(TOPEKA, Kan.) - Today, Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, CPA, warned Kansans of fraudulent phone calls, websites, letters, e-mails and other communications which offer help in finding Unclaimed Property for an upfront fee or percentage of the found property or cash. Several scams such as these have recently come to the attention of the State Treasurer's office. These practices are not sponsored or endorsed by the Kansas State Treasurer's office.
"I can't emphasize it enough - never pay a single penny to claim your cash or property," said Kansas State Treasurer Jenkins. "If you are ever told otherwise, I ask that you 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 to be claimed.
"Initially, my office only needs your name to conduct the search," Jenkins said. "If you do find cash or property, you will be asked to provide additional information that will help us to identify you. However, we will never ask for payment or for your credit card or bank account information."
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 a state sponsored or endorsed web site.
- 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 can include inactive savings and checking accounts, uncashed checks, stock shares and bonds, dividend checks, insurance proceeds, mineral royalties, and utility deposits," Jenkins said.
Jenkins, a former State Representative and Senator from Topeka, was re-elected to her second term as Kansas State Treasurer on November 7, 2006. During her time as Treasurer, Jenkins has expanded investment options in Learning Quest and oversaw the re-bidding of the nearly $1.5 billion program, returned an average of $9 million a year in unclaimed property to Kansans, initiated multiple financial literacy programs, and eliminated the reliance on state general fund dollars to operate the office. She is a Certified Public Accountant and former small business owner.
