We live in the golden age of digital breadcrumbs and dopamine farming, so naturally, when someone found a lost wallet, they did what any reasonable citizen of the internet would do:

They posted a puzzle on social media.

Not just any puzzle — a numerical enigma that only the rightful owner could solve. Here’s the deal:

They posted this:

And the internet did exactly what you’d expect: it collectively lost its shit.

🧠 The Setup

Let’s break it down.

• The person finds a wallet.
• Instead of flipping through it, finding the ID, and doing the classic “Hey, I found your wallet!” move, they go full Da Vinci Code.
• They post a formula: the number 030532468 plus your date of birth, in the DDMMYYYY format.
• When the correct person — the owner — adds their birthdate to that number, the result spits out the phone number of the finder.

It’s like two-factor authentication meets Sudoku.

🔍 Why This Is Both Evil and Brilliant

The top comment nailed it:

“Lost my wallet and the asshole who found it made me do math to get it back.”

Yes. Exactly.

On one hand, you’re thinking “Wow, what an overcomplicated mess. Just give the wallet back, man!”

On the other hand, you’re like “Wait… that’s kind of genius.”

💬 Best of the Internet Reactions

Some internet gems from the post:

“Would you like to play a game?” (Okay, Jigsaw, chill.)

“That’s very interesting! So assuming the person is older than 18 and younger than 95, there’s about 28k possible combinations!” (The math nerds are HERE for it.)

🏁 Final Thoughts

Is this the most extra way to return a wallet?

Yes.

Is it 1000% more fun than calling a stranger and awkwardly arranging a pickup at a gas station parking lot?

Also yes.

Is it mildly infuriating and possibly over-engineered?

You bet.

But in a world full of scammers, spam, and people who still use “password123,” it’s refreshing to see someone use a little creative flair to keep things secure — and just the right amount of chaotic.

So the next time you lose your wallet, pray that the person who finds it isn’t just a good Samaritan — but a nerdy one.

P.S. If you’re the person who posted the puzzle, you’re either a genius or a villain. Possibly both. I respect it.