Man finds lost iPhone with the funniest message on lock screen

All smartphone owners will have experienced the moment of dread when they think they've lost their gadget.

But one switched-on iPhone owner has thought ahead, and found a foolpoof way to make sure he gets his mobile back.

The only trouble is, returning it may require a little creative thinking on the part of the finder.

Posted by SquirrelGang on Reddit with the title: "Found someone's iPhone today at a bar," there's a photograph of the familiar iPhone lock screen.

But instead of a picture of loved ones or a holiday snap, there's just text, which reads: "Oh no! I got drunk and lost my iPhone!

"Please call the number on the screen to return it! It's my mom so you have to make up a crazy story as to why you have it."

The ingenious message on the Kansas mobile has cracked up Redditors, with DontReadThis offering a message they might give the mum - tongue in cheek, of course: "We have your child. Leave $10,000 in unmarked, non-sequential bills in a locker at the train station. Leave the key under the trashcan near the elevator."

Sadly, SquirrelGang didn't call the mother after all, revealing: "Gave it to the bar staff, I didn't have time to wait around."