Some are finding their "pot of gold" by searching sites like missingmoney.com that list unclaimed or lost assets owed to them. Relief from an unexpected source may be coming for some of the millions across the country digging deeper into their wallets to pay rising food and gas prices

Missingmoney.com and other similar Web sites are reuniting owners with unclaimed property and forgotten assets. Providing the person's last known address, as well as the particular company and how much it owes, the detailed database is being used to link owners with their property in more than 40 states and Puerto Rico.

Endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, missingmoney.com has been around since 1999. The site assists owners in finding lost assets from bank accounts, stock certificates, checks, insurance policies and utility deposits.

"I never thought there was any money out there owed to me," said Gaffney resident Anna Ellis. "But after finding out about it I found the program to be legit."

Ellis was referred to the site by a friend that accidentally found the local woman's maiden name listed on the database.

"When she told me I could not believe it," Ellis said. "Afterward, I went to take a look at it myself and would find it to be the real thing."

After finding her name on the web site, Ellis was required to fill out and send several forms along with verifiable proof that she was owed money by the State Treasurer's office. Within six weeks, she said a $200 check was in her mailbox.

"I guess it takes between four to six weeks for them to verify everything, but it was definitely good to be getting something you didn't know you had," Ellis said. "Anything is something right now."

State Treasurer Converse Chellis estimates there are currently 1.3 million unclaimed accounts valued at approximately $241 million documented in his office for South Carolina residents dating back to the early 19th century.

To help, Chellis has developed the Palmetto Payback Program, which provides free service and allows all to browse the web site to see if they are owed money by the state.

"You only have to do a simple search with a last name," Chellis said. "It not only helps our people here in South Carolina, it does wonders for those out of state as well."

While sites directing people to unclaimed or lost assets are helpful, Chellis believes it is best to check with his office or that of another State Treasurer when in doubt about the situation.

"Some of these sites are not legitimate and end up charging maybe 10 or 20 percent of what the person gets back," Chellis said.

Ellis said her experience with missingmoney.com went well, and would suggest the web site to anyone.

"I recently looked on there and found that my aunt was owed money," Ellis said. "People may find the extra money that they need. I would suggest it to anybody."