The idea of buying unclaimed assets—forgotten bank accounts, old insurance payouts, tax refunds, or abandoned safe deposit boxes—sounds like easy money. Scammers know this, and they aggressively target people with promises like “Guaranteed unclaimed funds!” or “Buy government-held assets for pennies on the dollar!”

Stories about people striking it rich with unclaimed assets—forgotten bank accounts, old insurance policies, or tax refunds—sound exciting. But there’s a hard truth most “get rich quick” pitches leave out: you usually don’t need to buy unclaimed assets at all…and when you do, the risks can be much higher than the rewards.

If you’ve ever seen stories about people scoring bargains on unclaimed property auctions—from jewelry and collectibles to cars and storage units—you might wonder: Is this actually legit, or just another internet scam? The good news: real opportunities do exist. The catch is knowing where to find legitimate auctions and how to steer clear of fraudulent “too good to be true” offers.

Ever wonder what happens to forgotten bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, or unclaimed checks that never find their owners? They don’t just vanish. After a long legal process, many of these items end up at unclaimed asset auctions—where the government sells them off and holds the proceeds for the rightful owner.

Unclaimed property auctions, tax liens, and “lost” assets can sound like a shortcut to building wealth. Pay pennies on the dollar now, own valuable real estate or assets later—at least, that’s the pitch. But buying unclaimed property is not a guaranteed win. In fact, if you don’t understand the risks, you can quickly lose money, time, and peace of mind.