Spotting an unclaimed property scam letter

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Have you ever gotten a letter stating you have unclaimed property, and you weren't sure if it was real? It turns out it might actually be legitimate; you just need to know what red flags to look for.

"If you get a letter like that and they're asking for personal information, such as social security or your credit card number, or asking for money, that's not what these letters should say," said Kathy Janes, Director of Unclaimed Property.

Unclaimed property is something many Oklahomans may not even know they have.

The Director of Unclaimed Property in the state siad the money can come from a variety of things.

"When businesses lose contact with their owners, they cannot keep the funds, and they're required by law to report it to the state treasurer's office. It could be a bank account or a utility deposit. It might be a secure notice that they left the safe deposit box," said Janes.

Typically, before the funds go to the state, a business will send a letter, and since scams seem to flood our inboxes and mailboxes, it's easy to be suspicious, so look closely. 

"They should just say, we know that you were owed the money and you didn't collect it. And if you want to collect it from us before it goes to the state, there's a place to check and sign and return the letter," said Janes.

After you follow the directions in the letter that was mailed to you, the state said you should get the funds directly from the company instead of the State Treasurer's office.

If you ignore the letter, the money will likely wind up with the state and possibly delay your ability to get the money for months.

If you do get a letter and you're still unsure if it's real, you can call the state treasurer office and they could look up if the company that sent the letter is legitimate.

There are also ways to talk to the state if you get a letter or have a claim for someone who has passed away in your family.

For more information, go to the State Treasurer's website.