Missing Money

There is over $50 Billion in unclaimed money in the US.

MissingMoney.com – start here, as this website aggregates all the state unclaimed money websites.

​Did you know? – If you are paid a refund it will be returned to the state in which the company is located. You could have money in California held in your name because you were refunded by a CA company that input your wrong address, spelled your name wrong, or sent you a check after you moved to a new location.

On my first search, I found money that was in my name, but my first and last name were reversed. I found money from an ebay product that was refunded to me incorrectly, from financial claims made by others of which I was a recipient but they had no address on file. I found money in my parents name, my wife’s maiden name. I found an insurance claim that was paid to a rental property I used to own. Some were small and some were larger but it’s free money if you can find it!

What’s your story? One of our members had a friend who found a $250,000 insurance policy that was left to them, and another found $50,000 from an estate settlement they knew nothing about. Let us hear your story?

Additional Places to Search!

  1. State Treasury Websites: Each state has an unclaimed property program. A quick search can reveal if you have any unclaimed money through NAUPA.
  2. Federal Deposits: Ever had a tax refund that never showed up? The IRS might be your unintentional savings account.
  3. Old Bank Accounts: Banks are not treasure keepers. Money in inactive accounts is turned over to the state. Claim it before it becomes part of a pirate’s loot!
  4. Stocks and Dividends: Lost track of old stock or dividend? Financial institutions are obligated to hand over inactive assets to the state.
  5. National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators
  6. IRS – Where’s My Refund?: Missing government refunds, overpayments and more
  7. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Unclaimed Funds – Missing bank funds, fees, returned checks

Here are some tips for using the unclaimed money websites to find unclaimed money:

  • Use your full name, including any middle names or nicknames.
  • Reverse your first and last name, add you middle name
  • Try common misspellings of your name
  • Try different variations of your name, such as abbreviations, initials, and maiden names.
  • If you are unsure of your Social Security number, you can still search for unclaimed property using your name and address.
  • Search for unclaimed property in every state where you have lived or worked.
  • Unclaimed money can come from a variety of sources, including dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, forgotten utility deposits, and unopened tax refunds.
  • You can search for unclaimed money in every state where you have lived or worked.

It is important to be aware of scams. There are scammers who will try to steal your money or personal information by claiming to help you find and claim unclaimed money.

Here are some tips to avoid scams:

  • You should never pay a company a fee to help you claim unclaimed property.
  • You can always file a claim yourself for free.
  • Never give out your personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank account number, to someone who claims to be from the government or a company that helps people find and claim unclaimed property.
  • If you are unsure whether a company is legitimate, you can contact the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) for more information.

Articles About Unclaimed Money:

  1. USA Today Article
  2. TreasuryDirect on Unclaimed Money and Assets
  3. Forbes Article on Unclaimed Money