Missing Money

Over the past several years, I have been able to locate various accounts for family members (unfortunately, never for myself) who have successfully claimed their funds.

MissingMoney is more than just a list of "free cash." For an investigator, the data points within a listing provide several pivot opportunities:

• Address History Reconstruction: Each claim is usually tied to the "Last Known Address" reported by the holder (the company that turned over the money). If a subject has a common name, matching a property to a known past address confirms the record belongs to them. Also, it can reveal a previously unknown residency.
• Business and Entity Verification: Searching for a company name can reveal uncashed checks or dividends. This is useful for identifying defunct shell companies, active subsidiaries, or businesses a subject may be attempting to hide.
• Identifying Associates and Relatives: Many records list "Co-Owners" or "Beneficiaries." If a subject is listed alongside another individual, you have a high-confidence lead for a spouse, business partner, or family member.
• Professional Footprinting: The "Reported By" field (the holder) identifies companies the subject had a relationship with.
  • Uncashed wages identify former employers.
  • Uncashed insurance premiums identify providers.
  • Utility deposits identify service areas and timeframes of residency.
• Middle Name/Initial Confirmation: Many official financial records include a full middle name or initial that may not be present on social media profiles. This helps narrow down searches in more cluttered databases like PACER or LexisNexis.

Advanced Search Techniques

• Phonetic and Variation Searches: MissingMoney's search engine is relatively literal. If a primary search yields no results, check for common misspellings, maiden names, or name reversals (searching the last name in the first name field).
• The "Deceased Subject" Pivot: If you are investigating a deceased subject, searching for their name can reveal the existence of an estate or identify the executor (often the person who eventually claims the property).
• Address-Only Searches: Some state-specific versions of the database allow you to search by address rather than name. This can reveal who previously lived at a target location and whether they left behind financial traces.

Limitations to Consider

• Data Lag: There is often a significant delay (months to years) between when a property becomes "unclaimed" and when it is reported to the state and indexed on the site.
• State Exclusions: While MissingMoney covers most states, some (like Hawaii or Connecticut) may require direct searches on their specific Department of Revenue or Treasurer websites. Always cross-reference the "Participating States" list on the site's footer.