San Diego has officially joined the nationwide “cash drop” phenomenon sweeping cities from Boston to Atlanta, where social media creators hide stacks of money in public places and post cryptic visual clues for followers to race out and find them.
The local versions – Instagram accounts @sdmoneyhunt and @sandiegoscavengers – have quickly built major followings by stashing envelopes or wrapped-up bills at beaches, parks, and street corners around the county, then usually filming the first person to claim the prize.
The concept is simple: the accounts post a short video showing a location hint and the cash-stuffed receptacle being dropped – often nothing more than a tree trunk, a railing, a sliver of curb or a parking lot. Followers then scramble to match the visual and get to the spot before anyone else. Finds are often captured on camera within minutes, with some videos showing full-on foot races or cars pulling up seconds apart…