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I have unclaimed [lots of money] in FL... maybe?
hoodie13
punch broRegistered User regular
punch broRegistered User regular
So I checked my mail yesterday and saw a letter from Florida, but I didn't open it until 30 minutes ago. I kinda wish I did. Here's what it says:
Then there's a bunch of information about ways to verify the mailing is authentic, such as searching a database of accounts at www.FLtreasurehunt.org and calling some numbers (850-413-5555 and 888-258-2253).
On the second page of this mailing is a claim form, stating that the full amount of the claim is... well... large. It actually gives me the exact number, but I don't want to post it online for safety/security purposes. It's hefty. The claim form is asking for my full social security number though, as well as my date of birth. It also needs an official document or W-2 that has my name and social sec number.
Now, by going to the website and searching for my first and last name, I was able to find a claim with my name, and my old address. Considering that that address is correct, and that it was 15 or so years ago, it seems like this thing is legit. I haven't been able to call the phone numbers yet because of the time and day, but its the first thing I'm going to do when I get a chance tomorrow.
How scammy does this sound? Am I getting my hopes up be believing this is real? It all seems like it checks out.
This is an official mailing from the State of Florida, Department of Financial Services.
We believe you may own unclaimed funds currently being held by this office. If the last four digits of your Social Security number are [they put the correct digits here], you are very likely entitled to the account(s) described on the enclosed claim form.
[blah blah blah about the Chief Financial Officer of the State of Florida]
We want to return these funds to you.
To file a claim, please follow the instructions on the enclosed claim form and return it, completed, along with a copy of your valid photo identification. It is important that you fill the form out completely and include all of the requested documentation with your initial submission. This will ensure prompt processing of your claim. Claims filed without the required information and documentation cannot be processed (Chapter 717, Florida Statutes).
Then there's a bunch of information about ways to verify the mailing is authentic, such as searching a database of accounts at www.FLtreasurehunt.org and calling some numbers (850-413-5555 and 888-258-2253).
On the second page of this mailing is a claim form, stating that the full amount of the claim is... well... large. It actually gives me the exact number, but I don't want to post it online for safety/security purposes. It's hefty. The claim form is asking for my full social security number though, as well as my date of birth. It also needs an official document or W-2 that has my name and social sec number.
Now, by going to the website and searching for my first and last name, I was able to find a claim with my name, and my old address. Considering that that address is correct, and that it was 15 or so years ago, it seems like this thing is legit. I haven't been able to call the phone numbers yet because of the time and day, but its the first thing I'm going to do when I get a chance tomorrow.
How scammy does this sound? Am I getting my hopes up be believing this is real? It all seems like it checks out.
hoodie13 on
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edit: http://www.fldfs.com/ has a place where you can send her an email directly. Maybe give that a try?
edit2: Actually, they have a spot set up specifically for this kind of thing. http://www.fltreasurehunt.org/Contacted-by-Unclaimed-Property.jsp
There are always Unclaimed Money scams floating around, but they tend to be much less specific. (Obviously) I wouldn't jump to send them your SS#, but I also wouldn't ignore it.
The phone numbers appears to be legit as Florida CFO, and wikipedia links to www.myfloridacfo.com as the the site of the Florida CFO, Alex Sink. (Strangely enough, a NAW check of the site gave me an adress in Madeiras as contact, which made me a bit suspicious, but it could be some outsourced webbuilding)
http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Consumers/Guides/GeneralFinancial/docs/Unclaimed_Prop_2008.pdf suggests such sums, and such a service, exist. Check on there if you can match the claim / amount. Call them to confirm they sent out this e-mail, and if it's the correct procedure. I'm a bit wary that they approached you.
The claim form mentioned that the money was a credit balance from UBS Financial Services, which is a bank.
So everything I'm seeing here is legit, it seems.
XBL: Torn Hoodie
@hoodiethirteen
I would call the numbers it gives you as well as the florida AG before I did anything more.
that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
Don't know how much that helps, but at least you know it can happen without being a scam.
Anyway, like they said, call the numbers first and talk to some real people at the actual state offices before you go giving SSNs and cash. . .
but yes definitely call a number that you KNOW if a real florida department of financial services or some other similar branch
can you call these numbers and ask them WHY you're getting $texas?
They wouldn't send the whole # - what if they sent it to the wrong person?
Note that just because you received a note doesn't mean there's any money. You can google "unclaimed funds" and see that there's a ton of websites around. http://www.unclaimed.org/ is a national one.
