You've probably dreamed about what it would be to suddenly get money that you didn't know you had coming. Believe it or not, that's exactly what happens to thousands of people in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio every year. Maybe it's a pay check you forgot to cash, or a gift certificate you forgot to use, the bank account you forgot to close, or a relative who died and left some old stocks or bonds that you should have inherited.
Every day is a treasure hunt for workers in the office of unclaimed property.
If no one claims the treasures, they remain at the treasury where workers test them for authenticity. These are just a few of the people in the tri-state area that can claim their money. Jewels, silver and important papers aren't the only things waiting at the bureau. The treasurer estimates one out of every 14 Pennsylvanians has unclaimed property waiting at the state. In addition to Pennsylvania, West Virgina and Ohio have similar programs trying to return the unclaimed treasures to their rightful owners or their heirs.