Start your search-and-claim process here, the only site endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. Google Translate cannot translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. TUNKARA was arrested on July 19, 2022 and presented before the Hon. Unclaimed pensions are a typical sort of unclaimed funds, particularly when a firm shuts and no information regarding the administration of their pensions is accessible right once. We only have positive things to say about this company. Each state has its own official site to conduct an unclaimed money search. New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the following local government and school audits were issued. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Banks, insurance companies, utilities, investment companies and many other businesses are required by State law to turn over inactive accounts to the State. It's simple to search! However, the "Google Translate" option may help you to read it in other languages. Lock The https:// Avoid the risk of giving away your data on any unsafe sites that may pretend to be official in order to scam you. The New York State Office of the State Comptroller has an application process where consumers can search to see what funds may be available for them. City of New York. Why does New York State have unclaimed funds? Many states protect unclaimed money and hold it until it is claimed by the rightful owner. Search for unclaimed funds. Many states provide listings in broad circulation publications. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Use each separate database in the links below to search for each type of unclaimed money. Participants in this survey will not receive further communication from the City with regards to this survey. Albany, NY 12236. Most browsers include functionality to let you increase or decrease the text on a web page. The . Table of Heirs - A form used, usually in tandem with a Small Estates Affidavit, by surviving blood relatives of a decedent if there was no estate representative appointed by the courts. But with our site, you will be able to try to search by state, in one place. Phone Number: (800) 221-9311. You can search for your name on a list of people and businesses who are owed funds and have not claimed them. When you get your check, please cash it as soon as possible. Consumers should always review the terms and conditions and check for hidden fees or restrictions on the use of the gift card. In connection with the scheme, bank accounts controlled by DOUKOURE and TUNKARA were used to make purchases from online databases that collect public records on individuals, such as names, dates of birth, and addresses. which government agency has it. If you have lived in other states, check their unclaimed property offices, too. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Check reviews and articles. The .gov means its official. According to the allegations in the Complaint filed yesterday and unsealed today[1]: New York States Abandoned Property Law requires banks and other financial institutions to transfer abandoned customer funds in their custody to the Office of Unclaimed Funds after a specified period of time. This is a read only version of the page. DOUKOURE and TUNKARA also used stolen identities to perpetrate their scheme, including fake drivers licenses. Consumers should use caution when buying gift cards from third parties or online auctions, as it may be difficult to verify the dollar amount remaining. ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Todays arrests should also serve as a warning to anyone who uses the mail for illegal purposes: once Postal Inspectors are on the case, its game over for the bad guys., New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said: The defendants unconscionably stole peoples identities to submit claims for money that did not belong to them, stealing from those who had unclaimed funds held by the state. Office of the State Comptroller Office of Unclaimed Funds 110 State Street "New York has thousands of water systems supplying drinking water but, as we've seen in . or visit our web site at: www.osc.state.ny.us Claims for abandoned property must be filed with the New York State Comptroller's Office of Unclaimed Funds as provided in Section UNCLAIMED FUNDS 05/2023 osc.state.ny.us 1-800-221-9311 > Weekdays 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The site is secure. Copyright 2023 UnclaimedHelp.com. Unclaimed Money and Assets. The Unclaimed Funds Offset Program (UCF) is a joint program between the New York State Tax Department and New York State Comptroller's Office regarding unclaimed funds. Consumers should be particularly cautious about callers claiming to be from the government or utility company saying that an overdue bill or federal debt can be paid with a gift card. The Office of Unclaimed Funds returns over $1.5 million to individuals, companies, non-profit organizations, and municipalities daily. States and provinces use a variety of methods to locate missing property owners. Agency: New York State Comptroller. Unclaimed Funds, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at: 1-800-221-9311 or visit our web site at: www.osc.state.ny.us Claims for abandoned property must be led with the New York State Comptroller's Ofce of Unclaimed Funds as provided in Section 1406 of theAbandoned Property Law. Despite these efforts, many funds remain unclaimed and are turned . If you think that a government agency has money, property, or another asset that belongs to you, you need to have this information to claim it: what specific money, property, or asset you want to claim. To change the text size on NYC.gov you can use your web browser's settings. