How do people lose track of money? Well, maybe they move and leave money in an old bank account. Perhaps they forget about a security deposit, an insurance payout, a stock dividend or a mutual fund. In these cases, State law requires banks, insurance companies, corporations and the courts to notify the owner of any dormant accounts. However, despite these efforts, some funds remain unclaimed and the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) holds them until they’re claimed by the rightful owners.
The Office of Unclaimed Funds
Every day, the Office of Unclaimed Funds (OUF) returns more than $1.5 million to individuals, companies, non-profit organizations and municipalities. During State Fiscal Year 2023-2024, $504 million was returned. And yet, OUF holds $19 billion in unclaimed funds and oversees more than 51 million accounts.
How to Search for Lost Money
OUF has made it easy to search for money that may belong to you. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s free.
- Visit OUF’s Search for Lost Money page.
- Enter your Last Name and First Name.
- Click Search button.
You can refine your search with more advanced search tips.
If you find an account in your name, you can file your claim online. To protect against fraud, OUF can’t tell you the amount of your claim until they receive and confirm your proof of ownership.
For more information, including how to file a claim or how to check your claim status, visit the Unclaimed Funds website.
Avoid Unclaimed Funds Scams
Beware of people who pretend to be the government and offer to send you unclaimed money in exchange for a fee or the exchange of confidential personal information. This practice is called phishing—a criminal activity using various techniques to trick you into providing personal or financial information through an email request or through a link to a fraudulent website.