💵 COLA Day After 7:30 — Check the Raise Safely, Spot Jail-Bond & Holiday Fear Calls, and Chattanooga Gas Near $3.77

Or: Official Social Security Number Due This Morning, Gift-Card Payment Rule, Tennessee Has No Toll Roads, and a Softer Pump

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Good morning, neighbor. Pour the coffee and take your time. Money news today is less like a fire drill and more like waiting for the church bulletin to finish printing — the important number is coming, but only from the right desk, and nobody who loves you will ask you to hurry with gift cards in your hand.

Here is the short stack: Social Security’s official 2027 COLA is still unpublished as of this early Wednesday morning. The September inflation reading that finishes the math is due at 7:30 a.m. Central, and the real percentage will show at ssa.gov/cola — not in a text or a “boost” ad. Forecasts near 3.5–3.6% are not official until Social Security posts. Fresh from Tennessee this week: jail-bond and “loved one in jail” calls pushing crypto or gift cards, holiday fear calls after a Franklin case that cost an 83-year-old $71,000, the FTC’s plain rule that gift cards, crypto, wires and payment apps demanded by a stranger equal a scam, and a fact worth taping to the fridge — Tennessee has no toll roads. AAA shows Chattanooga regular near $3.77 today. Medicare Open Enrollment opens tomorrow — type the website yourself.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Today, Wed., Oct. 14: Official 2027 Social Security COLA expected after BLS September CPI (7:30 a.m. Central / 8:30 a.m. Eastern). Check ssa.gov/cola yourself. Outside forecasts (including 3.5–3.6%) are estimates only. 2026 COLA was 2.8%.
• Jail-bond / “loved one in jail” calls: Hang up if they want crypto, gift cards or a payment app. Davidson County never asks for phone payments that way. Rutherford County says a “2nd Chance” rehab/bonding pitch is not affiliated with the sheriff. Verify: Metro Nashville / DCSO 615-862-8600; Rutherford 615-898-7777.
• Holiday fear calls: Franklin police warn of rising warrant / jury-duty / fine pitches after a $71,000 FBI-impersonation case. Hang up; call back on a number you look up.
• Payment tell: Gift cards, crypto, wire or a payment app demanded by an unexpected caller = scam (FTC).
• Toll texts: Tennessee has no toll roads. Don’t click. Forward junk to 7726.
• Pump: AAA Chattanooga regular about $3.77; Tennessee about $3.90 (as of Oct. 14).
• Thu., Oct. 15: Medicare Open Enrollment begins (through Dec. 7). Type Medicare.gov yourself. Free TN SHIP: 1-877-801-0044.

📝 Jot This Down

1. After 7:30 a.m. Central today — official COLA day. Wait for Social Security’s own number at ssa.gov/cola. Type the address. Do not tap a link from a text, ad or “boost your COLA” pitch. Forecasts near 3.5–3.6% are not the official figure.
2. Hang-up rule for this week: If anyone claiming a loved one needs bond, an FBI warrant, a COLA unlock, a utility refund, an unpaid toll or a Medicare “new card” wants gift cards, crypto, a wire, a payment app or your bank number first — hang up, delete the text and call back from a number you looked up yourself.
3. How you will see your personal raise later: After the percentage is public, your own new amount typically shows up in the Message Center of a my Social Security account and by mailed notice later in the fall — not in a hurry-up phone call. Set up or open your account at ssa.gov/myaccount when you have a quiet morning.

📅 COLA Day — How to See the Official Number Safely

As of this early Wednesday morning — before the 7:30 a.m. Central inflation release — Social Security’s COLA page still shows only the 2.8% increase that took effect for 2026. There is no official 2027 percentage posted yet.

That is the whole picture until the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases September’s Consumer Price Index, the last reading Social Security needs. The release is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Eastern / 7:30 a.m. Central today, Wednesday, Oct. 14. Social Security usually posts the official COLA the same day at ssa.gov/cola. Any number floating around social media — including outside forecasts near 3.5–3.6% — is an estimate until Social Security announces it. Sister editions already noted the calendar; this money page is the kitchen-table follow-through.

When the raise is final, it applies to benefits payable in January 2027. Some SSI and longtime Social Security recipients may see related timing around the Dec. 31 / Jan. 1 holiday window, as in prior years. You do not apply, “claim” or pay anyone to turn it on.

