http://www.unclaimed.org/Apologies if someone else has already posted this, but the forum search function didn't work. I think this is a great thing that not many people know about. I haven't found any money for me, but I have found a few hundred for my parents, over a thousand for my in-laws, and FIVE FIGURES of cash for a company I worked for.
What is "Unclaimed Property"?It's money, owed to a person or business, where the company/person who owed it has turned it over to the state instead of finding the payee themselves.
Why does that happen?Sometimes a company doesn't have your complete address, or spells your name wrong, or you don't cash a check, or they just don't want to bother so they hand it to the state and say "Hey, this is your problem now."
How do I search for money?Check the website (above link) for your state, or any state you previously lived in.
What should I search for?Your name, your name misspelled, your address, etc. And you shouldn't just search for you! Try your parents, grandparents, or your company! The longer a person or business has been around (and the less internet-savvy they are) the more likely it is that they'll have something due to them.
Is there a catch?Well, since the state is involved, and they have to make sure it
really is you asking for the money, prepared to fill out a lot of paperwork and possibly hit up a notary. Sorry. Still, the return (as an hourly rate of work) should be pretty good.
Good luck, everyone!