📱 A Social Security Text About a "Survey" You Never Finished, a State "Penalty" Email Sent to Tennessee Businesses and a 10-Question Holiday Scam Quiz Most Folks Missed: Your Scam Watch for This Week

Or: Delete the Survey Text, Call the State Before You Pay Any “Penalty,” and Take Five Minutes With the Quiz That Most People Flunked

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, November 14, 2026

Good morning, neighbors. It’s Saturday, the frost is on the pumpkin and there’s no rush to be anywhere. That makes it a fine morning for a short scam check-up. This week’s tricks all wear an official-looking hat: a text that says it’s from Social Security, an email that says it’s from the State of Tennessee, and holiday “customer service” that isn’t. The fix is the same for all three: don’t use the link or number they hand you. Look up the real one yourself.

Here’s what’s on the porch: Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General said on Nov. 10 that scammers are texting people that their Social Security account was “flagged for an incomplete survey response,” and it has received 48 reports in just 30 days; Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office warned on Friday, Nov. 13 that Tennessee businesses are getting fake emails saying they’re being penalized under state records laws, with a phony state form and a payment link; and an AARP survey released Nov. 11 found that only one in four people answered at least seven of 10 holiday scam questions correctly. The Social Security text and the AARP quiz are national; the records-law email is statewide and aimed at businesses. Closer to home, we haven’t spotted a new Sequatchie County scam report since Tuesday’s Dunlap-Tribune story on fake bail-bond calls and fake SVEC disconnect calls, which we’ve already covered. That’s worth a second cup.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• A text says your Social Security account was “flagged” for an unfinished survey? Don’t tap the link and don’t reply. Delete it and report it at ssa.gov/scam.
• Want to check on your benefits? Type ssa.gov yourself or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
• Run a business and got an email saying the state is penalizing you under records laws? Don’t click or pay. The Secretary of State’s office says that form is fake. Call its Records Management Division at 615-741-5739.
• Remember the four holiday myths most folks missed: real stores don’t ask for your password, “free trials” with a small shipping charge can be traps, payment apps don’t protect you like a credit card, and the first phone number in a search isn’t always the real company.
• Never pay by gift card, wire, payment app or cryptocurrency to someone who called, texted or emailed you out of the blue.
• Need local help? Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office: 423-949-7750. Non-emergency dispatch: 423-949-9912.

📋 Social Security Doesn’t Need You to Finish a “Survey”: Delete That Text

National: Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Nov. 10, 2026

Social Security’s own watchdog, the Office of the Inspector General, posted a scam alert about fake “survey” texts this week. The messages claim your Social Security account has been flagged for an incomplete survey response and urge you to “verify your information” by clicking a link. The office says it has received 48 reports of this scam in just 30 days, and it thanked the folks who took the time to report them, because those reports help it spot new tricks and warn everybody else.

The watchdog’s advice is short enough to write on a sticky note: Do NOT click the link. Do NOT respond. Delete the text and report it.

It’s a bit like a stranger leaning over the fence to say the county “flagged” your garden for a missing form, and could you just hand him your wallet so he can sort it out. You’d go ask at the courthouse yourself.

What it means for you: Your benefits don’t depend on answering a survey by text. If one of these lands on your phone, don’t tap anything and don’t text back, not even “STOP.” Just delete it and report it at ssa.gov/scam. If it nags at you, check on your account the safe way: type ssa.gov into your browser yourself or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. And if you already tapped the link and typed in personal information, see the FAQ below for calm next steps.

👉 Read more (SSA Inspector General: Fake Social Security Survey Texts) · Report a Social Security scam at ssa.gov/scam

🏛️ For Tennessee Businesses: That State “Records Law Penalty” Email Is Fake

Statewide: Tennessee Secretary of State, Nov. 13, 2026

This one is aimed at the shops, offices and small businesses that keep the Valley running. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office says it has learned of fraudulent emails sent to Tennessee businesses claiming they’re being penalized for not complying with state records laws. The emails include a fake state form asking for payment, with links that lead to a payment application.

