Beware Deceptive Mail Offers

Deceptive and fraudulent mail schemes cost consumers millions of dollars a year. Misleading mail solicitations come in many forms. Often a company's name and mailing design deceptively imply that it is connected with, or a subsidiary of, a government agency or well-known, highly respected organization. If a company uses a deceptive tactic on the outside of an envelope, be skeptical about what's inside, too. Some schemes involve:

Credit protection. Solicitations to purchase "protection" against unauthorized card use. Credit card holders already are entitled to certain protections without having to pay for them.

Biweekly or bimonthly mortgage payment programs. Solicitations to enroll with a company you authorize to debit your account for payments. Promises huge equity buildup, and often requires an enrollment fee.

Motor vehicle warranty notices. Mailings that closely resemble those used by state Departments of Motor Vehicles, sometimes used deceptively by companies to lure potential buyers.

It is important to understand that companies get information about your SCCU loans from publicly available information. SCCU does not sell or disclose any information about your accounts to other lenders.

How can you tell if a mailing is from SCCU? It's simple - look for the logo! By law, companies cannot use another company's logo without permission. Mailings from Space Coast Credit Union always include the company logo and the name of an SCCU representative. If you're in doubt as to whether or not an offer you receive in the mail is from the credit union, please contact the Member Service Center. What can you do to protect yourself from deceptive offers?

• Never give out your information to anyone who calls you. If you are intrigued by a telemarketer's pitch, ask for a number to call the person back. Anyone who refuses is almost certainly up to no good.
• Remember that SCCU will never call asking for information about your accounts or personal information. Unfortunately, we occasionally hear reports of people calling our members and posing as SCCU employees in order to obtain account numbers, Social Security numbers, PIN (Personal Identification Number) codes, and more.
• Report a suspicious mail solicitation to your local postmaster or nearest Postal Inspector.
• Most importantly, learn to recognize a deceptive offer and simply do not respond.