Is this a 'lie'?

‘I lost my phone.’ as opposed to what really happened; he was robbed on the street by an armed person and had his phone and money stolen.

I certainly consider it lying.

He has also lost his passport and his bank card, but only told me about his passport, which he claims was ‘pickpocketed’ from his back pocket during a night out. Why he had his passport in his back pocket during a boozy night out in Rio, I have no idea.

So, is he lying, or is he just trying to not look so bad in my eyes? or both?