After the percentage posts, your own new monthly amount typically arrives later as a notice in the Message Center of a my Social Security account and by mail — the same pattern Social Security used for the 2026 COLA notices. Treat that notice like a church bulletin you can read twice: glance at the new benefit line, then remember that Medicare Part B premiums and other deductions can change year to year. Do not invent a “take-home” figure from a stranger’s text. Wait for Social Security’s number and, when published, Medicare’s own premium announcements before you rewrite the grocery or heating budget.

What it means for you: Circle this morning the way you circle a church supper. After 7:30 a.m. Central, look at ssa.gov/cola yourself — type the address; do not tap a link from a text or ad. If the page still shows only 2026’s 2.8%, wait a bit and refresh; do not fill the gap with a rumor. If you do not yet have a my Social Security account, setting one up at ssa.gov/myaccount is a calm chore that also helps lock down your record. Questions about your own record? Call 1-800-772-1213 from a number you found, not from a caller.

👉 Read more (Social Security COLA) · BLS CPI release schedule · my Social Security

🚔 “Your Loved One Needs Bond — Pay Now in Crypto”

Scammers love a family emergency. This week’s version is aimed at anyone who might answer the phone about a relative in jail.

The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office has warned repeatedly that callers posing as DCSO employees demand payment by cryptocurrency, gift cards or mobile apps. DCSO says flatly that it never asks for payments over the phone. By the weekend of Oct. 11, the problem was bad enough that DCSO told FOX 17 it had removed active inmate and recent booking information from its website — scammers had been scraping that public info to sound real to families. Arrestee information in Davidson County is still available by calling the 24-hour number 615-862-8123. Suspicious calls can be checked with DCSO or Metro Nashville Police at 615-862-8600.

Rutherford County has issued related warnings. Callers using names such as “2nd Chance Bonding” or “2nd Chance Program” have promised help getting an incarcerated loved one into rehab while falsely claiming ties to the sheriff — the sheriff’s office says that pitch is not affiliated with RCSO. Separate Rutherford alerts also describe callers posing as jail staff, sometimes using real inmate names and charges, then asking for Apple Pay, Bitcoin, gift cards or other irreversible payments. Bond and bail, the sheriff says, are handled with jail staff on site — not by a cold call. If you are unsure, call 615-898-7777 before you send money or share personal information.

It’s the old “Cousin Billy is in a jam” story — except Cousin Billy never called, and the stranger wants money that cannot come back.

What it means for you: If someone calls about a relative in jail, hang up before you open a crypto app or walk to the store for gift cards. Call the jail or sheriff yourself on a number you find independently. Ask a family member you trust to help you check. Real bond offices do not cold-call for crypto.

👉 Read more (FOX 17: DCSO removes inmate site after bond scams) · WSMV: DCSO payment scam warning · FOX 17: Rutherford jail-release scam

🍂 Holiday Fear Calls — Franklin Police Are Already Seeing Them

Franklin police posted a holiday scam advisory on Oct. 6 saying they are fielding scam reports nearly every day and expect the problem to worsen as the holidays approach. Callers pose as law enforcement or government officials and claim residents face arrest warrants, missed jury duty or unpaid fines. The pressure tool is the same every time: fear plus urgency.

“Scammers often use fear and urgency to pressure people into acting before they have time to think,” Police Chief Deb Faulkner said. “If someone calls demanding money or sensitive personal information, hang up and verify the claim independently.”

Franklin’s red-flag list includes unsolicited asks for money, bank or credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, cash or jewelry. The department’s five steps: hang up; never send money or buy gift cards at a caller’s direction; don’t trust caller ID; contact the agency on a number you find yourself; talk with a trusted family member or friend before doing anything.

The advisory follows a September case in which an 83-year-old Franklin man lost $71,000 after callers posing as FBI agents kept him on the phone for days — sometimes for six hours at a stretch — and directed him to wire money from his bank.

What it means for you: Think of a holiday fear call like a stranger banging on the porch at supper and demanding the pie money before dessert. You would ask who’s there and call a neighbor first. Same rule here. Share Franklin’s five steps with parents and grandparents before Thanksgiving travel heats up. Local tip-line if you are in that area: Franklin Police 615-794-2513 — or your own department if you are in the Valley.

👉 Read more (Franklin Beacon: holiday scam warning after $71K fraud)

💳 The One Tell That Almost Never Lies: How They Ask You to Pay

On July 22, the Federal Trade Commission published a plain rule that fits every story above. Someone contacts you unexpectedly and says you have to pay to fix a problem or claim a prize — then insists the only way to pay is by bank transfer, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, a payment app or a gift card. Reports to the FTC show that’s a scam.

