State agencies around the country keep track of unclaimed property belonging to residents of their states - and they try to reach out and notify people of the possessions they're due. In Missouri, that's handled by the State Treasurer. There is no charge for consumers to recover their property.

There are also companies out there that advertise aggressively that they can find your money for you - and of course they charge you a fee. Sometimes they exaggerate the amount of money awaiting you. Some of these companies are legitimate and must be registered with the State Treasurer. Others are outright scams.

Your best bet is to check the online database or call the State Treasurer's office in Missouri. Consumers can also search nationally at missingmoney.com, a Web site run by the official government agencies in about 40 states.