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Treasure hunt in San Francisco as @HiddenCash posts Twitter clues Treasure hunt in San Francisco as @HiddenCash posts Twitter clues
(35 minutes later)
Someone is dropping envelopes full of cash across San Francisco – and causing an international frenzy on social media.Someone is dropping envelopes full of cash across San Francisco – and causing an international frenzy on social media.
An anonymous man with the Twitter handle @HiddenCash has been hiding money throughout the city since Friday, leading scores on a scavenger hunt. His Twitter following exploded from a few hundred last Friday to more than 80,000 and counting by Tuesday.An anonymous man with the Twitter handle @HiddenCash has been hiding money throughout the city since Friday, leading scores on a scavenger hunt. His Twitter following exploded from a few hundred last Friday to more than 80,000 and counting by Tuesday.
One of his clues on Tuesday told San Francisco followers to "find Mr. Franklin along the 'crookedest street,' (towards the bottom)". One of his clues on Tuesday told followers to "find Mr Franklin along the 'crookedest street,' (towards the bottom)".
Translation: there was a $100 bill at the bottom of Lombard Street, the popular tourist thoroughfare that is best known as the crookedest street in the world.Translation: there was a $100 bill at the bottom of Lombard Street, the popular tourist thoroughfare that is best known as the crookedest street in the world.
@HiddenCash's anonymous creator said his giveaways were a "social experiment for good". He claims to make his money from San Francisco's hot and lucrative real estate market and hopes that winners also "pay it forward". @HiddenCash's anonymous creator said his giveaways were a "social experiment for good". He claims to make his money from the real estate market and hopes that winners "pay it forward".
Two of his winners said on Tuesday that they had done just that. Two of his winners said on Tuesday that they had done just that. Sergio Loza, 28, of San Francisco, said he saw a clue on Twitter on Sunday morning with the message: "Early bird gets the worm." He raced out and found an envelope with $50 inside taped to a parking meter in the city's Mission district.
Sergio Loza, 28, of San Francisco, said he saw a clue on Twitter on Sunday morning with the message: "Early bird gets the worm." He raced out and found an envelope with $50 inside taped to a parking meter in the city's Mission district. Loza said he spent $30 on clothes for his two-year-old niece's birthday and gave her the remaining $20 as well. "I didn't spend it on myself," said Loza, a security guard. "It feels good to give, especially in these times."
Loza said he spent $30 on clothes for his two-year-old niece's birthday and gave her the remaining $20 as well.
"I didn't spend it on myself," said Loza, a security guard. "It feels good to give, especially in these times."
Adam Wenger, 27, said he won $200 by finding two envelopes about two hours apart on Friday in the city's South of Market district. One envelope read: "With Love, from @HiddenCash. Leave $20 somewhere and pay it forward."Adam Wenger, 27, said he won $200 by finding two envelopes about two hours apart on Friday in the city's South of Market district. One envelope read: "With Love, from @HiddenCash. Leave $20 somewhere and pay it forward."
Wenger, a web producer for KGO-Radio, bought pizza for his co-workers on Tuesday and plans to pay a $100 parking ticket. "It's crazy," he said.Wenger, a web producer for KGO-Radio, bought pizza for his co-workers on Tuesday and plans to pay a $100 parking ticket. "It's crazy," he said.
@HiddenCash said on Twitter that he planned to leave envelopes in San Jose on Wednesday, in Los Angeles this weekend and perhaps in New York next month. Followers have requested similar gestures in Alabama, Washington DC, and as far away as Pakistan, with various hashtags ranging from #kindness, #generous, #epic and #strange.@HiddenCash said on Twitter that he planned to leave envelopes in San Jose on Wednesday, in Los Angeles this weekend and perhaps in New York next month. Followers have requested similar gestures in Alabama, Washington DC, and as far away as Pakistan, with various hashtags ranging from #kindness, #generous, #epic and #strange.
Loza said he sent @HiddenCash "a big shoutout" on Twitter thanking him for the money. Loza said he sent @HiddenCash "a big shoutout" on Twitter thanking him for the money. "It's a positive thing. I hope he keeps it up," he said. "While you probably can't help the whole world, a few at a time is definitely good."
"It's a positive thing. I hope he keeps it up," Loza said. "While you probably can't help the whole world, a few at a time is definitely good."