Crime & Justice

Lost Wallet Returned With $800 and a Thank-You Note in Red Deer

A Good Samaritan surprised an Alberta man by turning in his missing wallet—cash untouched—along with a hand-written note that’s now inspiring others across the town.

Published April 11, 2025 | By Jordan Whitmore

When 27-year-old Adam Singh left his wallet at a downtown Red Deer café earlier this month, he assumed the worst. It contained $800 in cash, some of it saved for a weekend trip, along with his ID and bank cards. But just two days later, Singh received a package at his home containing the wallet—money untouched—and a short note: “Pay it forward. The world needs more kindness.”

Singh posted the story to a local Facebook group, and within hours, the post had over 3,000 reactions and hundreds of comments. “I honestly teared up,” one commenter wrote. “This is what we need more of in our communities.”

According to Red Deer RCMP, the wallet was likely found by a local resident who chose to remain anonymous. “There’s no legal requirement to return lost cash,” said Constable Avery Monroe, “but doing so with a note like that? That’s the best kind of Canadian spirit.”

The story has since gone viral, attracting coverage from multiple provincial media outlets. Several residents have reported performing their own good deeds in response—buying coffee for strangers, donating to food banks, and even helping neighbours with home repairs.

Singh, who works as a freelance web developer, says the experience changed his perspective. “I had a pretty cynical view of people before this,” he admitted. “Now I feel like I owe it to that anonymous person to do better.”

Businesses in the area are joining in as well. The café where Singh lost his wallet announced a new “honour coffee” program where customers can prepay for drinks to be given to others who need them. “This all started because someone chose to do the right thing,” said the owner, Jane McCray.

Community psychologist Dr. Celia Tran says these kinds of ripple effects are real. “One act of decency—especially when shared publicly—can reset a community’s emotional tone. People become more trusting, more open, more hopeful.”

For Singh, the best outcome would be to meet the stranger who returned his wallet. “I don’t need to know who they are,” he said. “But if they’re out there reading this, just know: you made a huge impact.”