How to Find Lost Money

Co-authored by Steven Kibbel

Last Updated: September 17, 2023 References

Losing money can be very upsetting, especially if it is a large amount. You can look for lost money on the internet using the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators website, which will direct you to searchable state and federal databases. If you have lost some money around the house or while you were running errands, you may not know where to start looking. Either way, you can make the search for your lost money less stressful by following a few simple steps. Keep reading to learn how to find lost money.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Finding Lost Money Using the NAUPA Website

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Go to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators website. NAUPA is a non-profit organization with the goal of reuniting property with its rightful owners. The NAUPA website is the best place to start because it provides links to all of the state unclaimed property databases in the US. You can search the database for each state that you have lived in to see if you have any lost money.^{[1]
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Using the NAUPA website, search for lost money in the state where you have or have had resident status. If you believe that you may have lost money as a result of the death of a loved one, then you will also want to check with the insurance department in the state where your loved one lived.^{[2]
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Check NAUPA’s “Other Sources For Unclaimed Property” tab to see if there are any other sources of lost money that you can claim. NAUPA provides the links to other legitimate sources for finding lost money such as the IRS, National Credit Union Association, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and more. Make sure to search all of the sources that are applicable to you.^{[3]
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Follow the steps to claim your money. Each state and federal website will have a different process for claiming your lost money. After you conduct your searches, you will need to carefully follow the instructions on the website.
- If you are having trouble understanding the instructions, you can call the organization and ask for help. There should be a phone number available at the bottom of the web page or on the website's "contact" page.
If your searches don’t turn up anything and you believe that you have lost money, consider hiring a professional asset detective to locate the funds for you. Just keep in mind that professional assistance can be expensive, so this should only be used if you are certain that you have a considerable amount of lost money.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Finding Money That You Lost at Home or While You Were Out

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Losing money can be very upsetting, but getting frazzled will make it more difficult for you to think about where you had the money last. Wait a moment before you begin your search and take a deep breath.^{[5]
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You may know the exact amount of money that you are missing, but if not, make an estimate. Are you missing a small amount or a larger amount? What denomination was the money? $1s, $5s, $20s, etc.? Having a solid idea of how much you have lost and what bill denominations will make it easier for you to ask people about your missing money.
Try to remember where you had the money last. Did you have it at home, take it with you to the grocery store, or somewhere else? Do you remember spending any of it? If so, did you put the change back into your wallet or your pocket? Do the best you can to remember the details of when and where you last had the money.
Now that you have thought about how much money you have lost, as well as where and when you might have lost it, you can plan out where you should look. Include the places you might have lost your money and anywhere you passed through along the way.
Check usual and unusual places for your missing money. Look in the pockets of the clothes you wore when you last had the money. Check between couch cushions and on the floor. Check where you stash your keys at the end of the day.
Go back to the places where you might have lost your money and follow the same route that you took before. As you walk, scan the ground for your money just in case it fell out of your pocket along the way.
Check the floor and around the seats in your car to see if your money is there. It may have fallen out of your pocket as you got into or out of your car. Check the glove compartment, overhead visors, and other places that you might have stowed your money without remembering.
If you think you might have lost your money in a store or some other place of business, ask the manager if anyone found your money. Say how much you lost and what denomination the money was in. You can also leave your name and number just in case someone turns the money in.
If the places you went to with the money have a lost and found, check to see if your money is there. You may have to offer identifying information about your money, such as the amount, bill denomination, and when you lost it, so be prepared.
A small amount of money probably would not be turned into the police, but a large amount might be. If you have lost a substantial amount of money, then you may want to report it to the police. Conduct a thorough search first, but if you still can’t find your money, file a report with the police.^{[6]
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What should I do if one of my children took the money?

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It is usually best to have a frank conversation with them. Remind them it is not okay for them to violate your trust by stealing your money, and that they should come and talk to you if they need money. If you're afraid they might steal from you again, try to find a secure place to keep your money. If they regret stealing from you and want to make it right, you can work with them on a way for them to repay you.

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How can I find money that I lost at school?

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Check with your teacher and the administrative office to see if anyone has turned it in.

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How do I find money that was stolen by a worker in my home?

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You'll have to file a police report and contact the worker's manager. However, unless you recorded the serial numbers of the money that was stolen, the chance that you'll retrieve the stolen money is small due to the difficulty in proving specific bills were yours to begin with.

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Tips

Be wary of internet scams! There are lots of websites that may seem free and trustworthy, but that will actually try to charge you money to look for lost money. Steer clear of these websites! Stick to the NAUPA website and government sponsored websites instead.

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If your eyesight is poor, ask a family member or friend to help you with your search for money that you lost around the house.

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