Track Down Unclaimed Property and Money Con Artists Scam Alert AARP Eve
Track Down Unclaimed Property and Money - Con Artists - Scam Alert - AARP Eve... Scams & Fraud
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You can do this yourself, for free. There's no need for self-described "finders" or "locators" offering their "expertise" in retrieving your entitlement — for a fee. At best, they're legal but unnecessary "convenience service" middlemen who charge commissions up to 40 percent of the recovered amount. Often they do little more than guide you to those websites or provide you with forms that they downloaded for free. Others are outright who demand outrageous upfront fees and or try to wheedle personal information from you that's then used for identity theft. The latest warning about unclaimed property scams concerns an outfit calling itself the Florida Department of Financial Restitution. Claiming to have a contract with that state, it asks for an upfront fee of $600 when it promises citizens help in retrieving unclaimed property. In reality, says Jeff Atwater of the real state agency, the Florida Department of Financial Services, this group has no ties to the government or even a legal corporate standing. He says it contacts people telling them they have unclaimed property when, in fact, they do not. Similar warnings about fraudsters with names that seem reassuringly legit have been issued in other states. In emails, phone calls and sometimes mailed letters, they may pose as or claim ties to government officials or the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), a real organization that represents state officials who manage programs. Recently, bogus NAUPA officials were proven to be identity thieves trying to get personal information, while simultaneously running an . The legitimate finders make no false claims and contact rightfully owed property owners whom they identify through state freedom of information acts. In some states, these companies are restricted to commissions of no more than 10 percent (but may charge more anyway). In any case, they are usually unnecessary because it's always free — and can take only minutes. Here are other tips on how to steer clear of unclaimed property cons. By law, the financial institutions and companies that owe the lost loot are supposed to try to find the owners. So if you get a notice from a bank, insurer or other company claiming as such, look up the contacts of its corporate headquarters yourself (don't rely on what you're given in the notice) and call to ensure that the claim is legitimate. When companies can't reach the owners of the unclaimed property, the money is turned over to the state government in which the account owner last resided. Some state offices will then mail notices to the owner's last known address. Others simply wait for you to check. But they'll never use email to contact you and it's unlikely they will call. So unless you get a mailed notification — which you should still authenticate by contacting that state treasurer or comptroller — assume it's a scam. If you have unclaimed money, you'll be asked for your Social Security number on the official state agency website. But you won't be asked for bank or credit card information. No personal information should ever be given unless you initiate contact with the state agency or use its website. State treasurers and comptrollers do not outsource the job of tracking down owners of unclaimed money and property. So don't believe people who claim they're working "on behalf" of the state agency or the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. Also of interest: Sid Kirchheimer is the author of Scam-Proof Your Life, published by AARP Books/Sterling. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Track Down Unclaimed Property
Find money you didn' t know you had without paying a fee to a con artist
Nearly $33 billion in sits in state treasuries and other waiting to be handed over to its : money from and insurance policies, for instance, and stock dividends, decades-old security deposits paid to utility companies. Want to know whether any of it belongs to you? Just check , or contact the in every state where you've lived.Related
– Receive access to exclusive information, benefits and discounts.
You can do this yourself, for free. There's no need for self-described "finders" or "locators" offering their "expertise" in retrieving your entitlement — for a fee. At best, they're legal but unnecessary "convenience service" middlemen who charge commissions up to 40 percent of the recovered amount. Often they do little more than guide you to those websites or provide you with forms that they downloaded for free. Others are outright who demand outrageous upfront fees and or try to wheedle personal information from you that's then used for identity theft. The latest warning about unclaimed property scams concerns an outfit calling itself the Florida Department of Financial Restitution. Claiming to have a contract with that state, it asks for an upfront fee of $600 when it promises citizens help in retrieving unclaimed property. In reality, says Jeff Atwater of the real state agency, the Florida Department of Financial Services, this group has no ties to the government or even a legal corporate standing. He says it contacts people telling them they have unclaimed property when, in fact, they do not. Similar warnings about fraudsters with names that seem reassuringly legit have been issued in other states. In emails, phone calls and sometimes mailed letters, they may pose as or claim ties to government officials or the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), a real organization that represents state officials who manage programs. Recently, bogus NAUPA officials were proven to be identity thieves trying to get personal information, while simultaneously running an . The legitimate finders make no false claims and contact rightfully owed property owners whom they identify through state freedom of information acts. In some states, these companies are restricted to commissions of no more than 10 percent (but may charge more anyway). In any case, they are usually unnecessary because it's always free — and can take only minutes. Here are other tips on how to steer clear of unclaimed property cons. By law, the financial institutions and companies that owe the lost loot are supposed to try to find the owners. So if you get a notice from a bank, insurer or other company claiming as such, look up the contacts of its corporate headquarters yourself (don't rely on what you're given in the notice) and call to ensure that the claim is legitimate. When companies can't reach the owners of the unclaimed property, the money is turned over to the state government in which the account owner last resided. Some state offices will then mail notices to the owner's last known address. Others simply wait for you to check. But they'll never use email to contact you and it's unlikely they will call. So unless you get a mailed notification — which you should still authenticate by contacting that state treasurer or comptroller — assume it's a scam. If you have unclaimed money, you'll be asked for your Social Security number on the official state agency website. But you won't be asked for bank or credit card information. No personal information should ever be given unless you initiate contact with the state agency or use its website. State treasurers and comptrollers do not outsource the job of tracking down owners of unclaimed money and property. So don't believe people who claim they're working "on behalf" of the state agency or the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. Also of interest: Sid Kirchheimer is the author of Scam-Proof Your Life, published by AARP Books/Sterling. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures