There are a couple of scam warnings in the news today. The U.S. Treasury Department says a phony letter is circulating claiming that recipients have unclaimed property. The scam comes at the same time the Pennsylvania Treasury Department has announced its Money Match program, which automatically matches residents with unclaimed property without them having to file a claim. Legitimate Treasury Department letters will never ask for money or personal information.
Representative Jim Struzzi says if you are unsure if something is legit, call his office for assistance. He also has some tips for recognizing the Treasury scam:
• The letter claims funds will be released on a gift card.
• The response address is in South Dakota, but the letter was sent from Kansas.
• A search on the Pennsylvania Treasury Unclaimed Property website may not show any results for the recipient.
Struzzi also says a new phishing scam has popped up, targeting E-Z Pass customers who are being contacted via text messaging. He says that “If you get a shady E-ZPass text message demanding instant payment, do NOT click any links or provide personal information.”
