Charlotte hidden cash contests going viral. Can you legally keep what you find?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Viral Instagram cash-drop accounts draw thousands of followers chasing cash.
- Lawyers say abandoned-gift arguments exist, but statute treats unclaimed cash as theft.
- Turn found money over to police or consult an attorney to avoid theft penalties.
The Instagram account is barely a week old, yet nearly 42,000 Charlotte residents are already following, chasing a quick payday.
Find The Cash Charlotte, which has been gaining attention on social media platforms this week, claims to drop cash at various locations throughout the city, and, as the old kindergarten adage goes — “finders keepers.” Another account, PassPass Charlotte with more than 51,000 followers, is making similar promises this week.
Other “Find the Cash” accounts have popped up in cities like Atlanta, Dallas and Nashville, Axios reported this summer.
Note: It’s unclear if these local cash drops are legitimate. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department did not respond to a request for comment from The Charlotte Observer asking to verify these reports. Find the Cash Charlotte declined the Observer’s request for comment through Instagram.
But no matter how you find cash in public, could you face legal trouble if you take the money?
Here’s what you need to know.
Can you keep money that you find in NC?
Since the person behind the account is intentionally leaving the money behind, an argument could be made that the cash is a gift or abandoned property, Mark Jetton, a founding partner at Jetton & Meredith in Charlotte, told The Charlotte Observer.
“It’s being portrayed out to the public that this is a gift for anybody to take,” Jetton said.
Usually, in North Carolina, taking lost property (including cash) is considered theft if a person does not make a real effort to track down the owner, according to The Law Office of Kevin L. Barnett in Charlotte.
Theft of goods worth less than $1,000 is a misdemeanor in North Carolina, which can mean up to 120 days in jail and a fine of $1,000, according to Giles Law, a firm based in Charlotte. Anything over $1,000 bumps it up to a felony, and for a first-time offender, that can carry up to eight months behind bars, the Observer previously reported.
What should you do with the money that you find?
If you come across money and can’t track down the owner, HG.org recommends turning it over to law enforcement.
For example, in 2019, an armored truck spilled about $175,000 onto a road in Atlanta. People who stopped to collect the cash were encouraged to give it to the police, and those who did weren’t prosecuted, the New York Times reported.
HG.org also notes that if you find a large sum and no one claims it, it can be wise to consult an attorney to make sure the money is returned to you if authorities can’t locate the owner.
