How to find and claim unclaimed money

What unclaimed money is

When a bank, employer, insurer, utility or other business owes you money and cannot reach you for a while, the law requires it to hand that money to a state. Typical examples are a closed bank account with a balance left in it, a last paycheck that was never cashed, a utility deposit, an insurance refund, or the contents of a safe deposit box.

The state holds it for you until you claim it. Money is sent to the state where the business is based, not always the state where you live, so it is common to have money waiting in more than one state, especially if you have moved.

Is MissingMoney.com legit?

Yes. MissingMoney.com is sponsored by NAUPA, the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, which is the association of the state programs themselves. Most states take part, so one search covers most of the country at once.

When it finds a match, it shows which state is holding the money and sends you to that state's official website to claim it. It does not take a cut, and it does not ask you to pay.

Where to search

1. Go to MissingMoney.com and search your name. Leave the city blank at first so you see every match.
2. Search again with the name variations you have used: a maiden name, a middle initial, a common misspelling.
3. Search each state you have lived or worked in on that state's own unclaimed-property website. A few states do not take part in MissingMoney.com, and NAUPA lists every official state program.
4. Search for family members too. Heirs may be able to claim money left by a relative who has died.

How to claim

1. Open the match on the state's official website and start the claim there.
2. Confirm who you are. The state will ask for identifying details, which vary by state and by the size of the claim.
3. Prove the link to the old record, usually with a past address. An old bill, lease or tax form helps.
4. Send any documents the state asks for. Processing time varies by state and by claim; the state's website shows where your claim stands.

Scams to avoid

• Letters, emails or texts that say you must pay a fee to receive your money. The official process is free.
• Anyone who asks for your bank password, online banking login or a gift card. The state never needs these.
• Copycat websites with names close to MissingMoney.com that ask you to sign up or pay first.
• "Finder" services that want a percentage. Some are legal, but they can only find what you can find yourself for free. States generally require finders to be registered, so check with your state before signing anything.

Why scammers find claimants so easily

Scam letters about unclaimed money usually arrive at your real home address with your real name on them. Most of that information comes from people-search and data broker sites, which publish your address, phone number and relatives for anyone to look up.

Removing yourself from those sites makes you much harder to target, for this scam and many others.

Questions

Related

• Remove yourself from Whitepages
• Remove yourself from Spokeo
• Remove yourself from TruePeopleSearch
• See all sites in the Privacy Handbook