A concerned member called STCU about a letter that looked like it was from us, but she wasn't sure. The words “Spokane Teachers CU” were printed on the mailing address behind the envelope window, and the letter wasn't in one of our branded envelope.
"Is this really from STCU?” she asked.
Good for her! That was the right question to ask.
The letter was among thousands that unscrupulous businesses NOT affiliated with STCU send each year to people they hope are members of the credit union.
In many cases, these spammers are targeting members who have recently secured a first mortgage or home equity loan from STCU, which is a matter of public record at the county courthouse. STCU never sells or shares member information with unauthorized, independent third-party marketers.
Here are some other common questions members ask about unsolicited mail:
How do these companies get my address?
Mass marketing companies often glean addresses from public real estate records at the county courthouse. Unscrupulous companies sometimes design a letter to look like it came from STCU. This increases the odds that they'll trick a member into responding to their offer.
Why the deception?Sales people know that you're smart enough to never open anything that looks like junk mail. By implying that the letter is from STCU, 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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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. They usually include a tiny message at the bottom, advising you that their company and their offer are not approved by “the lender” (STCU). That's a dead give away that the letter isn't from your credit union.
Does STCU provide member information to unaffiliated companies?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.
However, 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.
