Is this ethical

[wirelessworldinc]

I own a house that I purchased from someone who died 4 years ago. I keep getting dividend checks for 2 years. My question is this. Since I know what company it is coming from and checked the price of the stock, I believe the amount of the persons investment to be in the six figure. Since no one in the family knew about this person investing in this stock. Would it be unethical to go to the family and tell them that I know that there is money out there in their aunts account they have not found and tell them that I will give them the information for a finders fee. And what would be a fair finders fee.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[jeff of pa]

There are People who do this for a Living.

How ethical Depends on your Own Judgment.

If you "Think" your going to go to Hell For it,
Then I'd ask, Is that what you want ?

There may however be laws in certain states against it.
Then Your Talking Maby going somewhere for REAL

The Fact tho , IF they are SMART, They can go over your head
and do a owed Property Search Themselves.

My Personal Suggestion,
Tell them.
and Hope for a Thank You Reward.

If you Don't get one, Feel Good about Yourself.

 

[wirelessworldinc]

I guess what my real question is, if they don't know there is money out there, would'nt rather have a part of it than none of it?

 

[KalamazooHunter]

I say, since it's not yours to begin with, to not tell them about it would be unethical. I just heard on the news that in a town near San Francisco some man found a Louie Vutton Purse with diamonds, 500 cash, expensive watch - total value of that purse with contents almost 1 mil! He turned it into the police, no word if he got a reward.

I say, just let them know about it, if they offer you a reward, well then good for them. If they don't, oh well, you did what's right.

What if you ask them for a finders fee and they refuse to pay it? Then do you keep the checks? Almost as holding them for ransom, pay the fee or you'll never see the checks alive again?

But my question is, you have been receiving these checks for 2 years? Why are you just now thinking of turning them back into the family?

Well, just my opinion - take it or leave it.

Tara

 

[jeff of pa]

I guess what my real question is, if they don't know there is money out there, would'nt rather have a part of it than none of it?

Yes I would.

BUT I think Tampering with the Mail, or others Checks is Illegal.

and so is Blackmail.

 

[snake35]

I think I would be very carefull, As Jeff pointed out you could catch a federal case out of this. Is a few dollars worth being incarcerated? Good luck.

 

[wirelessworldinc]

Just to clarify, I did not open the mail addressed to this person intentionally. I opened it up when opening my mail and thought it was a check to my company. I normally receive alot of mail everyday with checks in them because I bill alot of my customers. I have asked alot of people who knew the old lady how to contact her family and nobody knew her family or where they are if any is left. All I know about the old lady is that she never married and had no children.

 

[wirelessworldinc]

I believe that the house was in a trust but not sure. The lady that was at the closing was a niece and I have no clue where she is. I know she was not from here because I remember her saying she had to catch a plane to go back home after we signed the papers. I believe she must have been in town to attend the auction of all of the ladies belongings and to sign the paperwork.

 

[KalamazooHunter]

Contact the company that is sending them to you, tell them she passed away.

I wouldn't want to worth going to jail over it.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

When you signed your mortgage papers at the title company or the bank...the niece who signed the papers at closing ,would have had her name and address with the title company and also the register of deeds as power of attorney on the transaction in that county. Anything that is in a "trust" has to be taken out of the trust for the closing and then is placed back into it. If the check from the closing was issued to her, the title company has all this info.....Look on your closing HUD and the title you recieved . Ethical? Up to you , but the most I would hope for is a reward for letting this family know. I would send the neice the dividend check and let her ethics take over from there as to whether you get a reward or not.

 

[jeff of pa]

Just to clarify, I did not open the mail addressed to this person intentionally. I opened it up when opening my mail .....

I'v done this Myself.

I would Think it would ONLY be considered a Crime, IF you use it
for Personal Gain.

 

[stevesno]

I believe in treating people the way that I want to be treated.What goes around comes around. Its obvious that you have a conscience or you wouldn't have brought the subject up. You already know the answer... if you follow your gut instinct its amazing how good you will feel....just my two cents worth....Steve

 

[The Standard]

i would get it to the family ad hope for a reward. i would not tell the company that the lady has passed away, let the family take care of any of that. hope you do the right thing, and i hope they do the right thing back to you. best of luck.

 

[Klaatu]

My brain operates differently than a lot of other people. I don't try to find a way to profit from people for what should be an act of kindness. But that's just me.

That said, let's look at a couple of things.

Do the envelopes that the dividend checks come in say something to the effect of ""address correction requested"? All you have to do is write on the envelope something like "Deceased. No longer at this address." (I'm not sure if you can expect to be paid for this. )

The company that issues the dividend checks will realize at some point that the checks are not being cashed (please tell me you aren't cashing them!). They will try to contact the rightful owner and, if they are not successful, will turn the account over to the State. The State will place the stock and dividends in an account for unclaimed property and attempt to locate the owner. (Other unclaimed property the State may be holding includes property from safe deposit boxes, money in closed bank accounts, unclaimed refund checks, etc.)

Now, let's look at some of the legal aspects of this matter. (I am not a lawyer and am not giving legal advice.) I called my local Postal Inspector and posed this scenario to her. She said that there are at least 2 legal concerns here both revolving around "improper use of mail".

By not returning the dividend checks to the issuer you are improperly using the mail.

If you use the mail to obtain (extort) a reward from the heirs you are improperly using the mail.

Keep in mind that these are FEDERAL crimes!

I would advise you to either return the checks to the issuer or locate the heirs and forward the checks to them. You could send the heirs a short note telling them what you have done to help them (tracking down an address) and, who knows, they might send you a nice gift (or reward depending on how your brain is wired).

Be careful and good luck.

 

[hollowpointred]

i agree with the others. tell the family about it and know that you did the right thing. i wouldnt expect anything more from it than that. if a reward comes your way........so be it. if not........thats ok too..... your good deeds will be rewarded eventually, maybe in a way that you cant even imagine.

 

[Darren in NC]

So is Cyn short for Cynical?

 

[stoney56]

Most checks are valid only for 1 year from date of issue unless otherwise stated which generally is 90 days. The courthouse has a record of the will and legal records of her estate and the executor or executrix and also her attorney. Since you have no legal right to any of the checks, I'd bundle them up and send them to the attorney if local or the issuer if not. I'm sure the family will appreciate the information and I wouldn't expect more than a nice thank you.

 

[Jeffro]

Would it be unethical to go to the family and tell them that I know that there is money out there in their aunts account they have not found and tell them that I will give them the information for a finders fee.

Yes.

 

[jeff of pa]

Common People.

she came on here and Asked a Question.

she Never said she was going to still do this.

Havn't any of you Considered doing something Unethical ?

I'm sure you changed your mind and didn't do it.
Would you want to be RUN Down for asking a Question ?

she could have just done it without asking.

I think she did the right thing asking before hand.

There is NO Excuse for being Rude !

And rude Posts are going to get deleted.


Take a hint from this well written post

I believe in treating people the way that I want to be treated.What goes around comes around. Its obvious that you have a conscience or you wouldn't have brought the subject up. You already know the answer... if you follow your gut instinct its amazing how good you will feel....just my two cents worth....Steve

the first two sentences say it all

IF SHE WAS DRIVEN OFF THIS FORUM BECAUSE OF INSULTING
COMMENTS, SOMEONE ELSE COULD BE DRIVEN OFF ALSO

 

[EDDE]

IF I HAVE TO STOP THIS CAR AND COME BACK THERE YOU GUYS LOOK OUT! SOUND FAMILIAR HEHEHEHE SORRY JEFF