OMG! Received a beneficiary letter!

[Seahunt]

Why not call a local MetLife office in your area and explain what you received?

I agree! But I'd probably visit the local MetLife agent in person with all the documents. Surely they could look them over for you and advise

BTW- isn't it funny how this thread shows those of us who are really suspicious of good news and those who are ready to celebrate it Maybe I need to quit watching the news so much, I must be getting way too jaded

 

[nannerbadnanner]

Since when do insurance companies try to locate the beneficiaries? I wasn't aware that they did that. I worked for a large insurance company and the only way we found that someone was deceased is when the beneficiary brought forth the policy and the death certificate to make a claim. How did they know she was deceased? Was there more than one beneficiary and someone else reported her deceased? This part does not sound kosher to me.

I think it is entirely possible. My DH had a very old whole life insurance policy that his dad bought while he was in college. No premiums had been paid in years. They contacted my DH via letter to let him know that he was owed money. We contacted them and received a check for $900.

OP, good luck! I hope it is a huge sum of money!

 

[MyGoofy26]

My first thought was, uh oh! But it does sound legit with all the info you've posted.

I could be mistaken, but I thought that companies had to make an attempt to find the person that it owed the money. It's likely that it was nearing the time to be handed over to the state and they had to make their attempt before everything was turned over so they could stay legal. OP is just lucky they still live in the same place! Chances are they were going to send one letter to whatever address they had on file so they could say they tried to get the money to the beneficiary.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

yippeeeeeeeeeee !! I hope its all legit,cuz look out WDW here YOU come! Congrats!!

 

[Luv2Scrap]

Wow! Pretty cool!

 

[Mish19]

It sounds legit to me. I work for a company that deals with pensions and I know that when a member dies and a relative tries to cash their pension benefit after the death we WILL find out by doing an audit and a letter will be sent to the member to confirm they are still around. The person wrongfully cashing the checks will be responsible financially and legally. So I am guessing that is how the aunt's company found out.

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

I don't want to be doom and gloom.. just want to throw my "be careful" hat on for a second.

What information are they asking for on the form they want him to send back? If it's anything like SSN, mother's maiden name, etc. please, please be careful. When you called to ask about this, did you call a national number for the insurance company that you found on their website or a number that was included in the letter they sent?

I hope this is real for you, but please be careful as there are way too many scams out there and thieves are always coming up with new ones. If the information they're asking for is anything regarding SSN or an "account where they can deposit the money," it would be all the makings of an identity theft.

Good luck.

I was going to post on these lines also. Be very careful.
On the part of it being turned over to the missing money report for some else to claim that is not true. After 7 years I think they have to turn it over to the state anyways.
My dad passed away 7 years ago and I missed cashing in a couple of policys. I had no idea he had them. Someelse in the family tryed to cash them in when they saw it posted and could not. They needed to prove I was not able to cash them in. I would look into this

 

[Cruise]

I think it sounds completely legitimate. Why, if the phone number for the known insurance company is the same on the letter, as the phone number available when you look it up yourself, would you think it is a scam?

With the follow up information she posted about the phone number from the letter and the phone number on the website being the same, I now agree that it is probably legit. But the observation about it possibly being a scam was posted before that cross reference had been made. I'd rather think something was a scam and proceed with caution than jump into the deep end without checking into it a bit more.

Lailah - congrats! Have fun spending your "found money."

 

[summerrluvv]

Ok, I looked at the letter and it is on their letterhead and I actually spoke to the person who signed the letter (not a copied signature). The enclosed paperwork and instructions are all on their papers. I actually called the number twice and spoke to another person who verified everything on the paperwork they sent. They also have a return envelope to put the paperwork in going to their company and on the envelope is written in red 'death claims'. I'm pretty sure it's legit. There are many insurance companies listed on the claimant form that are under them.

Here's what the letter said (2 paragraphs):
"We would like to fulfill our obligation under insurance policies that were never claimed at the time of Ms. XXXXX death. Since you were named beneficiary on these policies, we ask that you complete the enclosed Claimant's Statement and return it to us along with a copy of the insured's death certificate. A return envelope is provided for your reply.

If we don not hear from you, we will be required to treat the policy proceeds as unclaimed funds, making them subject to payment to the state as an abandoned property".

What do you all think? Maybe I'll make one more call on Monday.

The only thing that sounds fishy is that the funds weren't already turned over as unclaimed property since she died so long ago.

