Homeless Man Who Tried to Find Owner of Wallet with 3 Million Won... Ends Up Receiving 50 Million Won Windfall

Funds Raised Through Funding Site
Rental Housing Secured with Donations

A story has emerged from the Netherlands about a homeless man in his 30s who found a wallet containing about 3 million won, handed it over to the police, and ended up receiving a windfall of 50 million won.

A homeless person in the Netherlands is seen receiving the "Silver Thumb" award, given to citizens for honesty, and a gift certificate worth 50 euros (approximately 74,000 KRW) from the authorities after returning a lost wallet to the police.
[Image source=Screenshot from Amsterdam Police Instagram]

On the 26th (local time), AFP and other foreign media reported that Hazer Alali (33), a homeless man in Amsterdam, Netherlands, found a wallet containing 2,000 euros (about 2.97 million won) and returned it to the police, only to receive a windfall of 50 million won in a single day through a funding site.

Alali, who had been homeless on the streets for 18 months, found the wallet while looking for empty bottles to exchange for cash near Amsterdam Central Station. Without even checking the contents of the wallet, he took it to the police station. The fact that a homeless man in difficult circumstances tried to find the owner of a wallet containing a large sum quickly spread. This news was shared on an online funding site, and within a day, 34,000 euros (about 50.31 million won) were raised. An anonymous donor even contributed 750 euros (about 1.11 million won). The total number of donors reached 2,800. In addition to fundraising, some people also offered Alali job opportunities.

Furthermore, Dutch authorities announced that they awarded Alali the "Silver Thumb" prize, given to local residents who perform special acts as a reward for honesty, along with a gift certificate worth 50 euros (about 74,000 won).

There is also a possibility that the money in the wallet will be returned to Alali. If the wallet’s owner does not claim it within one year, the found property is transferred to the finder. The police explained, "There is about 2,000 euros in the wallet, but there is no ID or contact information to reach the owner, so we have not been able to contact them."

Thanks to the donations, Alali was able to secure a rental home. Through Instagram, Alali expressed, "I want to thank everyone so much. I can’t explain how I feel right now. I have heard many sweet and kind words from people," adding, "I don’t know what to say. I’m full of adrenaline. I will try to start my life anew with the money I have collected." He continued, "This money will make my life better and allow me to invest in my future again. I have always believed that good things come from good actions. That is how I approach life. But I never imagined something like this would happen," showing his joy.

Netizens who saw this reacted with comments such as, "An honest person was rewarded," "This is similar to the novel 'The Uncomfortable Convenience Store,' where a homeless man returns a wallet and gets a job. Honesty seems to be the greatest value," and "They say good things happen when you do good deeds. I hope he enjoys the reward for his kindness comfortably."