Utah recovers $3.5 million in lost cash

Salt Lake City, Utah – The State of Utah has been able to retrieve over $3.5 million in uncashed checks as a result of a deal with Delaware regarding funds from the international money transfer corporation MoneyGram.

The funds are from legal checks that MoneyGram issued but were never claimed. Attorney General Sean Reyes of Utah noted that official MoneyGram checks had gone unclaimed for a variety of reasons by citizens across the country. The State of Delaware, where MoneyGram is based, was notified of and kept custody of these checks when they were reported, but the intended recipient never received them.

Much of the money will now be released after a lawsuit with Utah as part of a consortium of thirty states to collect the damages of an unclaimed property issue. Delaware will refund more than $190 million to other states in total, including roughly $3.5 million going to Utah.

“Now that Utah citizens have access to the knowledgeable attorneys in our office and other states, they can assert their legal rights,” Reyes stated. In agreement, Utah Treasurer Marlo Oaks stated that Utahns stand to gain the most from the deal.

In the deal, the State of Utah will take custody of the missing funds and be in charge of returning them.

“Our team puts in a lot of effort to return misplaced funds to their rightful owners. We do this by utilizing cutting-edge technology, launching vigorous outreach campaigns, and collaborating with news outlets, charitable organizations, and local government representatives,” added Oaks.

Oaks urged Utah residents to check their names on mycash.utah.gov for any property that has gone unclaimed, including the $3.5 million that was just found.

You might have lost money from other cases that the state can assist you in recovering from, even if you don’t have a claim on the recently recovered checks from MoneyGram. For missing property, Oaks advised use the MyCash Utah website at least once a year.

It’s as easy as typing in your first and last name on the website to file a claim. Once you locate some misplaced items that might be yours, click “claim” and fill out the form. You will receive a confirmation claim number after submitting your claim, which you may use to follow the progress of your claim.

Yes, some identification is required for each unclaimed property claim. You will receive instructions via email regarding how to submit your identity along with the specific requirements for each claim.

The Unclaimed Property Division reports that over $450 million in misplaced items has been reunited with their original owners.