State Treasurer Riley Moore today reminded fairgoers they have two more opportunities to participate in live, in-person Unclaimed Property Auctions during the 2023 State Fair of West Virginia in Fairlea.
The remaining two auctions will take place Friday, Aug. 18, and Saturday, Aug. 19, beginning at 5 p.m. each day. Two auctions were already held last week.
Pat Jack of the State Treasurer's Office auctions off items during one of the Office's Unclaimed Property Auctions in the West Virginia Building during the State Fair of West Virginia.
The items up for bid include rare coins, currency, jewelry and other collectibles that have been turned over to the Office’s Unclaimed Property Division by banks or law enforcement. The items will be on display at the State Treasurer’s Office booth, located in the West Virginia Building, throughout the fair.
Items auctioned often come from safe deposit boxes or law enforcement evidence rooms. When companies or officials are unable to locate the lawful owners, the items are turned over to the Treasurer’s Office as unclaimed property. While the items are auctioned off, the proceeds from the sale remain in an individual’s name for claim in the future.
“These auctions provide a great opportunity to pick up some valuable collectors’ items or antiques that have been turned over to our Office after being forgotten about or abandoned,” Treasurer Moore said. “While you’re there, you can also talk to our Treasury staff who can search our databases to see if we’re holding any unclaimed property funds in your name and help walk you through the process of claiming it.”
State Treasurer’s Office staff will be available throughout the fair to provide information on the Office’s various programs and conduct unclaimed property searches for anyone who visits the Office’s booth in the West Virginia Building.
What is Unclaimed Property?
Unclaimed property can include financial accounts or items of value in which the owner has not initiated any activity for one year or longer. Common examples include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards. (While the title includes the word “property,” it does not however include real estate.)
West Virginia’s unclaimed property laws protect the public by ensuring money and property owed to them is returned, rather than remaining permanently with financial institutions, business associations, governments and other entities. The Treasurer seeks to reunite the unclaimed property, including uncashed paychecks, stocks, or safe deposit box contents, with its owner.
Nationwide, nearly 33 million people in the United States – one in every 10 – are estimated to have unclaimed property available for them to claim.
How Can I Find Unclaimed Property in My Name?
West Virginians searching for lost financial assets can go to www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov. In addition to finding property, the website will also help you track a claim.
A demonstration of how to use the Unclaimed Property search site is available on the Treasury’s YouTube page, at: https://youtu.be/K09yQ7YNKlE.
To search for lost financial assets outside West Virginia, visit www.MissingMoney.com.