‘The name’s Franchot … Peter Franchot’  Agent 0033 Licensed to Return Unclaimed Property

– Annual Newspaper Insert Lists Accounts Worth More Than $58 million –

Annapolis, Md. (April 20, 2015) – Maryland’s 0033, a.k.a. Comptroller Peter Franchot, released a list today of more than 78,000 unclaimed property accounts worth more than $58 million. Unlike his “double-O” counterpart, 007, Franchot is licensed to reunite Marylanders with their unclaimed property and his agent code reflects his standing as Maryland’s 33rd Comptroller. As part of his mission, the Comptroller’s annual unclaimed property insert is currently being distributed in local newspapers throughout the state.

Maryland’s “not-so-secret agent” appears on the cover of the newspaper insert and in an accompanyingYouTube video cruising in a classic 1978 Corvette, pledging, “First I am going to find your money, and then I am going to return it to you,” reminding Marylanders that their money is always, “Missing, not lost,” a playful spin on 007’s signature line, “Shaken, not stirred.”

In the video (https://youtu.be/kKPdiuLuR7M), an enthusiastic Q describes new techniques, like how the agency “auction items on eBay now, too.” Marylanders, however, won’t need high-tech gadgets worthy of Q’s research and development lab to locate their unclaimed property. Beginning Wednesday, April 22, they can check the 192-page list published annually by the Comptroller’s Office and distributed in more than 30 newspapers.

In previous years, Comptroller Franchot has taken a creative approach to raising awareness about the unclaimed property program, transforming himself into “Sherlock Franchot,” “The Most Interesting Man in Maryland” and “Indiana Franchot.” Now, as 0033, a James Bond-inspired Franchot gathers important intelligence about missing money and embarks on a high stakes mission to uncover its rightful owners.

Along with the unclaimed property list which is published annually as required by law, the Comptroller’s Office searches tax records to try and locate property owners. The agency also has a booth at the Maryland State Fair, and other events throughout the year, to allow people to check the unclaimed property database.

Marylanders can also check to see if their name is on the unclaimed property list through the Comptroller’s website. Here’s how:

Financial institutions, insurance companies and corporations are required to notify the Comptroller’s Office of any property that has gone unclaimed, or without activity, for more than three years.  This is usually wages, bank accounts, stocks or dividends, life insurance policies or from safe deposit boxes. When the Comptroller’s Office receives property that isn’t monetary, as required by state law, the items are appraised and the auctioned off on eBay (www.ebay.com/usr/mdcompfranchot). The proceeds are held for the owner in perpetuity. Funds are available to be claimed at any time, with no statute of limitations and are not subject to taxes.

Franchot urges anyone who finds his or her name on the list to contact his office at 410-767-1700 (Central Maryland), or toll-free at 1-800-782-7383, to find out how to reclaim their lost property.

The Comptroller’s Office honored nearly 51,000 claims totaling more than $62 million in Fiscal Year 2014. Since 2007, the Comptroller’s Office has returned more than $450 million in unclaimed property. In total, the agency has more than 1 million accounts worth more than $1 billion in its unclaimed property accounts.

***To request a jpg of the newspaper insert, please contact Barbara Sauers at bsauers@comp.state.md.usor Michelle Byrnie-Parker at mbyrnie-parker@comp.state.md.us.

– MORE –

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY NEWSPAPER INSERT

 DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE

CENTRAL MARYLAND
           

The Afro-American, Baltimore and DC, April 25

Carroll County Times (Sunday Choice), April 25& 26

The Capital, April 26

        Sunday Choice, April 25

Maryland Gazette, April 25

Frederick News Post, April 26

The Baltimore Sun

       Baltimore County, April 25& 26

       Baltimore City, April 25& 26

       Howard County, April 25 &26

EASTERN SHORE

Bay Times, April 22

Dorchester Star, April 24

Kent County News, April 23                                             

Record Observer, April 24                                                  

Star Democrat, April 28      

The Caroline Times Record, April 22                                                        

The Daily Times (Wicomico) April 28 & 29

The Daily Times Weeklies

Worcester County Times, April 28 & 29

Somerset Herald, April 28 & 29

The Ocean Pines Independent, April 29              
Wicomico Weekly, April 28 & 29

  NORTHEAST MARYLAND

 The Aegis, April 24

 Cecil Whig, April 27

Dundalk Eagle, April 23

  SOUTHERN MARYLAND

     Calvert Recorder, April 22

     The Enterprise, April 22

     Maryland Independent, April 22

  WASHINGTON DC

The Sentinel
            Montgomery County, April 22– April 29

            Prince George’s County, April 22 – April 29

The Gazette

            Montgomery County, April 22 & 29

            Prince George’s County, April 23 & 30

WESTERN MARYLAND

    Cumberland Times-News, April 24

The Herald-Mail, April 24
The Republican, April 23