Free money!

ASHLEY CAFFERTY got $100 - money for nothing - for just showing up, thanks to a generous, mysterious admirer of Ben Franklin.

The 21st-century, anonymous "Ben Franklin" posts landmarks on social media and hands a crisp $100 bill to the first person to arrive at the landmark under the time limit.

He asked me for anonymity because he doesn't want strangers showing up at his suburban home looking for handouts and because the mystery adds to the playful flavor of #FindMePhilly.

Cafferty was the 69th winner of a C-note from the tall, slim man with a close-cropped beard who says he wants to make Philadelphians more appreciative of their city and - maybe - turn his generosity into a business venture.

"Why can't Philadelphia be known for giving away money rather than booing Santa Claus?" he asks.

He has 5,400 followers on Instagram, 2,800 on Twitter, and needs more to make the one-step scavenger hunt work better. If he had 100,000 followers, the chance of someone being close to the landmark would be much greater.

Cafferty had just ended a jog around Washington Square and noticed a shot of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Revolutionary War memorial come up on her phone. She got there in 4 minutes and 55 seconds (I timed it), apologetic for being sweaty.

If no one arrives in time, "Ben" leaves behind a laminated card with that day's date as proof he had been there.

A suburban dad with a house, wife, kids and a dog, "Ben" was enjoying a "happy, comfortable life," but each night after putting the kids to bed, he'd drink beer and play video games. "I felt like I was in a rut."

As last year drew to a close, a couple of unrelated particles collided, creating a micro-explosion of creativity - and opportunity.

He had made multiple New Year's resolutions - "floss every day, give the dog longer walks, stop watching TV, except for sports, read a book a week," he says. He was also toying with some kind of a giveaway on social media.

That was the fuel. The payload was provided by an unexpected bonus at work and winning his fantasy-football league. Fate handed him $3,000. "Normally I don't have $3,000 in my savings account," he says.

On Jan. 10 he posted a picture taken on Kelly Drive with the invitation to #ComeFindMe. He offered $100 - that seemed high enough to motivate people - to the first person to find him within 15 minutes.

No one came. The next day, doing online research, he saw Ben Franklin's birthday was Jan. 17.

Destiny? Karma? Coincidence? He adopted Ben's image and hopes, like Franklin, to make lightning strike.

He changed the project from #ComeFindMe to #FindMePhilly, and cut the 15 minutes to 13, because "I thought 15 was too bland," he says. "Some people think it's for the 13 original states, but, no, that's not it."

He had $3,000 and told himself he would do it for 30 days, "like a street art project."

He did it for a week without success. "I am not stopping until someone wins today," he posted.

The first winner found him next to Rodin's "The Thinker" sculpture on the Parkway.

Just as the time was running out, "A girl runs up, out of breath," he says.

"Are you . . . ?" she asks.

"Yes, I am," he says, posting a picture of her $100 payoff as proof this was not a gag.

She used the money to hand out pizza and $5 bills to homeless people, he says.

"Wow!" he thought. "This is great."

He thought #FindMePhilly would go viral in 30 days, but it didn't. After his three grand was gone, "Ben" asked his dad to help fund his dream. Dad bought in.

"Ben" admits to some frustration. "Things are moving more slowly than I had thought."

"Going viral" has eluded him. What goes viral can't be predicted, unless maybe it involves a puppy down a well.

"Ben" has dreams, maybe fantasies, of a movie or TV series. His boldest dream is to someday give away $1 million.

For that, he needs sponsors, but the decision-makers don't return his calls.

"If I get the follower base, I'll get attention," he tells me, explaining why he is willing to let me write about him.

The more followers he has, the more attractive he will be to sponsors. He notes, both glumly and enviously, Kim Kardashian gets $13,000 a tweet.

If #FindMePhilly fails, "I won't be crushed. It will be a letdown."

Until then, "Ben Franklin" will keep posting pictures and handing out cash.

Until the cash runs out.

Phone: 215-854-5977

On Twitter: @StuBykofsky

Blog: ph.ly/Byko

Columns: ph.ly/StuBykofsky