Treasurer Pieciak warns of new scam

Treasurer Mike Pieciak warns Vermonters about a scam posing as a service to return unclaimed property. The Federal Trade Commission recently alerted that scammers are calling and texting individuals, requesting money and personal information to reclaim lost financial assets. The treasurer’s office reports that several Vermonters have been targeted.

To capture an individual’s attention, scammers might provide a specific dollar amount, use a fake government name or urge to act quickly.

Anyone who receives a suspicious notice about unclaimed property should search the national database, MissingMoney.com, to verify the claim. Vermonters should then report the fraudulent outreach to the treasurer’s office.

Pieciak emphasized that the treasurer’s office will never call or text Vermonters—or request payment for returning unclaimed property. The free consumer protection service ensures Vermonters can always claim forgotten assets, which are held by the state in perpetuity.

Unclaimed property includes lost checks, forgotten bank accounts, safety deposit boxes, and other financial property. Entities are required to annually turn these assets over to the state, and the treasurer’s office safeguards them until claimed by rightful owners or heirs.

Unclaimed property can belong to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, government entities, and more. Over $150 million in unclaimed property is held by the treasurer’s office. Every day, the office’s unclaimed property division works to get that money back to Vermonters.

To build trust and boost familiarity of unclaimed property held by the state, the treasurer’s office has produced TV ads with local figures, including former meteorologist Tom Messner.

All Vermonters are encouraged to visit missingmoney.com to check for unclaimed property. For inquiries regarding a claim or assistance with the claims process contact the treasurer’s office unclaimed property division at (802) 828-2407 or unclaimed.property@vermont.gov.