地！但有民眾尋獲手機，送到派出所，讓失主領回，但他要求10%獎金，大約3000元，最後遭拒，讓他氣到PO文。
這名網友在網路上公開發文，說「元旦下午尋獲手機，跟失主求償10%獎金，這不是權益嗎？幫你撿手機，幫你保管，卻好像我在凹你這10%，最後10%沒收到，警方把手機還給失主了，不管怎樣，一定會提告」。洋洋灑灑一大篇撻伐文，引發大批網友看傻眼，痛批’’不如不要撿’’。
[[民眾]]
“如果是我被要求10%的話，我可能當下會愣住，然後不太舒服，但是這個東西對我很重要的話，我還是會給。”
[[民眾]]
“我覺得有點不合理啦，因為雖然是我幫你撿到，但就是，這也不是你應該要要求對方要給你回報的東西。”
拾金不昧是美德，但要求10%報酬不成，反而還要提告失主，引發網路熱議，不過律師卻說，依法的確可以索償。
[[律師 李家豪]]
“按照民法805條第二項的規定是可以的，拾得人可以向失主請求報酬，但不可以超過財產價值的十分之一，如果今天失主不願意給付的話，拾得人是可以向失主提起請求給付報酬的訴訟。”
事實上，過去也有撿到手錶或手機、求償不成反而提告的案例，雖然依法可以求償，只是，強硬提告，也失去好心助人的美意。
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