Lost money, as in $12 billion

ALBANY — The New York State Comptroller’s office has $12 billion in unclaimed funds from money that has been surrendered to the state for safekeeping by banks, insurance companies, utilities, other businesses and even various state agencies.
These funds, which come from inactive accounts, are classified as abandoned or unclaimed. For example, inactive savings accounts, state tax refund checks that were lost or not cashed, utility deposits and unclaimed trust or estate funds are just some of the examples of types of unclaimed funds surrendered to the comptroller’s office.
Finding out if any of it belongs to you is easy, according to a press release from the office Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt of Greenwood Lake:

There is no fee to claim your funds and all you need to do is simply log onto the comptroller’s web site at www.osc.state.ny.us and click on the graphics for “Unclaimed Funds” and then enter your name to search the database.
If your name comes up, you will be prompted through a simple claims process online – or you can always call the comptroller’s office for further assistance at 1-800-221-9311 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Eighty-five percent of claims are processed online and the entire process takes less than five minutes.

How much?

More than 28.6 million account records are still unclaimed.
The largest amount still unclaimed is $1.7 million for one individual
Fifty percent of the individual claims are for less than $100.
In 2008, $4 million was claimed by an individual for unclaimed stocks.

To contact the assemblywoman, call 845-291-3631 or e-mail her at rabbitta@assembly.state.ny.us.