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS For assistance contact us by telephone at 800-221-9311 or at www.osc.state.ny.us. These organizations must attempt to notify you by mail and publish the information in newspapers. New York State Register on March 29, 2023, and clarified on July 12, 2023, are also . If a company, government, bank, or other entity owes you money and can't reach you, the money may be turned over to your state government. Banks, insurance companies, corporations and the courts are among the many organizations required by law to report dormant accounts to the State Comptroller. They gamed the system for over one hundred thousand dollars and tarnished the names of innocent people, all in the pursuit of their greed. You may be requested to print a claim form, sign it, and submit it to the state, or your claim may be delivered online to the state. An investigation by the State Comptrollers Office initially discovered the identity theft and the fraud. Mail to: Office of the State Comptroller. You can also learn how to claim the money. Unclaimed funds are normally transferred to the government once a specified period of time has passed. You don't have permissions to view these records. Bank records show that, during the relevant period, the Office of Unclaimed Funds issued approximately 170 checks made out to approximately 120 different payees that were deposited into approximately eight different bank accounts that were controlled by either DOUKOURE or TUNKARA. Although the procedures for processing claims vary by state and province, you will normally be needed to produce documents such as a death certificate, letters of testamentary, verification of the account owner's link to the last known address, and so on. New York State has approximately $17.5 billion in unclaimed money with more than 46 million account records remaining unclaimed. Did you know you can make money finding unclaimed money for other people? Simply follow the on-screen prompts. I would strongly suggest since they are motivated and hardworking. Phone: (800) 221-9311. If gift cards are on your holiday shopping list, the Division of Consumer Protection encourages you to know your rights when it comes to buying and using them to purchase goods.. to check on any unclaimed funds in their name or to file a claim against a current bankruptcy matter. 1-800-221-9311 Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. We can also be reached by email at nysouf@osc.ny. Office of Unclaimed Funds. You can search for your name on a list of people and businesses who are owed funds and have not claimed them. My Office and our partners in law enforcement will not stand idly by when wrongdoers target government programs designed to protect the assets of the people of this State., USPIS Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Division Daniel B. Brubaker said: The defendants thought no one was looking while they carried out their scheme to defraud the New York State Comptrollers Office, and in an attempt to hide their crimes steal the identities of numerous victims. If you find money that belongs to you, we'll direct you to the official state process for filing a claim. Please contact the appropriate states below regarding your unclaimed accounts: (FDIC assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of these links as they are continually being updated - For Information - please contact the specific state) Click arrows next to State header to sort in Ascending or . I don't give a damn what other people think. The convenience of gift cards makes them a very popular present to give and receive during the holiday season, said Acting Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. By Phone. If you have personal income tax or business tax debt, we may offset: outstanding unclaimed funds, such as those that originate from closed bank accounts, unclaimed security deposits, and unpaid stock dividends, or Enter your name or the name of the business or organization you're searching for. 110 State Street. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. It's uncommon to come across a team that cares so deeply about their clients' success. Businesses should transfer any uncollected gift cards funds to the State Comptroller in the name of the owner. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Below are tips consumers should keep in mind when buying and using gift cards this holiday season: Consumers having difficulty with an existing gift card are encouraged to file a complaint with the New York State Division of Consumer Protection. BOCES officials did not transparently fund capital expenditures and instead utilized more than $2.5 . . Please do not include personal information or expect a response. New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said his office had a $5 million stock account that hadn't been claimed. There is a little known business that lets you do that. Fax: (518) 270-2222. No, until you claim your property from the state or province, they operate as caretakers. The turnaround time was quick. Byron Brown today urged local residents to search for unclaimed funds during a news conference at City Hall. If a business is out of business or completed their bankruptcy filing, funds may also be available with the State Comptroller: https://www.osc.state.ny.us/unclaimed-funds. Unclaimed property includes uncashed payroll checks, dormant stocks, court funds, dividends, checking and savings accounts, and estate earnings. Review the results by clicking SEARCH. how you expected to get it. Unclaimed property includes uncashed payroll checks, dormant stocks, court funds, dividends, checking and savings accounts, and estate earnings. His office has . DiNapoli said with Mayor Byron Brown helps to increase awareness about unclaimed funds and get even more checks out in the mail to . Check unclaimed funds site for unused gift cards. Unclaimed money held by a state may be from bank accounts, insurance policies, or the state government. Please file electronically.. The charges in the Complaint are merely accusations, and DOUKOURE, TUNKARA and SYLLA are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin A. Gianforti and James McMahon are in charge of the prosecution. A lock ( Once the questionnaire is certified, it is available for review by authorized New York State Contracting Entity users. osc.state.ny.usof people who have unclaimed funds being safeguarded by the comptroller. New York State Comptroller's Office - Office of Unclaimed Funds Claim Form Page 2. 