MA Residents Are Getting Hit By “Unclaimed Property” Scams

Monday, October 24, 2016
GoLocalWorcester News Team

Illegitimate letters from a Massachusetts address are being sent to the state’s citizens claiming “unclaimed property winnings." These letters are not being sent by the Massachusetts Office of the State Treasurer.

According to Treasurer Deborah Goldberg’s office, “Official unclaimed property notices will never direct owners to pay money, whether for processing fees, tax payments, or otherwise, when searching unclaimed property or filing a claim.”

This is just one of the most recent mail or Internet scams.

 

Treasurer Deb Goldberg

The Office of the State Treasurer and Massachusetts Legislators utilize the mail to inform owners of unclaimed property. 

There are a number of ways to discern official Treasury notices from scam notices. 

It is unknown how many Commonwealth residents have been victimized by the scam.

Letters will be mailed from Boston, Massachusetts with a return address; they will direct owners to an official http://www.mass.gov/ website; and they will bear the official seal of the State of Massachusetts along with the signature of the Treasurer.