15 May Is this notice about unclaimed funds a scam?

Q. I received a notice saying there were unclaimed funds in my name. How can I tell if it’s a scam?
— Concerned

A. Every state has an unclaimed property division that holds financial assets that have been inactive, unclaimed or otherwise abandoned by its owner.

There are companies that search these public records, and then offer to help people find the money for a fee.

So it’s not exactly a scam, but you certainly don’t need to pay someone to help you locate the funds. You can do it yourself for free.

It will just take some time and some paperwork.

When a bank, investment company or government agency has money in a person’s name but the money hasn’t been touched for a period of time, typically five years, then the funds would go to the state’s unclaimed property division.

Each state has its own unclaimed funds division. You can find links to all the states here at missingmoney.com. 

You can find the New Jersey unclaimed funds site here.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published in May 2026. 

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.