Whoâ€™s been leaving strangers free cash? And why?

Cash has been hidden all around Palo Alto and there is no sign of it being over anytime soon Source: Supplied

BUNDLES of cash, hidden around the city for people to find, is one way to get a community talking.

So too is finding out exactly who is behind the unbelievable generosity.

That is the scenario citizens of Palo Alto in California have found themselves in after a Twitter account called @hiddencash sprung up leaving clues about where to find money.

The cash, sometimes hundreds of dollars at time, have been scattered around the city and has, unsurprisingly, created near hysteria for the hundreds of thousands of people who followed the account and went searching for the bounty.

But the man behind @hiddencash has been outed by a television program called Inside Edition, which used a voice analyst to reveal @hiddencash was real estate mogul Jason Buzi.

The revelation has stirred controversy because Mr Buzi has been accused of unethical behaviour over his business practices.

Jason Buzi has been leaving money all over Palo Alto and says he is just "giving back" to the community Source: Facebook

An article in Palo Alto Online in 2012 alleges Buzi took advantage of struggling homeowners during the United State's deep recession, buying their homes at below market value and then quickly flipping them for profit the homeowners would never see.

Mr Buzi denies any wrongdoing. His response to the accusations he made money at time many were struggling to pay rent was:

"I totally understand that [wealth] is an issue," he says, "I'm totally mindful of that. I wasn't born wealthy. So many people I know have done better than me, and they're not doing anything to give back. So it's strange for someone who gives back to be criticised for how they give money. I really am just trying to give back."

Mr Buzi told the Bold Italic HiddenCash brought families together and bridged the online and offline world.

One person who found $200 was a 14-year-old who cried after discovering $200 and said she'd give the money to her grandma — although there are others want more than randomly placed bills. Mr Buzi said he'd gotten emails from people who think he should buy them homes and cars, or help with their mortgages, none of which, he explains, is part of his plan.

While he won't say what he has planned next one thing is certain HiddenCash will be around for abit longer yet.

This weekend he has been tweeting that @hiddencash would continue to "grow even bigger" with the promise of more events in San Francisco this weekend.