A member recently called concerned about a letter that looked as if it had come from Spokane Teachers Credit Union. The words "Spokane Teachers CU" were printed next to her mailing address behind the envelope window, but something seemed suspicious.
"Is this letter really from Spokane Teachers?" she asked.
That was the right question to ask! Her letter was among thousands that unscrupulous businesses NOT affiliated with Spokane Teachers send each year to people they hope are members of the credit union.
In many cases, these companies are targeting members who have recently secured a first mortgage or home equity loan from Spokane Teachers, which is a matter of public record at the county courthouse.
These unaffiliated companies glean your address from public real estate records at the county courthouse. They design the letter to try to make it look like it came from Spokane Teachers.
Sales people know that you're smart enough to never open anything that looks like junk mail. By implying that the letter is from Spokane Teachers, they increase the chance that you'll read the solicitation and take the bait.
What should I do with the letter?
Our advice is to toss all unsolicited letters in the trash. It's junk mail from people who don't know you and probably don't care about you.
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By contrast, when you get a letter from Spokane Teachers, it almost always comes in one of our official envelopes or includes our stationery and logo. In addition, our correspondence typically includes the name of the sender and a phone number you can call with questions. Maintaining a trusting relationship with you is paramount! |
If you're still not sure if an offer came from us, then check the fine print at the bottom of the letter. Even an unscrupulous sales person knows when their company is skating on thin legal ice. So, they usually include a tiny message at the bottom, advising you that their company and their offer are not approved by "the lender" (Spokane Teachers). It's a dead give away that the letter isn't from Spokane Teachers, but the disclosure is carefully hidden so that most people don't see it.
Absolutely not! In accordance with the STCU Privacy Pledge, we DO NOT sell nor share member information with unauthorized, independent third-party marketers.
Companies mailing you unsolicited offers are doing what any citizen could do -- copying down names and addresses from real estate records filed at the courthouse. Because these records are public, we can't stop them from sending you mail.
But the next time you see an envelope with the words "Spokane Teachers" printed in the envelope window next to your address, handle with care. It might not be from us.
