Since last Thursday, an anonymous Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) user who goes by the name of @HiddenCash on Twitter has been conducting a scavenger hunt of sorts and leading users to white envelopes filled with cash. So far, he’s given away over $5000 but has designs to give away considerably more in the future.
Alexandra Etherton found $68 taped to a parking meter while others have found their envelopes under bulldozers and on the beach. The hints aren’t terrifically difficult to follow. For example, an envelope was left in a bar whose clue was “A bar that Tony Hawk would love.” In this case, @HiddenCash was referring to San Francisco’s ever popular daytime drinking establishment “The Ramp.”
Anonymous Twitter user wants to help people in a fun way
While he remains anonymous, he did contact Time by email and wrote the following, “I have made my fortune in real estate, and have been able to accumulate multiple properties, whereas so many people can’t afford to buy a house or even a small condo in San Francisco. People who work just as hard or harder than me. So I wanted to give back … But I also wanted to do something that would give back in a fun way, and get people involved.”
“My message for the ‘haves’ is to be a little more generous, and to give back more,” HiddenCash adds. “I know so many wealthy people who are selfish and greedy, and just want more, more, more. When is it enough? When will you be satisfied? Take a step back, relax, and give back a bit. Putting smiles on other people’s faces will put a smile on your face. Believe me.”
HiddenCash then railed against the lottery and games of chance calling it irresponsible and the “worst thing you can do”
Presently, HiddenCash has about 50,000 followers but that number is certainly going to rise as he told TIME that he plans to distribute monies that total in the six figures with a drop in San Jose tomorrow, and a weekend drop planned for Los Angeles as he expands his philanthropy nationwide.
HiddenCash’s advice for the rest of us is a bit more sobering, however: “If you are broke and struggling, please don’t look to @hiddencash or a lottery ticket to be your salvation … Relying on games of chance is probably the worst and least responsible thing you can do.”
HiddenCash Twitter Followers
With more than 50,000 followers amassed in less than a week, now HiddenCash says it will go nationwide and tells TIME the plan is to give away a total of six figures. A new drop is promised in San Jose on Wednesday and its first in Los Angeles is slated for this weekend. Get ready for the stampede.
