Newleaf,

Be sure NOT to give them any money up front. And don't trust a check until it clears the bank. Certified checks and other apparently trustworthy forms of payment are being fraudulently reproduced.

I have also read about people who give someone a fake certified check to deposit then ask for an amount of money for a fee or something back in cash. The person gives them the cash from their account thinking the deposited check will cover it and the person leaves with the cash. By the time the bank discovers the certified check is no good it is too late. The person into whose account the check was deposited is liable for the cash withdrawn and the perpetrator is long gone.

You are right. If the money is there and it is yours, you shouldn't have to pay anyone to get it though you might have to pay a lawyer's ransom to deal with the technicalities.

Maybe you could search for some of those websites that list unclaimed property and see if it is listed there. Also, contacting the court seems obvious.

You might also call Citivest to see if this guy actually represents them and to see if they know anything about the issue.

Good luck.
smile

[ April 21, 2006, 11:31 AM: Message edited by: smilinize ]