Unclaimed property scams: how to tell a real notice from a fake
A message about unclaimed property that asks you to pay is not from your state program: it is always free to search for and claim property through official state programs.1 A fee may mean a finder or a scam, and you can always contact your state's official program with questions.1
On this page
Official programs are free
The state administrators’ association says there is no fee to search for and claim your property if you use your official state program,2 and that a communication about your property that involves a fee may come from a third-party finder or locator.1 California says you have the right to get your unclaimed property without fees or lawyers by working directly with its State Controller’s Office.7
Federal agencies say similar things. TreasuryDirect says its office charges no fees and offers no gifts for working with it,4 and the FDIC says to be cautious of anyone who demands money up front or charges fees for a service you can do yourself.5
Signs of a fake notice
| Sign | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| A call or text out of the blue | Scammers are calling and texting, asking for money and personal information, according to a Federal Trade Commission alert relayed by Vermont’s Treasurer3 |
| An exact amount and pressure to act now | Scammers may give a specific dollar amount, use a fake government name or urge you to act quickly3 |
| An email that is not from a government address | Be skeptical of email claiming to be from a U.S. government agency if the sender’s address does not end in .gov, .mil or fed.us; even those can be faked6 |
| A postcard asking you to call a toll-free number | California says its State Controller’s Office is not connected with these generic postcards7 |
| An email or letter telling you to hire a lawyer or pay up front | California has received reports of official-looking messages like this and says you can claim without fees or lawyers7 |
| A text about unclaimed property | Pennsylvania Treasury does not send unsolicited texts about unclaimed property8 |
| “Act now or lose it” | Florida says this is not true: the right to claim never expires9 |
How to check a notice safely
- Do not click links in the message or respond to it,8 and do not call a number from an unknown source.7 The scam check walks you through the warning signs for the message you received.
- Open your state’s page on this site from the list of states and use the official search link on it, or find the program through NAUPA, which links to each state’s official program.2
- Search your name there, every name you have used. Searching and claiming through the official program is free.10
- If you have questions, contact your state’s official program.1
Finders: legal, but not required
Some companies, called finders or locators, offer to find lost property for owners for a fee, usually a percentage of what they find, and some states limit the maximum fee.2 These services are legal in most cases but not required to get your property.2 Finders often use state freedom of information laws to get owner information.2 NAUPA recommends contacting your state’s unclaimed property office before signing a finder’s contract.2 Our finders guide explains how they work, and fee limits by state are on the finder fees page.
A finder’s letter can also come before your property reaches the state: sometimes the bank, utility or other business holding it hires a third-party finder to locate you before it is required to turn the property over.2
Next step
If the official search shows property in your name, the claim guide explains how to file for it yourself, at no cost. Each state’s office is listed on the contacts page.
Questions people ask
Is unclaimed property legitimate?
Yes. Each state has laws and an unclaimed property program that make searching and claiming available to the public,2 and both are free through the official program of the state holding the property.10
Will the state call or text me about unclaimed property?
Some programs say they will not. Vermont's Treasurer says the office will never call or text Vermonters or ask for payment to return unclaimed property.3 Pennsylvania Treasury says it never contacts people about unclaimed property by unsolicited text,8 and Florida says it will not contact you by text message about your claim.11
What should I do with a suspicious message?
Pennsylvania's Treasurer urges people not to click links in phishing messages about unclaimed property or respond to them,8 and California cautions against calling a number from an unknown source.7 You can always contact your state's official program with questions.1
Sources
Footnote numbers point here. Open "Quoted text" for the exact words relied on ("[…]" marks words left out).
- How States Return Missing Money National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) · unclaimed.org · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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It is always free to search for and claim your missing money through official state government programs.
If you receive a communication regarding your unclaimed property that involves a fee, it may be from a third-party finder or locator.
If you have questions, you can always contact your state’s official unclaimed property program.
- Is it really free to search? National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) · unclaimed.org · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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There is no fee to search for and claim your unclaimed property—if you use your official state program.
Each state has laws and unclaimed property programs that make this service available to its citizens.
IMPORTANT: There are, however, third-party “finders” that may offer to locate and claim your unclaimed property for you. While not required to obtain your unclaimed property, these third-party services are in most cases legal.
Many businesses, sometimes called finders or locators, offer to find legitimate lost property for owners and inform them of how to obtain it for a fee—usually a percentage of the total find. Some states limit the maximum fee.
Third-party finders often use the states’ freedom of information acts to obtain owner information.
Before signing any contract from a firm of this type, we recommend that you be cautious and contact the unclaimed property office in your state for more information.
Sometimes, the organization holding your unclaimed property (ex., bank, utilities company) will hire a third-party finder to locate you before the organization is required to turn the unclaimed property over to the state.
The NAUPA website provides a link to each state's official unclaimed property program.
- Treasurer Pieciak Warns of Unclaimed Property Scam Targeting Vermonters Office of the Vermont State Treasurer · vermonttreasurer.gov · April 28, 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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To capture an individual’s attention, scammers might provide a specific dollar amount, use a fake government name, or urge to act quickly.
The Federal Trade Commission recently alerted that scammers are calling and texting individuals, requesting money and personal information to reclaim their lost financial assets.
Treasurer Pieciak emphasized that his office will never call or text Vermonters—or request payment for returning unclaimed property.
- Contact Us TreasuryDirect, U.S. Department of the Treasury · treasurydirect.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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Remember, we charge no fees, nor do we offer gifts for working with our office.
- How to Find a Long Lost Bank Account or Safe Deposit Box Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) · fdic.gov · Dec. 14, 2020 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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Be cautious of anyone who demands money up-front or charges fees for a service you can do yourself.
- Investor Alert: Beware of Government Impersonators Targeting Fraud Victims Investor.gov, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission · investor.gov · June 27, 2016 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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If you receive an email message claiming to be from a U.S. government agency and the sender’s email address does not end in “.gov”, “.mil”, or "fed.us", you should be particularly skeptical. Even if the sender’s email address appears to end in “.gov”, “.mil”, or "fed.us", an impersonator may have sent the email message.
- Consumer Fraud Alerts California State Controller's Office · sco.ca.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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The State Controller’s Office is not connected with the mailing of these postcards and cautions the public from calling a number from an unknown source.
Some people have reported receiving official-looking emails or letters with instructions to contact a private attorney or pay upfront fees for help with recovering lost property for them or a family member.
You have the right to obtain your unclaimed property without fees or lawyers by working directly with the State Controller’s Office staff.
- Treasurer Garrity Warns of Unclaimed Property Texting Scams Pennsylvania Treasury Department · patreasury.gov · April 27, 2022 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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The Pennsylvania Treasury Department never reaches out to people in regard to any program, including unclaimed property, via unsolicited text messages.
I urge anyone who receives a phishing message about unclaimed property to ignore it and promptly delete it. Do not click on any links, and do not respond to these messages.
- Frequently Asked Questions Florida Department of Financial Services · claimyourcashfl.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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It is not true. Florida has no statute of limitations on abandoned property.
Ownership remains with the rightful owner, and the right to claim the property never expires.
- Claim Your Found Property National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) · unclaimed.org · checked Nov. 3, 2026
Quoted text (1)
Both searching for and claiming your unclaimed property are free, provided you go through the official government program of the state holding the property.
- Claim Your Cash FL (home) Florida Department of Financial Services · claimyourcashfl.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
Quoted text (1)
Protect your personal and financial information from phishing scams. The Department will not contact you by text message concerning your claim.