Police officers, tourist guides and drug dealers are all among the opportunists hoping to profit from the four-year-old's disappearance.
The reward has apparently been put up by Brian Kennedy, a double glazing millionaire who has backed the McCanns bid to find their missing daughter - and to clear their names.
Despite already shelling out an undisclosed but substantial sum towards the campaign, it now appears he has gone one step forward.
Bounty hunters have apparently been operating across Morocco, the location of a spiralling number of sightings.
Tourist guide Ali El Bouazaout, who speaks seven languages, is just one of the men to become involved with the search and has travelled more than 1,000 scouring the country for the little girl.
"I have been all over Morocco looking for Madeleine - to Marrakesh, to Fez, even to the Sahara, showing her picture to people, hoping someone will recognise her," he said.
"And if I find her I will be rich. I have been promised I will never have to work again, maybe £1 million.
The tourist guide joined the hunt after Mr Kennedy went into Morocco after a suspected sighting in Zinat, in the Rif mountains.
"Brian flew into Morocco in his private jet looking for Madeleine," he said.
"I was waiting outside the Hertz rental car company office by the airport and that is where I met him.
"I worked as his guide and translator. I went with him to Zinat to look for Madeleine but it was not her.
"Then I went with him to Rabat to the British Embassy. I know him very well.
"I have been all over the country, more than 1,400 kilometres, showing Madeleine's pictures.
Speaking to the Daily Express last night, Mr Kennedy, 47, confirmed the Moroccan tour guide was involved with the hunt.
He said: "I know Ali. He is a sweet guy. Yes, I promised him a reward but that is not the reason he is doing this.
"He really want to help. He was the guy who was involved with the first sighting in Morocco.
"He was the man who went with us to find the girl in Zinat, who turned out to look like Madeleine but was actually a Moroccan girl."
Other bounty hunters are also on the trail, including low-level drug pushers, who ply their trade in the streets and souqs of Morocco, and even off duty policemen.
One officer said: "How much will you give me if I find her?
"I think she must be worth two or three million pounds, don't you think?"
Mr Kennedy is a double-glazing magnate, who made his money from Everest windows, and has a £250 million fortune.
Earlier this autumn, he pledged to meet all the growing costs of "Team McCann", the nickname given to the array of legal and media advisers supporting the family.
A senior source close to Mr and Mrs McCann said Mr Kennedy, 47, decided to act after being moved by the plight of the missing girl's parents when they were made formal suspects in her disappearance.
Mr Kennedy is believed to have had no previous contact with the McCanns.
He made his offer shortly after it was made clear the McCanns would not be drawing on the £1 million donated to the Find Madeleine Fund to pay for legal fees and media advice.
The couple had feared they would be forced to sell their home in Rothley, Leicestershire, as they struggled to rebut the leaks and allegations coming from the Portuguese authorities.
However, with Mr Kennedy's help, the McCanns have in recent weeks been able to take on former BBC reporter Clarence Mitchell and lawyers Kingsley Napley to fight their case. One of Britain's leading lawyers, Michael Caplan, QC, has also been employed.
The McCanns' benefactor – who shares his name with Kate's uncle, but to whom he is not related – is the son of an Edinburgh window cleaner, who was brought up a Jehovah's Witness.
He is one of Britain's richest businessmen. In 2003 he sold double-glazing firm Everest for £63million, three years after buying it for £47million.
Mr Kennedy's business empire includes about 20 firms spanning plastics, conservatory-roof manufacturer Ultraframe, glass processing, kitchens and other home improvement retailing. They have a combined annual turnover of £500million. He also owns Sale Sharks rugby club.
Reportedly described by friends as a rough diamond, the father of five plays rugby and regards himself as "one of the lads".
He lives in the village of Swettenham, in Congleton, Cheshire, with his wife Christine. The average house price in the area is close to £1million.
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