Massachusetts Is Mailing QR-Code Letters to About 5,000 Residents Matched to Unclaimed Money, Letting Them Claim It Without a Search

Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg’s office is mailing letters to about 5,000 residents who have been matched to unclaimed money, and each letter carries a QR code so the recipient can claim it without searching a database, WBUR reported. The pilot, called Claim Mass Money, comes from the Unclaimed Property Division of the State Treasury and was announced Oct. 26.

Until now, the process started with residents searching the state’s FindMassMoney site for their own names. The letters reverse that: the state has already done the matching, and the person only has to confirm who they are.

What the Letter Contains and How the Claim Works

According to WBUR, the first round goes to about 5,000 people matched to unclaimed property of up to $2,500. Each letter includes a QR code, a unique claim ID and the office’s return address. Recipients scan the code or go to the web page, answer a few questions, and the office sends the check. Goldberg told the station there is no need for recipients to run a search or type in their names.

The Treasury’s press release, dated Oct. 26, says the program launches that week and that letters are going to thousands of residents. It describes a simplified online process in which a person uses the claim ID to verify their information, without searching the database or filing a traditional claim.

The division uses LexisNexis data to verify property owners and identify people who may be entitled to funds, according to the release. It says earlier restrictions on data matching had limited the office’s ability to match residents with money. Eligible claims in the fast-track process are approved automatically, with no paper claim forms or additional supporting documentation.

Goldberg said in the release that the goal is to make reclaiming unclaimed property as easy as possible for Massachusetts residents. Boston.com, which reported on the program Oct. 28, quoted her saying the program reflects a commitment to finding new ways to reach residents, remove barriers and return unclaimed funds to their owners.

How the Fast Track Compares With the Usual Claim

The standard route is longer. The state’s how-to page says a person enters a name and address in the Unclaimed Property Division’s database, selects a matching entry and clicks Start Claim. An email then explains how to prove the claim. Some claims are approved automatically, the page says, but most need more information to verify that the person is the rightful owner or heir, and processing takes about 180 days.

The fast track already exists for a subset of claims. In fiscal year 2026, 61,358 claims were eligible, totaling $5,203,486.27, according to the Treasury’s release. Dividing the one figure by the other gives roughly $85 per claim on average, a calculation based on those two numbers rather than a figure the Treasury published.

The how-to page also says searches can be done by phone, by calling (617) 367-0400 and asking for help, and that a claimant can check the status of a submitted claim at any time through the claim status search on the FindMassMoney site.

The Unclaimed Property Division’s agency page says the kinds of property it holds include bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks or dividends, insurance policies and safe deposit box contents. Banks and other holders turn property over to the division after they have been unable to reach the owners for three years, and the state holds it until the owner or an heir claims it. The division takes questions at [email protected].

WBUR reported that Goldberg hopes to expand the program if the pilot draws a good response rate. The public search tool stays open alongside the mailings, so residents who are not among the first 5,000 can still look for themselves.

Telling a Real Letter From a Scam

A letter from the state about money owed invites suspicion, and the Treasury has addressed that directly. The release says official letters identify the Massachusetts State Treasury and point to FindMassMoney.gov. It advises residents to be cautious with unsolicited requests for personal or financial information and to verify communications through official channels. It also says claiming property directly from the Unclaimed Property Division never requires a fee.

WBUR reported that the letters direct people to FindMassMoney.gov so they can confirm the program is legitimate. Goldberg told the station the program’s success will depend a lot on people believing it is real. That concern is not new: in a 2016 notice, the Treasurer’s office warned about fraudulent letters offering “unclaimed property winnings” and said official notices never ask for payment of processing fees or taxes.

A WWLP news release carrying that year’s scam warning said the Treasury returned more than $114 million in property to claimants in 2015. The new pilot, at about 5,000 letters, targets the first step of any claim: finding out the money exists in the first place.

Other states have tried similar outreach. The Tonic Edit covered Oregon’s unclaimed money checks, which were sent to residents who did not have to file a claim.

For households, the practical steps are short. A recipient can check the return address and the Treasury’s name, go to FindMassMoney.gov directly rather than relying only on the code, and call the Unclaimed Property Division at (617) 367-0400, Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., if anything looks off. Residents who do not receive a letter can still use the state’s search tool, and the Treasury says claiming property directly from the division never requires a fee.

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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.

Image: King of Hearts – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons