You may have unclaimed money, also referred to as unclaimed property, which is due you from a variety of sources, such as:
• Associations
• Brokerage firms
• Companies with which you have done business
• Credit unions
• Foreign governments
• Former employers
• Governments – federal, state, city
• Insurance companies
• Investments
• Pensions
• Various other sources
Maya Sullivan is the author of “Dare to be your Own Boss: Follow your Passion, Create a Niche.”
Businesses, associations and other entities are legally obligated to send all unclaimed money to the state where you worked or lived.
Unclaimed money includes:
• Annuities
• Back wages
• Bank deposits and CDs
• Credit union deposits and CDs
• FHA insurance refunds
• Foreign claims
• Insurance refunds
• Life insurance
• Savings bonds
• Savings and checking accounts
• Traveler’s checks
• Utility security deposits
• SEC claims funds – https://www.sec.gov/fast-answers/answersclmfundhtm.html
• Stock dividends
• Tax refund checks – federal, state and city
• Unclaimed deposits from companies
• Variety of other items
How to Find Your Unclaimed Money
This government website is a good starting place: https://www.usa.gov/unclaimed-money#item-37222 .
It has links to a variety of legitimate resources.
Include in your search all states where you worked and lived. Add to this the name of deceased people from whom you inherited money. Heirs may also be able to make claims.
Searching for your money is free.
Scams
There are legitimate resources, and then of course there are the swindles.
“Unclaimed property” scams may appear through phone calls, emails and websites that will take your personal information and then use it to the thieves’ advantage.
Here are a few resources to check on potential scams:
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has tips on a variety of scams: www.ftc.gov
— “Refund and Recovery Scams”: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0102-refund-and-recovery-scams
— “Government Imposter Scams”: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0048-government-imposter-scams
• National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) “What is Unclaimed Property”: https://www.unclaimed.org/what/
• Scambusters.org “The surprising truth about unclaimed money: Internet ScamBusters #100: https://www.scambusters.org/unclaimed-money.html
Best wishes for finding pots of real money with your name on them!