The FTC said people reported the largest losses — more than $4 billion in total last year — to scams paid with bank transfers and cryptocurrency. Many involved impostors posing as a government agency, a well-known business, or both. The story changes. The payment method stays hard to reverse on purpose.

FTC gift-card guidance is just as blunt: only scammers tell you to buy a Google Play, Apple, Amazon or similar card and read them the numbers off the back. No real business or government agency collects that way. If you already did it, report the card company right away with the card and store receipt, then file at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

What it means for you: You do not need to memorize every new scam name. Memorize the payment tell. Gift cards for a “fine,” crypto for a “bond,” a wire to “protect your money” — that’s the barn door slamming. Hang up. Call your bank or the real agency on a number from your statement or their real website.

👉 Read more (FTC: how someone asks you to pay) · FTC: gift card scams

🛣️ “Unpaid Toll” Texts — Tennessee Has No Toll Roads

If your phone buzzes with a “final notice” about an unpaid toll, EZ Pass balance or parking/toll violation with a link or QR code, delete it. TDOT has said plainly: there are no toll roads in Tennessee. The Tennessee Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division has warned about the same phishing texts, and the Tennessee Supreme Court and Administrative Office of the Courts warned in April 2026 about texts and emails that fake an outstanding parking or toll ticket.

Yesterday’s edition covered the FTC’s general unpaid-toll warning. Today’s kitchen-table angle is local and simple: Valley drivers on U.S. 127, State Route 111 or I-24 do not owe a Tennessee toll, because there isn’t one. Chief Justice Jeff Bivins has said state courts do not send text messages or emails about past-due tickets. Don’t click. Don’t scan the QR code. Forward junk texts to 7726 (SPAM), then delete. If you worry about a real ticket, look up your county court clerk yourself — never through the text.

What it means for you: A real ticket matter will wait while you look up the agency yourself. A crook cannot stand to wait.

👉 Read more (TN AG: toll road balance texting scams) · TDOT / WSMV: no toll roads in Tennessee · TN Supreme Court: ticket scam alert

⛽ Wednesday Pump Check: Chattanooga Near $3.77

AAA’s Wednesday, Oct. 14, reading puts Chattanooga (TN only) regular at about $3.77 a gallon (current average $3.7733) — roughly two cents softer than Tuesday’s $3.7951. Tennessee’s statewide regular average is about $3.90 ($3.9043), a penny or so under Tuesday. The national average sits near $4.33 ($4.3333). Cleveland is about $3.82; Nashville about $3.90.

Chattanooga diesel averages about $5.79; Tennessee diesel about $6.00. Prices remain well above this time last year. Treat a soft local reading like finding a spare five in the dryer — appreciate it, combine errands, keep tires inflated, and fill up on a trip you are already making.

What it means for you: Check AAA before a Chattanooga, Cleveland or Jasper run and fill where it is cheapest on that route. Do not rebuild the whole gas budget around one Wednesday average.

👉 Read more (AAA Tennessee gas prices)

📌 Still On the Fridge: Medicare Tomorrow, Heating Help, Taxes, Quiet “Still On” Scams

A few calm carryovers — short, because the fresh stack above is the main watch.

Medicare Open Enrollment starts tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 15, through Monday, Dec. 7. This page sticks to the money/scam angle: type Medicare.gov yourself, scroll past “Ad”/”Sponsored” results, and use free TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044. Nobody legitimate needs a gift card or your Social Security number over a cold call to “activate” a new Medicare card. For Part D caps, Part B rebate math and Extra Help detail, see today’s Valley Boomers Health & Senior Services edition — do not invent premium figures from a stranger.

Heating help: Tennessee’s LIHEAP heating season runs roughly Oct. 1 through April 30. In the Sequatchie Valley, call SETHRA at 423-949-2191 (toll-free 800-852-6155; P.O. Box 909, Dunlap, TN 37327).

Property taxes: Sequatchie County taxes were due the first Monday in October. You can still pay without interest through Feb. 28, 2027. Trustee Larry S. Lockhart: (423) 949-2526. Ask about statewide Property Tax Relief when you pay.

RMDs: If you are already taking required minimum distributions, the IRS general deadline for the 2026 distribution is Dec. 31, 2026 (first-year rules can differ — ask your tax preparer).

Still on (short): Hang up on anyone offering to boost, unlock or maximize your COLA for a fee (SSA OIG). Real utilities and co-ops do not cold-call for bank numbers to “send a refund,” and they do not demand same-day phone payment to avoid shutoff — call the number on your bill (SVEC 888-421-7832; EPB 423-648-1372).

