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SEC and FTC refunds from enforcement cases

Money collected from companies or people in government enforcement cases and paid back to harmed investors (SEC) or consumers (FTC).

Run by
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Cost
Free; the FTC says it never requires upfront fees
Deadline
Varies by case; check the case page.

How to check and claim

  1. SEC: look up your case on the SEC 'Distributions to Harmed Investors' page and follow the case link for the claims process and administrator.

  2. FTC: check ftc.gov/refunds for active refund programs; each one lists the company handling payments and a phone number.

  3. Only call phone numbers listed on sec.gov or ftc.gov/refunds, not numbers from an unexpected message.

Go to the official site.

Open official site

Claiming is free. Your state never charges a fee to search or to claim. Be careful with letters, calls or texts that ask for a fee, a percentage or your bank login to release money. Search the official state site yourself.

Other places to check

MissingMoney.com and NAUPA state unclaimed property searchU.S. savings bonds (TreasuryDirect)IRS refunds from tax returns never filed (3-year rule)IRS undelivered or lost refund checks (Where's My Refund?)NAIC Life Insurance Policy LocatorPBGC unclaimed pension searchRetirement Savings Lost and Found Database (Department of Labor)FDIC unclaimed funds from failed banksNCUA unclaimed deposits from closed credit unionsHUD/FHA mortgage insurance premium refundsVA unclaimed life insurance fundsClass action settlements: how to check that one is real
Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.