The office was plain about it: the form “is not issued by our office, and the payment request is completely fraudulent.” It urges businesses not to click on links, submit payment or provide personal or financial information in response.

Think of it like a “late fee” notice tacked to the barn door by somebody who isn’t your landlord. It may look official, but the real landlord would be happy to tell you it isn’t his.

What it means for you: If you own or help run a business, let whoever opens the mail and email know about this one today. A real state notice can always be checked by calling the office yourself. If you get one of these emails, or you’re not sure about one, call the Secretary of State’s Records Management Division at 615-741-5739 to report it or ask. Don’t use any phone number or link inside the email. And if someone on your team already paid, call your bank or card company right away, then see the steps in the checklist below.

👉 Read more (Tennessee Secretary of State: Warning to businesses about a deceptive email scam)

🎁 Take the Holiday Scam Quiz Most Folks Missed (Answers Included)

National: AARP Fraud Watch Network, Nov. 11, 2026

Here’s a gentler one to finish your coffee with. AARP surveyed 1,801 U.S. adults for a new report called “Unwrapping the Truth” and found that 84% had experienced or been targeted by at least one type of fraud that’s common around the holidays. 47% got a fake notice about a shipment problem, 44% got a scam text about an unpaid toll (and 9% clicked and paid), 35% have given or received a gift card with no money on it, and 31% got a donation request that seemed fake.

“Criminals don’t take a break during the holidays,” said Kathy Stokes, who leads fraud prevention programs at AARP. The survey also gave people a 10-question true-or-false quiz, and only 25% got seven or more right. The good news: the answers are easy to learn. Here are the ones most folks missed, with AARP’s answer and the share who got it right:

• “Online retailers like Amazon and eBay will ask for your login information to give you customer support.” FALSE. Only 31% got it right.
• “A free trial offer with a small shipping charge is a good way to try a product.” FALSE. Only 30% got it right.
• “Payment apps like Cash App, Zelle and Venmo have the same protections as your credit card.” FALSE. Only 31% got it right.
• “It’s safe to pay for a vacation rental found on Airbnb or VRBO outside the app.” FALSE. 46% got it right.
• “Ads for merchandise on Facebook, Instagram or elsewhere online are trustworthy.” FALSE. 46% got it right.

And the true ones worth keeping: payment apps are meant for people you personally know, a credit card is the safest way to buy online, updating your devices helps protect you, and anyone telling you to turn cash into cryptocurrency at a store kiosk is running a scam.

It’s like the old fishing quiz at the bait shop. Nobody minds getting a few wrong; the point is you leave knowing which lure actually works.

What it means for you: Pick the one answer that surprised you and tell it to somebody at the table this weekend. When you shop for gifts, pay with a credit card, save payment apps for family and friends, and when you need a company’s help, get the phone number from its own website or from your receipt or statement rather than the first search result. If you’re buying gift cards, check that the package hasn’t been opened or tampered with and keep your receipt.

👉 Read more (AARP: How Much Do You Know About Holiday-Related Scams in 2026?) · AARP press release

✅ Your Front-Porch Scam Checklist

• ✅ Social Security “survey” text? Don’t tap, don’t reply. Delete it and report at ssa.gov/scam.
• ✅ Check your benefits by typing ssa.gov yourself or calling 1-800-772-1213.
• ✅ Business email about a state “records law penalty”? It’s fake. Call 615-741-5739 to report it.
• ✅ Tell whoever opens the business email about this one today.
• ✅ Real stores never ask for your password to help you.
• ✅ Be wary of “free trials” with a small shipping charge.
• ✅ Payment apps are for people you know. Use a credit card for shopping.
• ✅ Get a company’s phone number from its own website, your receipt or your statement.
• ✅ Anyone telling you to put cash into a crypto kiosk is running a scam.
• ✅ Already paid, clicked or shared? Call your bank first, then the sheriff’s office (423-949-7750) and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The practical rule: Never use the link or number they gave you. Look up the real one yourself, and the real office will be glad you did.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Glossary

