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Hidden cash phenomenon pops up in Edmonton

Jody Mitoma shows off his scavenger hunt find on Twitter. Twitter, @EdmontonShouts

EDMONTON – An online craze that has people running around cities across North America searching for hidden cash has shown up in Edmonton.

The key is to monitor the @YEGHiddenCash account on Twitter, and follow the clues.

The hidden cash trend was started in San Francisco by an anonymous donor who called it a “social experiment for good.” It spread across California, then made its way to other U.S. states before spawning copycats in the United Kingdom.

The Twitter scavenger hunt has also taken over Toronto and the Vancouver area.

READ MORE: Hundreds of dollars hidden around Vancouver today in Twitter scavenger hunt

The first clue in Edmonton was posted on Twitter early Thursday morning.

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First hidden cash spot in Edmonton. The photo was posted on Twitter by the @YEGHiddenCash account with the caption, “we are making this first one real simple.” Twitter, @YEGhiddencash

Despite recognizing the location, Jody Mitoma admits he waited about half an hour before making the 10-block trip from his place to 104 Street and Jasper Avenue to check it out.

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“I thought it was probably just a prank or something like that, I didn’t think it’d actually be true,” he says.

His trip paid off to the tune of $100, which he found in an envelope taped to a post.

Jody Mitoma with the $100 he found taped to a pole in Edmonton Thursday morning.
Jody Mitoma with the $100 he found taped to a pole in Edmonton Thursday morning. Supplied by Jody Mitoma

“I’ll be paying it forward for sure,” Mitoma says. “I’m not sure what I’ll be doing just yet, but I’ll be paying it forward.”

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The person behind the @YEGHiddenCash give-away wants to remain anonymous, but sent the following statement to Global Edmonton:

“This is not part of any advertising, campaign, or promotion. The money represents human kindness and generosity…We are sharing the wealth as easily as we can share kindness and love. All we each have to do is want to share it. It is so easy to do and we want to inspire people to share not just money but this kindness and love. We want to remind people that it is so simple to make a difference and hopefully they will be inspired to do something today that will bring a smile to someone’s face.”

There apparently hasn’t been a limit set to how much money will be given way.

By the afternoon, a second $100 was claimed.

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