Hunting for Treasure... the modern version

From KIMT
Hunting for Treasure

When times are tight, everyone's looking for that extra cash. But your quest to find it may extend no further than your computer key pad.
“The state of Iowa collects over $15 million a year from Iowans that don't know they're losing track of money,” said State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald.

But you can trace that money trail by navigating over to the ‘Great Iowa Treasure Hunt’ website---and just typing in your name. “We're holding over $200 million for over 800,000 Iowans and there's almost a 1 in 3 chance you have money coming from the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt and I want to give it back to you,” he said.

So where's the cash that fills those coffers coming from? Everything from forgotten savings accounts, stocks, utility security deposits and safe deposit boxes. “People are just shocked to find out how much money they have,” said Fitzgerald. “All kinds of folks have as much as $10-20,000. We've returned as much as a million dollars to one family.”

Fitzgerald says today's fast moving society makes it easy to get off course when it comes to charting your assets. That's why some are saying it's worth your time to see if your name's on the list. “I know I've looked at that list and there are lots of people on there,” said Rep. Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City

We did some simple scanning--and found there are some in our area with large sums awaiting them. For example, the Clear Lake Public Library has nearly $800. The library's director declined to speak on camera with us, but said she wasn't aware of the money.

Fitzgerald says Iowa's small town feel means if you don't find your name on the list---you'll likely find someone else you do know. “If you don't see your own name you might see one of your family members or the business or the church you go to, one of your friends and you tell them,” he said.

Fitzgerald says they've returned more than $100 million over the history of the hunt.

He says the average amount is higher than $300.