HARRISBURG (TNS) — A number of people in Pennsylvania will be getting checks at one point this summer.

And just to reiterate what was said previously: no, these checks are not a scam.

A press release sent via email last Tuesday by the state Treasury Department explains that these checks — which can amount to as much as $500 — are part of the Pennsylvania Money Match program.

For those unfamiliar, the Money Match program allows the Treasury Department to automatically send unclaimed property to its rightful owners. This motion was unanimously approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro last year.

“It’s exciting to see so many people getting money they didn’t know they had,” said Garrity. “It’s now important that people cash these checks.

“We want everyone to know this is a real program and this is real money. Every dollar we return to Pennsylvania families is money they can use to buy groceries, fill up their cars with gas, or pay their rent or mortgage. This money belongs to them, not the state.”

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity confirmed via the release that the second round of over 39,000 Money Match checks totaling a whopping $9.2 million were sent out last week. The next batch — an estimated 40,000 letters — will be sent in August.

“Pennsylvania is doing right by its workers and taxpayers by automatically returning more than $10 million in unclaimed property back to its right owners through the first two rounds of the Money Match program,” added state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie). “Anytime we can cut red tape and return money to taxpayers is a reason to celebrate.

“As a prime sponsor of the Money Match program, I’m working with my House and Senate colleagues to expand this initiative and return even more money to the people of our commonwealth. It’s a commonsense approach to giving back the more than $5 billion in unclaimed property sitting in the PA Treasury.”

For more information about the Pennsylvania Money Match program, please click here.