So if you go to www.metlife.com, there is a number that matches the number that is on the letter you received and called?

 

[sherry7]

........It isn't a long lost former Nigerian King who needs money wired out of the country,

Hey, I got an email from the King of Nigeria last week. I'm expecting 5 million dollars to be deposited in my bank account any day now.

 

[luvmy2sams]

Hope it's legit! I'm one of the suspicious ones and would be heading to my local MetLife agency to verify everything.

 

[dizkids]

How nice you and your family were nice to your husband's aunt. That meant a lot to her for sure whether the claim is legit or not.

It all sounds good to me. I am betting its for real!

 

[lailah]

Yes, the phone numbers match on the web site and on the letter. (which is the one we called). She was 86 when she passed away which was 10 years ago. Maybe they were going through their policies and files and noted that she was that old already and hadn't done anything with them and possibly had to have closure for auditing purposes. When I called, they had my husband's address where he grew up. I don't think anybody would really have known that. That house was sold 30 years ago!

You all have been so kind to post your thoughts about this. I'll call again on Monday and do some additional sleuthing! When she past away, she also had a trust for my husband which he received. Very kind lady. Just a little weird, but very kind. (and apparently very generous!)

Now we're more curious than ever! Of course in the 1950's I can't imagine it being a lot.

 

[princessmom29]

Ok, I looked at the letter and it is on their letterhead and I actually spoke to the person who signed the letter (not a copied signature). The enclosed paperwork and instructions are all on their papers. I actually called the number twice and spoke to another person who verified everything on the paperwork they sent. They also have a return envelope to put the paperwork in going to their company and on the envelope is written in red 'death claims'. I'm pretty sure it's legit. There are many insurance companies listed on the claimant form that are under them.

Here's what the letter said (2 paragraphs):
"We would like to fulfill our obligation under insurance policies that were never claimed at the time of Ms. XXXXX death. Since you were named beneficiary on these policies, we ask that you complete the enclosed Claimant's Statement and return it to us along with a copy of the insured's death certificate. A return envelope is provided for your reply.

If we don not hear from you, we will be required to treat the policy proceeds as unclaimed funds, making them subject to payment to the state as an abandoned property".

What do you all think? Maybe I'll make one more call on Monday.

I think I would definitely go to the local Met Life office with the paperwork an have them check it just to be sure!

 

[Green Tea]

Now we're more curious than ever! Of course in the 1950's I can't imagine it being a lot.

Perhaps the interest on the proceeds over the last 10 years have upped the value.

 

[momoflizandains]

I'm anxious to hear the results.

 

[Suzanna1973]

Subscribing.....I love to hear that people got a windfall!!

 

[n2mm]

I too would be cautious. Scammers are very good at what they do and will include the exact same letterhead and company information on it. (This is why they get away with it). Was the letter certified? I agree with others, I would contact my local office, and go in person. This information can be researched by your local office. I've never know an insurance company to hunt a person down. I've seen many scams and we have to forward them to our Security Office when we get them in our company (yes they always involve money--esp. the Nigerian ones). They are very good and do what they have to to get you to forward documents and information to them. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it might not be. Please post back!

 

[sillysmom]

Ok, I looked at the letter and it is on their letterhead and I actually spoke to the person who signed the letter (not a copied signature). The enclosed paperwork and instructions are all on their papers. I actually called the number twice and spoke to another person who verified everything on the paperwork they sent. They also have a return envelope to put the paperwork in going to their company and on the envelope is written in red 'death claims'. I'm pretty sure it's legit. There are many insurance companies listed on the claimant form that are under them.

Here's what the letter said (2 paragraphs):
"We would like to fulfill our obligation under insurance policies that were never claimed at the time of Ms. XXXXX death. Since you were named beneficiary on these policies, we ask that you complete the enclosed Claimant's Statement and return it to us along with a copy of the insured's death certificate. A return envelope is provided for your reply.

If we don not hear from you, we will be required to treat the policy proceeds as unclaimed funds, making them subject to payment to the state as an abandoned property".

What do you all think? Maybe I'll make one more call on Monday.

I hate to tell you this, but that sounds almost the exact letter I got about 2 weeks ago, on my email. I don't think it is legit. Please do not give them any of your personal information. Good Luck!

 

[Goofy'slady]

Subbing, I'd like to find out how this ends up in the wash. Good Luck!

T.