The Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office will make automated robocalls to the home telephone numbers of Nebraska residents who own unclaimed property, beginning Friday and continuing about two weeks, State Treasurer Don Stenberg said today.
Stenberg said the prerecorded messages will include information about how owners of unclaimed property can go about filing claims through the Unclaimed Property Division of the State Treasurer’s Office. The calls will be made during normal business hours Monday through Friday.
The State Treasurer’s Office is holding more than $125 million in unclaimed property for more than 350,000 Nebraskans, former Nebraskans, and heirs.
“The use of robocalls is one approach we are using to locate owners of unclaimed property and let them know how to go about filing claims. Robocalls allow us to reach a large number of people at one time and to put people in direct contact with our claims representatives,” Treasurer Stenberg said. “Robocalls help us fulfill our commitment to returning as much unclaimed property as we can to Nebraska residents and to do so in an efficient and friendly manner.”
More than $7.4 million of unclaimed property has been returned to Nebraskans so far in 2013. That’s more than the $6.6 million that was returned in all of 2012.
“The Treasurer’s Office typically uses letters, outreach events, news releases, social media, and newspaper and radio advertising to inform Nebraskans of the state’s unclaimed property program and to assist Nebraskans in filing claims. Our messages also provide assurance to Nebraskans that the service is legitimate and free of charge. Robocalls add another dimension to our outreach,” Stenberg said.
The robocall message instructs listeners to check the Treasurer’s website to search for their names on their own or to contact the Unclaimed Property Division by phone at 402-471-8497 or 877-572-9688 toll free. It also allows listeners to remain on the line to be connected to Unclaimed Property specialists. A voice mail message will be left if the owner doesn’t answer the phone. Treasurer Stenberg’s voice is used in the calls.
The Treasurer’s Office last used robocalls to contact unclaimed property owners in 2009.
