The honest answer
Is surplus funds recovery a scam?
Surplus funds are real. The recovery process is legitimate. The industry has bad actors. Here is the direct comparison — us vs. typical finders vs. doing it yourself vs. hiring an attorney directly — scored honestly.
Side-by-side
How we compare on the things that matter.
Green = consistent, gold = varies by provider, rose = common red flag in the industry. We've tried to be fair to attorneys and DIYers.
| Standard | Halos Over Houses | Typical surplus-funds finder | Doing it yourself | Hiring an attorney directly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Transparency about the public-record source You should always be told where the case file came from. | ||||
Attorney review before outreach Some finders skip legal review entirely. We don’t. | ||||
Refuses to use pressure tactics | ||||
Never requests SSN / bank / ID online | ||||
No upfront fees Many attorneys take this work on contingency too. Ask. | ||||
No recovery guarantees | ||||
Tells you upfront you can do it yourself | ||||
Written, plain-English engagement letter | ||||
No government-affiliation language | ||||
Funds flow through attorney / escrow |
Consistent Varies Common red flag
Spot the scams
Red flags to watch for — regardless of who you hire.
Even if you don't hire us, please use this checklist before you sign anything with anyone.
- They claim they’re affiliated with the county, state, or IRS
- They ask for your Social Security Number or bank info up front
- They tell you the only way to claim is through them
- They guarantee a specific dollar amount
- They want you to sign before you’ve read the engagement letter
- They won’t put their fee in writing
- They pressure you to act “before the deadline passes today”
- They refuse to tell you the source of the public record
How we operate
Compliance is the product.
Bad actors win when the public can\u2019t tell who\u2019s honest. We try to make it obvious.
Attorney review, always
Every potential claim goes to a licensed attorney for review before any outreach.
No sensitive data online
No SSN, bank, or ID intake through the website. Ever. Sensitive docs go later, through the attorney, with consent.
Honest disclosure
Every page tells you that you can contact the county yourself, at no cost. Because you can.