adminWell, surprise, surprise, it was.
New Yorker Craig Rowin was unmasked as a hoaxer.
And the joke is on him.
Rowin admitted on yet another video that his claim of actually finding someone daft enough to hand over the cash was completely bogus.
He showed footage of himself torching a supposed cheque for a million — before a surprised audience at the UCB Theatre in Manhattan — moments after he accepted it last night from the phony millionaire.
Now he is being very publicity-shy and reluctant to talk about the stunt.
He told the Daily News: “If you want to set up an interview, you can call my manager.”
When his initial plea for money went out on YouTube, Rowin repeatedly insisted it was not a prank.
He made a series of videos which were viewed by tens of thousands of web users.
“Millionaires, listen up, I have a proposition. You have millions and millions of dollars. Please give me a million,” he said.
“I don’t need it for anything specific, but I think it would be awesome.
“I haven’t thought that through yet. I might at least go on a trip to start.
“I am not Ashton Kutcher and you are not being punked.”
In one YouTube appeal, he listed and asked dozens of wealthy individuals, including Lady Gaga, Warren Buffett, Nelson Mandela, James Earl Jones, and actor Will Smith’s kids, who he claimed could make him rich if they wanted to.
He also appealed to the Chilean miners for money and apologised if they weren’t millionaires.
The 27-year-old said his mystery “donor” was an investment banker named Benjamin.
Later it emerged “Benjamin” was an actor.
Rowin also showed off a notarised letter from “Benjamin’s” lawyer saying that he would owe him nothing in exchange for the US$1 million.
Today, Rowin isn’t laughing all the way to the bank. — Daily Mail.
Online Reporter