Yes, every state has an Unclaimed Property division, this looks like a correct form. It's probably pretty arbitrary who are judged to be the rightful owners of what property, because the taxpayers really should be getting trillions back in money rightfully owed them, but when the state and the corporation do admit a debt they want to prove that they tried to discharge it. That way (gnat) they can keep stealing the trillions (camel).
Looks legit, but do not randomly scan QR codes as a general rule. They're worse than URLs. There is no way for a human to try to determine if a QR code will take you to a malicious site or not.
Yes these unclaimed funds in states are legit - they always ramp up giving back the monies left unclaimed or lost in translation right before an election, and slow way down afterwards, so I'd make sure you do it before the primaries in May.
Escheatment is the term for when the state receives unclaimed or abandoned money. It usually happens when a financial institution loses your address (i.e., you move), their mailed statements are returned, and they don't hear from you for a while. Another case is if you are listed as the beneficiary on someone else's account, and they die, and the institution can't easily find you. The law usually requires the institution to contact you. Usually they make a sincere attempt, but they also don't expend a lot of resources doing so.
When that happens, after a certain amount of time (different for every state) the institution has to escheat, or surrender, the money or assets (like stock shares) to the state. The state then holds the funds for a legally set time, to allow you to reclaim it. Most states don't try to locate you, but some do. If you never claim it, it goes into the state treasury of general funds and it's too late to get it back. The laws prevent companies from hiding unclaimed money in order to steal it secretly.
You can always look it up yourself, independently of the letter, to make sure it's not a phishing attack. But it looks like you have some money that you forgot about or never knew you had. Go for it.
Thanks for the reply. I don't trust my state government at all, and this is all very out of the blue. I guess there is no harm at least going to the link to find out how much they are talking about.
My pleasure, fren. I used to work at a financial institution, making sure (among other things) that we surrendered money to the states. We almost never had to, but the state auditors always wanted to be extra certain that our policies wouldn't let us steal from customers on the sly. That job is reserved for government!
The most effective rule against any potential scam is: never use the link or contact methods they suggest. When you look it up yourself to make sure you know who you're talking to, you'll get the right people. Phishing is mostly email and text, but it happens by snail mail, too. If you did that much, you're good.
Sounds legit. When I worked for a telecommunications company, we had to turn over 10's of thousands of dollars a year to the state because of people who overpaid, or were due refunds, and we couldn't find them.
somehow an auto insurance company tried to refund me an overpayment that didn't get to me. I got a refund from CA state comptroller. Wasn't much though, but bought me a lunch.
Yes, if you go directly to the OSC site and claim your funds, it's totally legit. There was a scam a few years ago, where some websites would claim to do a search for unclaimed funds and take a % of what they found. But, the NYS OSC site is good.
There are such offices in every municipality, but the usual problem is that if you don't know you are owed money, you won't ask. You must have been on a list for something that they found you, a class action suit. I just got a settlement for a class action suit against Safeway that I was automatically in because I had an online account, it started so long ago I had forgotten it (about 10 years).
Yes, every state has an Unclaimed Property division, this looks like a correct form. It's probably pretty arbitrary who are judged to be the rightful owners of what property, because the taxpayers really should be getting trillions back in money rightfully owed them, but when the state and the corporation do admit a debt they want to prove that they tried to discharge it. That way (gnat) they can keep stealing the trillions (camel).
unclaimed property is pretty much free money. my friend cashed it out no issue. i understand though, definitely seems shady
Looks legit, but do not randomly scan QR codes as a general rule. They're worse than URLs. There is no way for a human to try to determine if a QR code will take you to a malicious site or not.
You can always scan it into a QR decoder without processing what it represents.
Depending how much they are saying it is, maybe talk to a lawyer. Or if your state representative’s office isn’t too far drive and ask?
Yes these unclaimed funds in states are legit - they always ramp up giving back the monies left unclaimed or lost in translation right before an election, and slow way down afterwards, so I'd make sure you do it before the primaries in May.
Escheatment is the term for when the state receives unclaimed or abandoned money. It usually happens when a financial institution loses your address (i.e., you move), their mailed statements are returned, and they don't hear from you for a while. Another case is if you are listed as the beneficiary on someone else's account, and they die, and the institution can't easily find you. The law usually requires the institution to contact you. Usually they make a sincere attempt, but they also don't expend a lot of resources doing so.
When that happens, after a certain amount of time (different for every state) the institution has to escheat, or surrender, the money or assets (like stock shares) to the state. The state then holds the funds for a legally set time, to allow you to reclaim it. Most states don't try to locate you, but some do. If you never claim it, it goes into the state treasury of general funds and it's too late to get it back. The laws prevent companies from hiding unclaimed money in order to steal it secretly.
You can always look it up yourself, independently of the letter, to make sure it's not a phishing attack. But it looks like you have some money that you forgot about or never knew you had. Go for it.
Thanks for the reply. I don't trust my state government at all, and this is all very out of the blue. I guess there is no harm at least going to the link to find out how much they are talking about.
My pleasure, fren. I used to work at a financial institution, making sure (among other things) that we surrendered money to the states. We almost never had to, but the state auditors always wanted to be extra certain that our policies wouldn't let us steal from customers on the sly. That job is reserved for government!
The most effective rule against any potential scam is: never use the link or contact methods they suggest. When you look it up yourself to make sure you know who you're talking to, you'll get the right people. Phishing is mostly email and text, but it happens by snail mail, too. If you did that much, you're good.
This legit.
Sounds legit. When I worked for a telecommunications company, we had to turn over 10's of thousands of dollars a year to the state because of people who overpaid, or were due refunds, and we couldn't find them.
When it sounds too good to be true - it usually is. Proceed cautiously!
Could be money from someones will that you were named in.
somehow an auto insurance company tried to refund me an overpayment that didn't get to me. I got a refund from CA state comptroller. Wasn't much though, but bought me a lunch.
Yes, if you go directly to the OSC site and claim your funds, it's totally legit. There was a scam a few years ago, where some websites would claim to do a search for unclaimed funds and take a % of what they found. But, the NYS OSC site is good.
There was a Seinfeld where George got money back on a letter like this from when he was in grade school
There are such offices in every municipality, but the usual problem is that if you don't know you are owed money, you won't ask. You must have been on a list for something that they found you, a class action suit. I just got a settlement for a class action suit against Safeway that I was automatically in because I had an online account, it started so long ago I had forgotten it (about 10 years).
You prolly left a deposit somewhere and forgot. There are people who look for these funds and try to charge you to recover.
#The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help. - Ronald Reagan
In light of Canada getting banks to freeze accounts for giving $40 to the truckers, I'm not touching this with a 10 foot pole.
They are after something. They no doubt require consent to do something.