Indie bookstore worker accidentally sparks massive treasure search: 'There are now HUNDREDS of people...following these "clues"'

One random day at the bookstore ended up becoming the most exciting day of this person's year! 

You don't get a lot of opportunities to go on a treasure hunt as an adult! Unless you're into geo-caching, you probably haven't done such a thing since your youth. But thanks to an employee at a bookstore, hundreds of people got to relive their childhood treasure-hunting days! A bookstore employee snapped a photo of an "old-timey treasure map and some cryptic clues." This was done as a joke, u/SophieR8 insists, but suddenly, the whole internet began to take things seriously. Once that ball started rolling, there was no stopping it! As it often happens on the internet, excited Redditors snowballed their enthusiasm into a real-life quest to find the treasure. 

After you read that story, read about this Mom insisted that her neighbor pay up after a group of 14-year-olds shoveled her driveway, insisting that "It's $60." 

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Author image for Remy Millisky Remy Millisky
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    KARTGRAU YIV 9201-255 as INTHEON M PIZZAD FONTANA P.ZZA VENEZIA 22 VILLA BORGHESE CAMPIDOGLIO FORO ROMANO CIRCO MASSIMO M Barberini Fontana di Trevi 15 Repubblica Teatro dell Opera NAZIONALE NAZIONALE Cavour ESQUILINO M Colosseo PALATINO COLOSSEO MCirco Massimo Ташенно магазины Knouzape Poupa. Ag тилей сбор участков ge кскурсия VILLA ALAM CASTRO PRETORIO Castro Pretorio M BIBLIOTECA NAZIONALE MM Termini STAZIONE CENTRALE ROMA TERMINI S. MARIA MAGGIORE no городу. обрение времня PIAZZA VITTORIO M
    via oxana v on Unsplash+

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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  • 02
    TIFU by accidentally starting a city-wide scavenger hunt
    via u/SophieR8
  • 03
    Obligatory this happened last weekend, and I'm still dealing with the aftermath. So I work at a small indie bookstore, and we often get used books donated. Last week, I found this beautiful vintage copy of "Treasure Island" with really
    via u/SophieR8
  • 04
    detailed illustrations. Inside was this yellowed piece of paper with what looked like an old-timey treasure map and some cryptic clues. I thought it would be fun to post it on our local city's subreddit as a joke, saying I found this "mysterious map" and wondering if anyone knew what it meant.
    via u/SophieR8
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  • 05
    The post blew up overnight. Like, seriously blew up. Turns out, the "clues" actually matched up with real locations around our city - old buildings, historic landmarks, etc. What I thought was gibberish actually made sense to history buffs. People started forming teams and going on actual treasure hunts. Someone made a Discord.
    via u/SophieR8
  • 06
    Local news picked it up. There are now HUNDREDS of people combing through the city following these "clues." Here's the thing: There is no treasure. The map was probably just some kid's school project from decades ago. I tried posting
    via u/SophieR8
  • 07
    updates explaining this, but people think I'm trying to throw them off the trail. Some guy in a fedora came to the bookstore today and accused me of being part of a secret society.
    via u/SophieR8
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  • 08
    The mayor's office called asking about permits for treasure hunting on public property. I'm getting DMs from people claiming they've "solved" parts of the puzzle and demanding to know the next steps. Someone started a GoFundMe to hire a professional cryptographer.
    via u/SophieR8
  • 09
    TL;DR: Posted a random old map as a joke, accidentally created a city-wide treasure hunting craze, and now I'm too afraid to tell everyone it's fake.
    via u/SophieR8

    While this person seems a tad regretful about the whole experience, just think about how often the internet gets a fun little treasure map adventure to follow along with? Not every day, that's for sure! It's an innocent mistake that has caused a few (hundred) people to have fun. I don't think this person has much to worry about, but check out what commenters had to say below. 

  • 10

    Commenters found the whole thing amusing, and had a few suggestions for the original poster

    pselie4 In other words, you now have an army. The mayor asking you about permits? Ha! Play your cards right and you'll be king of your city.
    via u/SophieR8
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  • 11
    Reset108 Time to figure out where it leads and plant a small "treasure" there. Maybe just an empty box and everyone that finds it will assume someone else got there first.
    via u/SophieR8
  • 12
    borucas16 Plant a mirror with a message saying, "You were the treasure all along
    via u/SophieR8
  • 13
    SirFew6916 Post the map OP, I wanna solve it (I definitely won't be able to solve it)
    via u/SophieR8

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