FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
More than $46 Million Up for Grabs in 2008 Unclaimed Property Supplement
-80-page Insert Featured in Nearly 30 Newspapers Starting Tomorrow-
ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 1, 2008) Comptroller Peter Franchot today announced that his office will issue an 80-page advertising supplement over the next three weeks to find 66,387 recently-identified owners of more than $46 million in unclaimed funds. The supplement will appear in 28 newspapers throughout the state, beginning tomorrow and running through Thursday, April 17.
"Our number one job at the Comptroller's Office is to serve the people," said Comptroller Franchot. "Part of that service is to connect people with unclaimed funds so they get what they are owed."
Financial institutions, utilities, insurance companies and other corporations are required to report to the Comptroller any bank accounts, security deposits, wages, insurances benefits and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been unclaimed after three years. Funds remain the property of the owners or their legitimate heirs and can be claimed anytime. There is no statue of limitations.
Comptroller Franchot urges anyone who finds their name in the ad to contact his office at 410-767-1700, in Central Maryland, or toll-free at 1-800-782-7383, to find out how to make a claim. The Comptroller also noted that anyone can check the agency's complete unclaimed property records for free, online, at either www.marylandtaxes.com or www.missingmoney.com. The agency has records on approximately 758,000 accounts worth more than $708 million.
In addition, numerous property items held by the agency that remain unclaimed are now eligible for auction on eBay. Since this program began in July 2006, nearly 2,800 items have been sold, totaling more than $301,000. These items can be viewed and bid on by clicking the eBay icon at www.marylandtaxes.com.
Along with newspaper advertising, the Comptroller's Office also searches for owners of unclaimed funds by matching files with Internal Revenue Service and state Motor Vehicle Administration records and setting up computers at the Maryland State Fair and other events to allow people to check the agency's files of unclaimed funds.
In fiscal year 2007, which ended on June 30, 2007, the Comptroller's Office honored nearly 40,000 claims totaling more than $46 million.
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY ADVERTISING SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2008
Central Maryland
Baltimore Sun, April 2, 3 & 4
The Gazette, Carroll County, April 3, 10 & 17
The Aegis, April 4
The Capital, April 9
Maryland Gazette, April 9
|
Capital Region
The Sentinel, Prince George's County, April 2
The Gazette, Montgomery County, April 2, 9 & 16
The Sentinel, Montgomery County, April 3
The Gazette, Prince George's County, April 4, 10 & 16
Frederick News Post, April 8
|
Eastern Shore
The Times Recorder, April 2
Bay Times, April 2
Kent County News, April 3
Record Observer, April 4
Dorchester Star, April 4
Star Democrat, April 7
Cecil Whig, April 7
Wicomico Weekly, April 9
The Daily Times, Worcester, April 10
The Daily Times, Wicomico, April 16
The Daily Times, Somerset, April 16
The Ocean Pines Independent, April 23
|
Western Maryland
The Republican, April 3
The Herald - Mail, April 8
Cumberland News Times, April 9
|
Southern Maryland
Calvert Recorder, April 2
Maryland Independent, Charles County, April 9
The Enterprise, St. Mary's County, April 9
|
|
###
Media Inquiries Only:
CONTACT: Lisa Lester 410-260-7210 (office), 410-916-2186 (cell)
|