2023 All Rights Reserved, We will use your feedback to improve NYC311. However, Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners are ever vigilant when it comes to exposing fraudsters. Check unclaimed funds site for unused gift cards. This not only makes it easier for you but hopefully also safer. Learn more about Digital Accessibility from the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. unable to process paper filings. When clients are uninformed of a bank's closure or don't know who to contact to collect their cash, it might result in a pool of unclaimed funds. This website is protected with Mcafee WebAdvisor and SSL Certificate encryption at the highest level. Write. State Comptroller investigators brought the matter to the federal authorities and worked jointly with the Postal Inspection Service and the United States Attorneys Office to fully uncover the scheme. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at. Call (800) 221-9311 Other tips to know Albany, New York 12236. From at least in or about June 2012 to in or about April 2018, DOUKOURE, TUNKARA, and SYLLA worked together in a fraudulent scheme in which they filed fraudulent claims with the Office of Unclaimed Funds for abandoned monies held in trust by the New York State Comptroller. There is no fee to reclaim funds, however, private companies are allowed to charge claimants up to a 15 percent finder's fee. Andrew E. Krause, United States Magistrate Judge. An official website of the United States government Here's how you know If a business is currently going through bankruptcy, consumers can file a claim against the company for the gift card amount. The Office of Unclaimed Funds returns over $1.5 million to individuals, companies, non-profit organizations, and municipalities daily. About Unclaimed Funds. For any additional questions you may have, call our Communication Center at 800-221-9311, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Daniel B. Brubaker, Postal Inspector in Charge, Postal Service Inspection Service, New York Division, and Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, announced the arrest of BAKARE DOUKOURE, SANNEH TUNKARA, and LASSANA SYLLA on mail fraud and identity theft charges arising out of their scheme to fraudulently obtain unclaimed funds held by the New York State Comptrollers Office of Unclaimed Funds. Office of the State Comptroller. For example, to increase text size using: In the menu to the right of the address bar, select and set Zoom level. The only thing you have to pay for is the time it takes to search. To make a claim, you must first do a search. Search for unclaimed money from your state's unclaimed property office. Gift cards are increasingly popular, so it is important for consumers to understand the pitfalls surrounding gift cards in order to avoid scams. View > Zoom > Zoom In, In the View menu, select Text Size. Note: The Division of the Treasury cannot assist you with any tax-related questions including return status, payments, or balance due. Unclaimed Funds, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 . SYLLA, 47, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. If you prefer not to provide your Social Security number, or the owner is incorrectly listed as deceased, follow these steps: Select your relationship to the owner in the dropdown and then select Next . In New York, consumers who buy and use gifts cards have protections. The City intends to use the data collected from this survey to generally add and improve City services. Make a claim through the mail: The New York State Comptroller's Office of Unclaimed Funds, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236. View > Text Size > Largest, In the View menu, select Zoom In. You have until December 31 of the following calendar year to cash it. Simply type the name of the person you're looking for into the search box on our main page. We will commit every resource available to us in the fight against identity theft and fraud. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Postal Inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service, Investigators with the Office of the New York State Comptroller, and Investigators with the New York City Housing Authoritys Office of Inspector General. Created Date: 5/8/2023 11:52:57 AM . New York State has approximately $17.5 billion in unclaimed money with more than 46 million account records remaining unclaimed. TUNKARA, 38, of the Bronx, New York, has been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years in prison. Verify the legitimacy of the seller. you may contact the Office of the State Comptroller at 1-800-221-9311 or via email by nysouf@osc.state.ny.us. Division: Department of Audit and Control Abandoned Property Unit Local Office. Select Next again to continue to Step 3, and then select the Mail-in Claim Form link (pictured below). Accounts are turned over to the state for a variety of reasons, including the account holder's death, failure to establish a forwarding address after moving, or just forgetting about an account. Share . Why does New York State have unclaimed funds? Individuals can call 800-221-9311. All Rights Reserved. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: As alleged in the Complaint, Bakare Doukoure, Sanneh Tunkara, and Lassana Sylla defrauded over 100 unsuspecting New York residents out of money to which they were entitled that was held in trust by the New York State Comptrollers Office of Unclaimed Funds. The office keeps a list on its Web sitewww. gov. Comptroller DiNapoli and Mayor Brown Urge Buffalo Residents to Claim $88 Million in Lost Money. To determine if New York State is holding unclaimed funds on your behalf, visit the NYS Office of the State Comptroller; Learn about the New York State College Savings Program. Office of Unclaimed Funds. The Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation, between the consumer and business, when the consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. Most of them are in amounts of $50 or $100, but you never know.