Florida Unclaimed Property Scam

Florida consumers are being warned of an emerging unclaimed property scam.

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater said scammers have been offering to reunite consumers with unclaimed property for an upfront fee of $600.

Atwater’s Department of Financial Services is responsible for returning unclaimed cash, securities and other property left in safe deposit boxes and dormant accounts at Florida banks. It does not charge a fee. The department last year returned $209 million in unclaimed property.

Atwater said a company calling itself The Florida Department of Financial Restitution has been falsely claiming it has a contract with his department. Citizens have reported being asked by the company to pay the $600 although they had no unclaimed property held by the state.