There was so a Dilbert cartoon suggesting exactly that. It was part of a series, my favourite of which was "Did you know the phone company sends electricity into your house every time your phone rings? You can power things from it if you give idiots a reason to phone you." (pic of Dilbert putting up signs in his neighbourhood saying "Free Money, Call 555-1212").

Which in turn reminds me of the story in this article of someone placing a newspaper ad saying just "HURRY LAST CHANCE TO SEND IN YOUR DOLLAR" and his PO box number, and making a small fortune.

Peter