THOUSANDS of Americans could be owed a share of $2.5 billion in cash and property if they meet certain qualifications.
Residents could receive hundreds of dollars by sending just one simple text.
Some 1 in 7 Americans could be owed a share of an enormous fund[/caption]
In Washington state, approximately 1 million people are owed a share of the cash.
The state is reaching out to eligible residents and has stressed they could receive their money with little documentation.
”We’re contacting residents of Washington letting them know they have something out there so we can get it out to them with minimal documentation,” said Rachel Harkcom, Washington’s Department of Revenue’s (DOR) outreach manager.
Unclaimed property refers to financial assets that have been left inactive or forgotten by their rightful owners for a specific period.
But with so many residents owed a share of the fund, locals have been urged to text the word claim to 2064484545 to get their money sooner.
Those with unclaimed property can also check the department’s website to see if they’re eligible.
If their claim is confirmed, they can expect a check in their hands within six to eight weeks.
DOR also holds about $1 million worth of items left in old safety deposit boxes including everything from jewlry to baseball cards.
Liz Black, DOR’s unclaimed property administrator, stressed that the program is legitimate – and not a scam.
This isn’t the only state offering payouts to its residents.
In the state of Illinois, the State Treasurer’s Office is sending residents cash from a $45 million fund.
Nearly 600,000 people will be eligible to receive cash through the Enhanced Money Match program.
The scheme targets those unclaimed property and send them a check automatically.
These funds, which can be both tangible and intangible, are turned over to the state government for safekeeping.
Common types of unclaimed property includes cash from checking and savings accounts, stocks and bonds or contents from a safety deposit box.
There is no need to submit a claim to receive the cash, instead existing data is used to identify those who are owed.
State Treasurer Michael Frerichs stressed that this program is as good as it sounds.
