Perhaps you left behind a security deposit from your college apartment rental or saw your investment disappear thanks to some shady moves by your broker. Did you suddenly realize your tax return never arrived?

Sometimes money isn’t lost forever, the government could be holding your unclaimed property.

These funds might not be gone forever, as there’s a chance government has been holding on to your money the whole time. It’s a consumer protection program that involves safe-guarding your financial stuff.It’s called unclaimed property and it’s very real, but often scams surface around them. Beware of anyone pressuring you to pay them for these services, even claims that laws have changed are crazy. You can do it all yourself and very easily simply by asking:

Did I….

Leave a security deposit somewhere?

Hey, do you remember moving from your college housing to your first apartment? Didn’t think so. So it’s more unlikely you remember whether you got your deposit back from the power company. There are also old bank accounts, securities and CDs lying around amounting to billions of dollars around each year. But the government holds on to it for us because it’s one of Uncle Sam’s favorite consumer protection programs, though all the records are maintained by our states. If you’ve lived in several it’s wise to check them all for perhaps wages you were owed, dividend checks, security deposits, cds, uncashed checks – who knows what you might have left behind.  The state databases can all be accessed FROM HERE.

Get bad investment advice?

Everyone knows there are risks associated with trying to make some money in the market. But among the dangers you shouldn’t have to face are companies that cheat. When that happens, officials go in and strip the company of money, handing it out to you and your fellow victims. Sure, there’s one teensy problem in that often those illegally obtained funds are already spent. But hey, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fight for your share. Look here to see if you’ve dealt with any of these companies. If so, fill out this form and see if you’re eligable to get in on the game.

Have an account at a bank that went bust?

If your bank went out of business you shouldn’t lose your money. All banks are insured by the FDIC, which will gladly cut you a check for the funds that seemed to have flown out the window, assuming the amount was less than $250,000. In fact, no one has lost money in a bank since 1933, when this insurance was established. Click here to make sure you’re not the first.

Expect a check from the IRS?

In addition to taking your money, the tax man will also give a lot back. Sometimes, however the checks never make it to you. So if you filed for a refund and later forgot, never realizing it didn’t arrive, you might want to see if the IRS is still holding on to that money. Also, if you made very little money – too little for tax-paying purposes – and still there was a share withheld from your checks, you might be able to get it back. Check here to find the IRS funds.