what should you do before paying a finder for lost money?
short answer
Before paying a finder, check official routes first: state unclaimed-property programs, tax refund pages, school or employer offices, credit-report routes, loan servicers, and insurance claim records. A private finder should not be the first source of truth.
first moves
- Search the official state unclaimed-property system yourself.
- Check the institution that may have issued the refund, deposit, benefit, or record.
- Ask for the official proof list and written confirmation.
- Slow down if the private site asks for payment, private numbers, or urgency before showing an official route.
what to ask
- What official office owns this claim?
- Can I verify this through a state, federal, school, employer, insurer, lender, or credit-report route?
- What fee is being charged and can I do the same route directly?
- What private identifiers are being requested?
what to write down
- Official site checked, claim category, public claim instructions, proof list, fee terms, date checked, confirmation number.
do not share
Do not put SSN, passport numbers, bank numbers, medical IDs, passwords, full addresses, claim numbers, or document scans into a public note. Keep the sensitive proof in your own files and use official routes first.
related pages
official route map · unclaimed property after moving · privacy
Last reviewed: May 2026.