• Office of the Inspector General (OIG): The watchdog inside a government agency. Social Security’s OIG investigates fraud and warns the public about scams that use Social Security’s name.
• Smishing: A scam sent by text message, usually with a link that leads to a fake website.
• Phishing email: An email dressed up to look official, meant to get you to click, pay or share information.
• Secretary of State: The Tennessee state office that handles business filings, charities, elections and state records, among other things.
• Records Management Division: The part of the Secretary of State’s office that deals with state records. Its number is 615-741-5739.
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) payment app: Apps like Cash App, Zelle and Venmo that send money straight to another person. Great for family; risky with strangers.
• Free trial trap: An offer that’s “free” except for a small shipping fee, which can sign you up for charges you didn’t expect.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Does Social Security ever send text messages?

The safest habit is to treat any text about your Social Security account as something to check on your own. Don’t tap the link. Type ssa.gov into your browser yourself, or call 1-800-772-1213. If the text was a scam, report it at ssa.gov/scam.

I tapped the Social Security survey link and typed in some information. What now?

Don’t panic. Report it at ssa.gov/scam and at IdentityTheft.gov, which walks you through a recovery plan step by step. If you shared bank or card details, call your bank using the number on your card or statement. Keep an eye on your accounts for anything you don’t recognize.

Should I text “STOP” to the survey text?

Social Security’s watchdog says not to respond at all. Delete the text and report it. You can also forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM), a free reporting number most phone companies use.

My business got an email about a state records penalty. How do I know if it’s real?

The Secretary of State’s office says the emails and form going around are fake. If you’re ever unsure, don’t click anything. Call the Records Management Division at 615-741-5739 using that number, not one from the email.

Does the records-law email go to regular households too?

The Secretary of State’s warning says the emails are being sent to Tennessee businesses. But the lesson works for everyone: an official-looking email asking you to pay through a link deserves a phone call to the real office first.

Is it OK to use Cash App, Zelle or Venmo for holiday shopping?

AARP’s quiz answer is that these apps don’t have the same protections as a credit card and are generally meant for sending money to people you personally know. For shopping, a credit card is the safer choice.

I already sent money in one of these scams. Is it too late?

No, and you’re not alone. Call your bank, card company or payment app right away and ask them to stop or reverse the payment. Then call the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office at 423-949-7750 and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and BBB Scam Tracker.

🔗 Other Resources

• SSA Inspector General: Fake Social Security Survey Texts (Nov. 10, 2026)
• Report a Social Security scam: ssa.gov/scam · SSA OIG scam alerts · Social Security: 1-800-772-1213
• Tennessee Secretary of State: Warning to businesses about a deceptive email scam (Nov. 13, 2026) · Records Management Division: 615-741-5739
• AARP: How Much Do You Know About Holiday-Related Scams in 2026?
• AARP: How to Avoid Fraud and Scams This Holiday Season (Nov. 11, 2026)
• The Dunlap-Tribune: Scam attempts (Nov. 10, 2026)
• Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office: 423-949-7750 · Non-emergency dispatch: 423-949-9912 · Dunlap Police: (423) 949-3319 · SVEC Dunlap office: 423-949-2198
• TN Attorney General: Scams, Schemes & Swindles
• IdentityTheft.gov · National Elder Fraud Hotline (U.S. Justice Department): 1-833-372-8311 · AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360
• Report a scam: ReportFraud.ftc.gov · FBI IC3 · BBB Scam Tracker

🌄 Rest Easy: The Real Office Will Still Be There When You Call

Here’s the calm takeaway for a slow Saturday: you don’t need to memorize every trick. Social Security will still be at ssa.gov after you delete that text, the State of Tennessee will happily answer the phone if a “penalty” email shows up at the shop, and a quiz you missed a few questions on is just a chance to learn the answers before the shopping rush. Take a breath, refill the mug and check things on your own terms. Pass this along to the neighbor who runs a small business, the friend on Social Security and anybody in the family doing their holiday shopping on a phone. We’ll keep watch and bring you what’s new. Read Dunlap.Today and sign up for our newsletter for plain-English scam alerts and Valley news.