For most of my life I've been pretty lucky at finding money on the ground.  I've found $20, $40 twice, and $60, cash, lying on the sidewalk, in a 7-11 or in the street. I've never had any luck returning it, because cash is almost untraceable.

My latest find, a week ago in the parking lot of a Save Mart: $60 cash in a little folded wad. 

$60 is a lot of  money to lose, especially for those who aren't multi-thousandaires. I left a note with the store manager, and, acknowledging the hopelessness of the quest, posted a note on Craigslist.

    Cash in the Parking lot of Save Mart
    I found some cash in the parking lot at Save Mart. Let me know if you lost cash and can identify it.
    Thanks.

The problem with posting a "found cash" notice on craigslist is that a note like this might churn up some liars, and it did!  Three people contacted me, Jesa, Alisha and Clyde.

Jesa- Thanks for not being like the person who stole my bike today, or the person who stole my other bike two weeks ago. nice to see there are still some honest people out there...

Alisha- I lost a small amount of money ($50) 2 $20 bills and a $10 at the save mart at Auburn and Garfield. Please let me know if you  found it.

She had the wrong location, and in crafting my response, I wondered how much info I should volunteer...

Rob- Sorry Alisha. I found money at the Folsom Blvd. one.

Alisha- It is okay…was it a lot? I hope the owner claims it, it always makes me sad to think that it might be all they have.

Rob- Yeah, kind of a lot. My wife was not happy when I brought it home. She was sad for the person who lost it. Also, the poorest people  probably aren't online, checking craigslist, so this is kind of hopeless. (3:01 pm)

Alisha- Ya it is sad. Usually if they carry it in a envelope or something they may have used the check cashing place near there, it might  have a logo or something.

Rob- Nope.  There actually WAS a check cashing receipt nearby, but it was from May. It didn't look related.

Next came Clyde.

Clyde- lost my grocery money at the Folsom Blvd. location. I lost over $300.00 there. I was running around with my kids, and must of  dropped it when i took my wallet out, it was tucked behind my wallet. Larger bills, mostly 20.00 bills. Please let me know, I am desperate  to find it. -Clyde (3:42 pm)

Rob- Hi Clyde. That is the store where I found the money. What day and time did you lose it?

Clyde- I lost it - August 3rd, that is the day i get my money from welfare, and I lost it in the parking lot. I sure hope it is, we are hurting  without it. Thanks, Clyde

Rob- Sorry, I don't think this is a match. Good luck.

Clyde- Thanks anyway. It's people like you that make me believe people would do the right thing.

Maybe I am an extraordinarily skeptical person, but the timing of the second email was suspicious. I also found it strange that Clyde offered up precise information only about the things I had told Alisha, but had left out other helpful information.

The next day, I found some more money, in cities all across the country. What a day I had!
I found money in Minneapolis, Seattle,  Las Vegas and Dallas.

A lot of money.

Minneapolis -----
Found Cash - Target Parking Lot
Please email if you lost cash money outside of Target yesterday. Must provide details of money & location.

Seattle ------
Folded cash bills at Big O Tires.
I came across folded bills in the parking lot of Big O Tires. Email to identify and claim.

Las Vegas ----
My boyfriend and I came across a pack of cash in the parking lot of Chevy's Fresh Mex Restaurant......will return to owner......want to do the  right thing....reward will be appreciated.

Dallas -------
Found: Cash at Mervyns Store
Found some cash in Mervyns yesterday. Would like to return it to the rightful owner (because if you are shopping at Mervyns, you probably  can't afford to lose this money).

Five people emailed.

Maryann- Just wanted to say that it is really nice to know that there are people out there like you!  Honest people doing the right thing.  I  have lost a ring and it gives me hope that I might get it back someday because of people like you. Good luck finding the owner to this  missing cash, know that you should always feel good about trying.

Catherine- I was shopping at the Mervyns on camp wisdom and three hundred dollard fell out of my wallett it was twenties and one  hundreds. It was my kids back to school money and have been loosing my mind. Not sure if you found all of it or part. but please email me  back either way.  Thank you, Catherine (Fri. 4:36pm)

Jack- My wife and I where shopping at Mervyns and lost 260.00 it was one fifty one ten five twenties and one one hundred dollar bill. We  where at the Mervyns on Plano Rd. In Dallas please let me know if you found any part of this money we would greatly appreciate it. (Fri.  4:40pm)

Rob- Hi Catherine, I'm sorry, I found more money than that, so I think it must be someone else's. I am very sorry. Good luck.  -Rob (Mon  10:30am)

Rob- Hi Jack, I'm sorry, I found the money in the shoe department at the Camp Wisdom Mervyn's store. Good luck. -Rob (Mon 10:31am)

Bella- Hello I was shopping at the mervyns on camp wisdom with my family I was in the shoe department and jewlrey department.  somewhere in either department I lost three hundred dollars. and I am going out of my mind ! please email me back and let me know if  you found it. I have been worried sick. thank you (10:35 am!!)

Rob- Hi Bella, That is the same store where I found the money, but I found almost $800 wrapped in paper. I'm sorry. It might even be from  the store itself, so I've been planning to go and ask the manager if their deposit was missing or something. Good luck. - Rob (Mon 12:50  pm)

Eric- I saw your post on cl just as I was going to put one up. my boss told me about cl. I lost some money at mervyns on camp wisdom I  had just come from the bank and stopped in to get some sneakers. the money I lost is my rent money. it was wrapped in paper and was  780.00 . my wife is needless to say unhappy with me for loosing it. I called the store and no one has turnend it in. if you can email me  back.  thank you.  eric (Mon 12:54 pm)

Bella- thank you for emailing me back. someone just called me who found my money! so thankfully I got it back.

Rob-Hi Eric, Ok, thanks for writing. I called the store and tried to talk to the manager to see if it might be misplaced or stolen from the  register, but she was not available. I hung up after 7 minutes on hold. Anyway, I'm waiting for them to call me back too. I want to be sure I  have the right person because it was a lot of money. Can you tell me anything about the paper? -Rob

Eric- It was wrapped in white paper, I am loosing my mind paniking because that was almost my whole pay how could I possibly recoop  that you know|?

Rob- The money I found was wrapped in magazine pages, so I don't think this is the right money.  Good luck.  -Rob

And that was it. Each represented personality came from a seperate, long-established yahoo mail account.

I can hardly believe it actually happened... that someone actually thought I would fall for their ever-more-specific claims. It felt like the same person coming up to my "Free Candy" booth four times, wearing lame disguises with each visit. And just so you know, the money in Dallas was wrapped in the centerfold pages...from Oprah's "O" Magazine.