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Need Advice: Found large amount of wet, moldy money
 

This morning a friend of mine found about $45,000 in hundred dollar bills rolled up in a 6" pipe that he was taking to the recycling place. Most was in bags but one roll, about $10,000, was not bagged and is muddy, wet, and moldy. Does anyone know of a website or have specific information for cleaning, drying, and saving this money? Any help is appreciated.

Do the right thing
 

At the risk of sounding like a "Goody 2 Shoes" - Has it occured to "your friend" to consider that this is someones life's savings. There are a lot of old people who lived through the Great Depression who no longer trust banks at all. They would hide it somewhere in or around their home. I wouldn't feel right unless I at least made a minimal effort to find the true owner. Also, this could be drug money. It might not be safe to keep because of this. You don't give many details about where the money was found - but that might help find its' rightful owner. Just a thought. BTW - if your "friend" isn't careful in how he spends this money - he might get caught by the IRS. Most mobsters don't get thrown in jail for killing people - they get caught by the IRS for money laundering crimes. You can't just deposit that much money in your bank account without being prepared to share with the IRS about how you came into such a windfall. God knows the IRS would want their share or almost 50% at this time. Just a few words of caution.

Finders keepers I say. Besides, that money is probably decades old and whoever owned it died already. Do a google search or I suggest he lay each bill flat and let it dry naturally. If they are old enough, he should probably sell them on ebay since an old $100 is worth like $150 to $1500. I used to collect old currency.

anotherguy, you actually never gave us the date of the money.

I sure would like to find that kind of money. Where did he find this pipe anyway? His house? Somewhere else?

I'll help you personally clean it just send me $5,000 of the damage money and I'll paypal it back to you.;)

You can do some searches on Forensic or archeology restorations. It might have some info to help you in this matter.

Modee: I remember reading that story when it came out. The guy couldn't get his story straight and that's why it was taken from him.

Its newer money only 4 old bills, I have peeled apart most of the money and have it drying in my gararge. Only took about 18 hours lol.

Some of it has turned to pure mush, but some of the other bills could be saved possibly, who knows.

I think I would work 18 hours for $45,000...

You may search out for some forensic or some cleaning site which can help you in this regard. All the best anyway you got handsome amount invest in an intelligent way so you can take maximum amount.

Wow score! I wish I could find something like that..lol

Did you get it clean? Is it still good?

Wow! Super cool story =)

Wow, wish I found that much money.

You can send the money into the government. Do a google search, there is a dept that is devoted to counting and than replacing damaged money.


BTW what year series were the bills?

I just saw this thread and you guys are down right STUPID. Finders keepers with CASH of this amount could get you killed. Seriously, morons, more than likely, the only person keeping $45,000 in a pipe is someone who came by the money illegally. Drugs, loan sharking, running numbers, etc. And, yes, these activities are tied to a mob or a gang. WOW!!! This is too damn funny. Did any one of you not consider that when a certain person comes looking for their money, they will be really pissed, when it is not there.

What is even worse is how really stupid one must be to find this money and go around running their mouth. Greed will take the place of common sense every day. I bet you also think it is a good idea to count card in Vegas!!!


PS - Especially, since the money is only four months old, it is not legit. Quite frankly, I smell a big whopping fish story here...

lol this is pure comedy!!! :D

You aking are correct my friend.....

hey, i just saved a bunch of money on my car ins.....

I don't know if the story is true or not, but I'm pretty sure "4 old bills" is not the same as 4 month old bills.

Foster, you are correct...but you also might be missing my point. If the story is somehow true (not likely) it is still pretty stupid to keep found money and talk about it...

No argument there.

UPDATE: The owner of the property died a few years back. He was a gambler and poker player. Anyway, I sent a large chunk of the money to the treasury department's mutilated currency division. It took over 3 months but my case worker recovered (saved) $10,900 of the destroyed currency....and at no cost to me! Check out their website: Bureau of Engraving and Printing

She said a check would be cut and should arrive in 2-3 weeks. Woohoo!

WOOOOOOHOOOOOO

Now you need to invest that..

Send me a pm so we can double that.

Well, if the owner died and you kept the money, that makes you a thief. I am sure he has family that the money belongs to. It is not yours and you know the rightful owners....

"I just saw this thread and you guys are down right STUPID. Finders keepers with CASH of this amount could get you killed. Seriously, morons, more than likely, the only person keeping $45,000 in a pipe is someone who came by the money illegally. Drugs, loan sharking, running numbers, etc. And, yes, these activities are tied to a mob or a gang. WOW!!! This is too damn funny. Did any one of you not consider that when a certain person comes looking for their money, they will be really pissed, when it is not there.

What is even worse is how really stupid one must be to find this money and go around running their mouth. Greed will take the place of common sense every day. I bet you also think it is a good idea to count card in Vegas!!!


PS - Especially, since the money is only four months old, it is not legit. Quite frankly, I smell a big whopping fish story here..."

I agree with everything stated here and as families need that money, what if the sittuation is a single parent now and had 4 kids to take care of works more than 40 hours a week etc.... Not saying I would not consider what you have but consider all aspects of how everyone would feel.


The most I have ever found was taking the trash out and I found mexican pesos worth a little over $1k usd "I am in Arizona by the border of mexico ... sort of" However the money was 2 years too old, I still have it somewhere I think, lol... never knew mexican money could outdate.