Also note that the scam with these things is typically a fee or a percentage in order to get any potential funds you have. For instance, a website charging you $10 to search the (freely available) databases. Or, will search for free but then charge you $50 or 5% to do all the paperwork for you. If any money is found, you should be able to claim it with no fees (or minor processing fees paid directly to the state).
Thanks for your thoughts and ideas, looks like this is going to turn out extremely well!
XBL: Torn Hoodie
@hoodiethirteen
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, but smells like a skunk... it's a skunk. Or a scam. They don't need to take a chunk of your non-existant $texas- they were after your SSN and birth certificate. Which apparently they now have. The state of Florida could just tap into the government SSN database, run a search for the social security number, and chased it down that way.
I'd look into ID theft protection, and prep to prevent as much damage as possible.
I can has cheezburger, yes?
did you call any other state agencies to see if this is legit?
that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
ugh man
if you get the money hooray but
I don't think you're gonna get anything other than a stolen identitiy
You should be fine.
Love,
The prince of Nigeri-er- I mean Florida
Got a real life letter in the post.
Apparently I was entered a lottery in Spain and won.
All they needed was my passport id and account number to transfer the money.
Sounds familliar?
Just because it came as a letter, does not mean it can't be a scam. And in real life it usualy is.
Check it out if you want, but check it with other Florida organisations as well. If they can't tell you why you are owed the money its usualy a scam. If the cash sum sounds to large for you to not know about it in your finances its probably a scam.
My letter ended up in the trash after I read it.
I am just of the opinion that good things rarely happend to good people without a lot of work.
"The light at the end of the tunnel is usualy an oncoming train"
Hope it works out.
by searching that site for FLtreasurehunt I came across this document on a .gov web address.
http://www.flsenate.gov/data/Publications/2007/Senate/reports/interim_reports/pdf/2007-203bi.pdf
and I quote:
If this was a scam then it is a government endorsed scam.
Congrats to the OP, you really have nothing to worry about.
yeah, or you could try reading the thread and note how its not....
Whoooosh.
Also. Keep us updated. I want to know how this turns out.
I'm glad at least one person got it.
I can has cheezburger, yes?
i need to live in florida
five years ago
Shogun Streams Vidya
IE, a picture of you in your new golden motor boat with your new supermodel wife.
https://twitter.com/Hooraydiation
She walked me through some stuff, like me giving her my name and her telling me my claim number, which matched the number on the letter I received, as well as the amount of the unclaimed funds. She did all of that without me telling her the data I had on my copy of the letter, aside from my name and her asking if the last four of the social that she had was correct (That exchange went like this: "Is the last four of your social XXXX?" "Yes."). She also verified the address that they had mailed the claim to, and the address that was on file for me fifteen years ago.
She also gave me information on the length of time I can expect. Apparently when they say "It could take up to 90 days" they aren't kidding. She said that at this time the Bureau was working claims from July 29th. So, pretty close to the 90 days.
My question is whether or not I'll be required to pay taxes on this. My reasoning on why I may not is that apparently this was always my money, just forgotten about? But if so, I'd REALLY like to have the funds before the end of the year so that I can just go ahead and pay them when I file in January, instead of possibly having to pay them next year.
In any case, while of course I haven't received the money yet, I remain hopeful. Maybe good things do randomly happen?
XBL: Torn Hoodie
@hoodiethirteen
it depends on what kind of money it was. for instance, if it was payroll money, you already paid taxes on it.
if it was interest money, you probably have to pay taxes on it.
talk to an accountant would be my guess.
It seems that, whether via legitimate channels or questionable methods, third parties can and do sometimes gain access to unclaimed property records from the State of Florida (and perhaps other states as well?). The letter I received was not from the State of Florida's official Bureau of Unclaimed Property, but from a company that offered to reclaim my property for a fee. Like the OP, I contacted the CFO's office directly using contact information discovered both via myflorida.com and the (despite the scammy-sounding name, wholly legitimate) unclaimed property site at www.fltreasurehunt.org.
The claim form and process were very straightforward, and after submitting the claim with supporting materials and identifying information, I received a check for the full amount of my (previously) unclaimed property. The turnaround time was about 11 weeks. Mine wasn't a vast sum, but every penny was returned.
While some of the third party service companies might actually legitimately process your claim for you and return your property, I certainly would not take the risk of handing over sensitive identifying information to an unknown private entity. If you think you might have unclaimed property, verify the validity at the source, then complete and submit the claim form yourself directly to the state's claims address. For me, this turned out exactly as hoped: the full amount of my unclaimed (and previously unknown) property was returned within the stated 90 day processing period.