How To Find Free Money In Five Minutes
Author: Marcia Keppy

Imagine sitting down at your computer and with a few clicks,
finding yourself a few hundred -- or even thousand -- dollars
richer. No, I'm not talking about Internet gambling or a
get-rich-quick scheme. This money is totally legal. In fact,
it's already yours, you just have to make claim to it. Sounds
too good to be true, I know, but there are billions of dollars
out there just waiting to be claimed by ordinary people just
like you and me.

Where does this money come from? It might be a long forgotten
bank account that you left behind when you moved, or a
relative's insurance policy that was never cashed. It may be a
bond you purchased under your maiden name and forgot about. When
these funds sit idle for a certain number of years, financial
institutions are required to turn the money over to the state.

Same thing goes for things left in safe deposit boxes. When
they've sat untouched for a number years the contents go to the
state. But what's the state going to do with Grandma's wedding
ring? Actually, many states auction off the property – think
eBay – and then hold the money until they can find the owner.

Imagine it, the government looking for you – to GIVE you money!
What a concept! If the government is holding onto money that
could be sitting in your bank account or wallet, you'll probably
want to know where it is, and how to get it back.

Each state has various ways of trying to connect people with
their lost assets. Every year, generally in April, there will be
an insert in newspapers listing the latest names added to the
list of lost owners. Some states set up displays at public
events, libraries and fairs. Others work with local lawmakers to
try and get the word out. But the quickest, easiest way to find
out if you have any unclaimed assets is to search an online
database.

Most states have their own database that you can access by
going to the state's Website. A wonderful resource for anyone
looking for unclaimed property is www.missingmoney.com, a site
run by the National Association of Unclaimed Property
Administrators. It contains a wealth of information on abandoned
property, and contact information for each state. It also allows
you to do a nationwide search through links to each individual
state, and it's all free.

For those that can't or don't want to take on the task
themselves, there are companies that will do the searching for
you. Sometimes called heir finders or asset locators, the firms
help reunite owners with their property for a fee. Beware,
however, that legitimate companies will never ask for payment
before the property is returned to the rightful owner and
whatever they charge should be a percentage of the money to be
returned, not a flat fee. And before signing anything, have the
company identify the property and verify that it's yours.

Once you've located your own abandoned property, spread the
word. There are billions of dollars out there just waiting to be
claimed.


About The Author: Marcia Keppy is an expert in the field of
unclaimed property. She has assisted numerous individuals,
accountants, lawyers and financial advisors recover assets. For
more details on how to protect your assets and search for
unclaimed property go to http://www.assetawareness.com