State Treasurer Clint Zweifel warns Missourians of Unclaimed Property email scam
Missourians should report unsolicited emails asking for personal information
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – August 9, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY-ful) is warning Missourians of an email scam being sent nationwide that claims the recipient is owed $2.8 million in Unclaimed Property found in a metal trunk and goes on to request personal information.
The current scam email states a fake individual, Jeff Smith, director of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, is working with the FBI to return $2.8 million found with the recipient’s email address and name attached. It further requests private information, including the recipient’s full name, address, telephone number, age and occupation. If a person responds, he or she is then directed to call an attorney based in the United Kingdom to provide personal financial information – the respondent then is charged high fees for the call. An example of the fraudulent emails can be found here.
“This email is a scam intended to steal personal information,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “Moving forward, Missourians should be on the lookout for two practices that can indicate an Unclaimed Property scam – unsolicited emails asking for personal information and an offer to return lost property, but for a fee. My team does not send unsolicited emails asking for personal information. I never charge a fee, and will never direct someone to a third-party charging a fee. If someone emails you about Unclaimed Property asking for personal information or wants to charge you to return your property, call my office at (573) 751-0123 to verify legitimacy.”
Treasurer Zweifel is a member of National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, but the group never notifies individuals of Unclaimed Property – that duty is left to individual State Treasurers and administrators. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Multi State Information Sharing and Analysis Center have been informed of the scam.
“My team only sends out emails in response to constituent questions, while working with an individual who has already begun the claims process or to let individuals who have registered for email notifications know of recently added Unclaimed Property,” Treasurer Zweifel. “Please contact my team any time you question the validity of an Unclaimed Property email.”
Individuals are also being encouraged to report suspicious Unclaimed Property emails to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx or the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
Go to www.ShowMeMoney.com for more information.
About Treasurer Zweifel’s Unclaimed Property
State law requires financial institutions, insurance companies, public agencies and other business entities to turn over assets to Treasurer Zweifel that belong to a customer, client, employee or other owner if there have been no documented transactions or contact with the owner for five or more years. Most Unclaimed Property consists of cash from bank accounts, stocks, bonds and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned. It also can include uncollected insurance policy proceeds, government refunds, utility deposits and wages from past jobs. Treasurer Zweifel does not handle real property such as land, houses, cars and boats. There is $600 million in Unclaimed Property maintained by Treasurer Zweifel. Treasurer Zweifel never charges for the return of Unclaimed Property.
