So I finished up my taxes last night online at Turburrito, and one of a couple of goofy promotions after it was over was the old one about how there’s a government office somewhere with free money waiting just for you. With a checkmark and exclamation point suggesting sure I do. But it’s Inuit, so they can’t afford to scam their customers too outrageously. I clicked.

And found out Microsoft owes me $100 for being on the losing side of some class action. Or maybe it was a refund or coupon. I forget. I started typing in other names, and found almost $500 for one sister, and $3.56 for another. A trash company and a cable company owed a friend of mine about $75. And the guy’s ex-wife $50. Half the searches came up dry. It’s a crap shoot. But for items under $500, all you have to do is fill out an online form to claim the loot.

What the hell, California residents (and past residents) go for it: California Controller’s Office . The odds seem considerably better than the lottery

I’d expect that every civil government in the universe has an office of unclaimed property, just like every hotel. California’s is in the Controller’s office, maybe that’s always where it goes, can’t say. But check your local polity–There’s Free Money Waiting For You (maybe)!

If you try interesting names, please post the results. I found out somebody owes Arnold Schwarzenegger 15 cents. And Pacific Bell owes Richard M. Nixon of San Clemente $52.50. Somebody else wants to give James T. Kirk 14 shares of stock, while 13 people named Spock have money waiting. Stop me! This is addictive!