(TOPEKA, Kan.) - Today, Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, CPA, warned Kansans of a website that asks for payment before they can discover if they have any unclaimed cash or property. The site, www.cashunclaimed.com is not sponsored or endorsed by the Kansas State Treasurer's office. The website, which can also be found by visiting www.kansas.cashunclaimed.com, instructs users that 30 days of access will cost $12.99.
"Kansans do not pay a single penny to claim their lost or forgotten cash and property," said Kansas State Treasurer Jenkins. "If you are ever told that you must pay to search or claim what is rightfully yours, contact my office immediately."
The authorized Kansas Unclaimed Property website is www.KansasCash.com and is run by the Kansas State Treasurer's office. Kansans are encouraged to visit www.KansasCash.com or call the Treasurer's office at 1-800-432-0386 to discover if they have any property ready to be claimed.
"You will not be asked for any information other than your name," Jenkins said. "If you do find property, you will be asked to provide some information that will help us identify you, but you will never be asked for credit card or bank account information."
"Under no circumstances should you pay to claim cash or property being held by my office on your behalf," Jenkins added. "Heir finders and other property searching organizations are legal, for-profit businesses that charge Kansans an unnecessary expense."
"I can't emphasis it enough - never pay to claim your property or cash," Jenkins added.
Treasurer Jenkins offers these tips to Kansans to prevent being scammed:
- Never give out your credit card number to claim property.
- Make sure you are searching state sponsored or endorsed web sites.
- To conduct a national search, visit www.MissingMoney.com. This site is endorsed by the Kansas State Treasurer's office.
- Be wary of "Heir Finders" who will contact you saying they can help you claim your cash or property. While in some circumstances they can legally charge you a fee of 15 percent of the property's value to claim your cash or property, there is no need to pay. Searching and claiming is a free service offered to citizens.
"Unclaimed property is not only property from safe deposit boxes," said Treasurer Jenkins. "It also includes inactive savings and checking accounts, uncashed checks, stock shares and bonds, dividend checks, insurance proceeds, mineral royalties, and utility deposits."
Each year $12 to $15 million worth of Unclaimed Property is turned over to the Kansas State Treasurer's Office from banks, businesses and organizations. There is currently more than $155 million worth of Unclaimed Property being held by the Treasurer's office for Kansans.
Jenkins, a former State Representative and Senator from Topeka, was elected Treasurer on Nov. 5, 2002. She is a Certified Public Accountant and former small business owner. Since being sworn into office in January 2003, Jenkins has expanded investment options in Learning Quest, initiated multiple financial literacy programs, and eliminated the reliance on state general fund dollars to operate the office.
