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Entry bubble Unclaimed Government Money

By: Jake | October 13, 2008 | Category: Money

Happy Columbus Day! In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue or so the poem goes.Money

These days, the economy is giving people the blues. Many are looking for ways to find extra money to help pay bills. Last week the Consumerist had a great post about finding extra cash.

What they didn't mention are ways you can receive money from the government. I'm not talking about applying for grants and loans, though Joanne's post will explain that method. I'm talking about money the government may still owe you.

Federal money like claiming your economic stimulus payment (you have until Wednesday to file and get it this year) and undelivered tax refunds you will have to apply for. Assets like unclaimed savings bonds payments and unclaimed pension payments owed to you can be found by simply searching online. You can also search online for state government money like in Colleen's case where she realized she had an unclaimed paycheck from college.

You can find out more about other instances where the government may owe you money at USA.gov.

| View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: economic_crisis   jake   unclaimed_money  

Comments (5):

blue comment bubble Posted by LORDABANAHENE on October 13, 2008 at 11:23 AM EDT

These below items is some possible examples and some other decument for Awards Congratulations, but it still remains unclaimed, due to improper settlement of an accounts.
I 'm today wanting for unclaimed Congratulations.

LORD AKWASIBANAHENE - Important Documents Enclosed
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 5:02 PM
From: "Prize Coordinator" <PrizeCoordinator@FreeLotto.com>
http://www.freelotto.com/offer.asp?offer=99422&FID=288c45496565


Goverment Issues Money for debt!Tuesday, August 12, 2008 1:01 AM
From: "US Debt Rebate" <talon@app.topica.com>
www.talcon.c.topica.com
Add sender to Contacts To: akwasibanahene@yahoo.com

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blue comment bubble Posted by Jake on October 14, 2008 at 08:23 AM EDT

LORDABANAHENE,

That looks like a scam to me. The government generally doesn't notify you of "prize winnings" by email. I didn't post your other comment because it had what looked like your address in it. See more about gov't money scams at the links below. The first link is to the FBI page about various money scams. The second link is more general and tells you what to do if you recieve an email scam.

http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/escams.htm

http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa_ict.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=6624

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blue comment bubble Posted by Laura on October 14, 2008 at 07:42 PM EDT

Hi Jake, I keep getting recorded telephone calls from someone who says that there is a business opprotunity involving the gov. It says that the gov. is looking for people to process loan refunds to people who have paid off their home loans and are owed a refund by the gov. I
don't know if they are on the up and up because they ask for $69.00 for the package to start you off with. Can you advise?

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blue comment bubble Posted by Jake on October 15, 2008 at 10:12 AM EDT

Laura,

If a government agency is giving you a grant or owes you some money, they generally do not ask for a "startup" payment.

See the third paragraph on this page from the FTC.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/phonefraud/government.shtml

I'm no expert on all government grant processes, but I don't see why they would send you a recorded message and ask for $69 for work they want you to do. Did they leave a number for you to call them back at? If so, you may want to call and ask what agency they are from and call that agency to see if such a program exists. I've seen cases where the government agency scammers give doesn't even exist so beware. You can search for info about any agency at usa.gov, once/if they give you a name. Never give anyone any bank account information until you are sure they are legit.

Nicole did a piece about foreclosure rescue scams, so there are people out there taking advantage of folks.

http://blog.usa.gov/roller/govgab/entry/avoid_foreclosure_rescue_scams

I hope this helps!

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blue comment bubble Posted by navigator on October 16, 2008 at 06:25 AM EDT

Laura,
the big thing with the government is that all the answers are out there. Most of the time there is some numbered form you have to fill out, that if you do not let it intimidate you will guide you through the process. I tell people read with 2 hands, 1 hand pointing at the line item you are filling out and the other in the instructions to the form for that line item.

if somone is soliciting you to get money for you, it's probably a scam, even if they are providing legitimate service, it is not anything you can't do for yourself. If they can get this money for you, they can get it for themselves too, in which case they would not need to be soliciting you.

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