The City of Danville’s Treasurer’s Office and the Virginia Department of the Treasury will hold an unclaimed property virtual call event on Dec. 3-4 to help local citizens who might be owed funds they don’t know about.
Treasury workers came to Danville last year for two days. While here, they looked up 280 names, and 152 of those found money. The total amount found was $82,798.56.
This year’s event will be handled virtually. Danville residents can call 1-833-302-0704 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, and Friday, Dec. 4, to have staff check their name for missing money.
The State Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Division operates essentially as a centralized lost and found. It handles unclaimed money and property turned over by companies when they have lost track of the rightful owner.
Unclaimed property can include utility deposits, customer refunds, unpaid wages, money from insurance policies, securities and investments, bank accounts, and tangible property.
Under Virginia law, any funds in dormant financial accounts must be turned over to the state government, which holds them in trust. Examples of dormant accounts include a company that sent a check but was never cashed or perhaps a loved one who died with money he or she never collected.
The State Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Program is a consumer protection initiative to benefit citizens. No commissions or fees are charged.
In addition to the virtual call event, citizens can always go online 24/7 to www.vaMoneySearch.org and search their name for unclaimed property.
There is no charge for searching, either at community-outreach events or through the Website at www.vamoneysearch.org.
State officials caution consumers to be aware of fee-based unauthorized or unsolicited offers and make sure they are working with an authorized state representative.