👉 Medicare Plan Compare · SETHRA Housing & Energy · Sequatchie tax lookup/pay · IRS: required minimum distributions · SVEC: Beware of Scams

📅 Week-Ahead Money Dates (Oct. 14–21)

• Wed., Oct. 14 (today): Official 2027 COLA expected after 7:30 a.m. Central CPI. Check ssa.gov/cola. Ignore unofficial percentages and any “boost” or bond-crypto offer.
• Thu., Oct. 15: Medicare Open Enrollment opens (through Dec. 7). Type Medicare.gov yourself. Free burn permits also begin statewide (see Weather/Garden edition) — different topic, same fridge calendar.
• Fri., Oct. 16 – Sun., Oct. 18: Enjoy the weekend; leave gift-card and fear callers unanswered. Talk with family about holiday phone rules before travel season.
• Mon., Oct. 19 – Tue., Oct. 20: Good days to call SETHRA about LIHEAP or TN SHIP if you have not yet. Remaining October SNAP/EBT deposits run through the 20th by SSN digits — DHS will not call asking for your PIN.
• Ongoing: Watch for COLA notices later in the Message Center / by mail after the percentage is public — not via a stranger’s text.
• Through Feb. 28, 2027: Sequatchie County property taxes payable without interest.
• Looking further: If you take RMDs, note Dec. 31, 2026, with your tax person. DEA National Prescription Take Back Day is Sat., Oct. 24 (see Health edition for drop-box detail).

✅ Your Money & Scam Checklist for This Week

• ✅ After 7:30 a.m. Central today: wait for the official COLA at ssa.gov/cola before rewriting the budget. Forecasts are not official.
• ✅ Create or open your my Social Security account so later Message Center notices have a safe home.
• ✅ Jail-bond or “loved one in jail” call wanting crypto, gift cards or a payment app? Hang up. Verify: DCSO / Metro 615-862-8600; Rutherford 615-898-7777.
• ✅ Holiday fear call (warrant, jury duty, FBI)? Hang up. Call the real agency on a number you find yourself. Talk with a trusted relative before sending money.
• ✅ If someone demands gift cards, crypto, a wire or a payment app — hang up. FTC rule. Report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• ✅ Unpaid-toll text? Don’t tap it. Tennessee has no toll roads. Forward junk to 7726.
• ✅ “Boost / unlock” COLA fee or utility refund/disconnect cold call? Still hang up. SVEC 888-421-7832; EPB 423-648-1372.
• ✅ Type Medicare.gov yourself starting Oct. 15; call TN SHIP 1-877-801-0044 for free help.
• ✅ Check AAA before a Chattanooga run — metro regular near $3.77 today.
• ✅ Call SETHRA 423-949-2191 about LIHEAP heating help (season open through April 30).
• ✅ If Sequatchie taxes are unpaid, note Feb. 28, 2027; ask about Tax Relief at the Trustee (423-949-2526).
• ✅ Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, oig.ssa.gov/report, ic3.gov, BBB Scam Tracker, or Tennessee Consumer Affairs 1-800-342-8385.

Practical rule: If a raise, a bond story, a warrant claim, a toll bill or a “special unlock” needs gift cards, crypto, a wire or your Social Security number before you have checked with someone you trust, it is not help — it is a hurry-up scam.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Money & Scam Glossary

• COLA: Cost-of-living adjustment — the yearly percentage bump in Social Security and SSI benefits.
• CPI: Consumer Price Index — the inflation measure Social Security uses to set the COLA.
• my Social Security / Message Center: Your free personal account at ssa.gov where COLA notices and other secure messages often appear before or along with mail.
• Jail-bond scam: A cold call claiming a loved one is in jail and needs bond or rehab money paid by crypto, gift cards or a payment app.
• Holiday fear call: An impersonation pitch (warrant, jury duty, fines, “FBI”) that uses urgency to push irreversible payments.
• Payment-method tell: FTC red flag — gift cards, crypto, wires or payment apps demanded by an unexpected stranger almost always mean a scam.
• “Boost / unlock / maximize” scam: A pitch that you must pay a fee or share bank details to enlarge or turn on a Social Security raise — which is automatic and free.
• Toll-text phishing: An unexpected text about unpaid tolls with a payment link — fake in Tennessee, which has no toll roads.
• Medicare Open Enrollment: The yearly window (Oct. 15–Dec. 7) to change Medicare health or drug coverage for the next year.
• TN SHIP: Tennessee’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program — free, unbiased Medicare counseling.
• LIHEAP / SETHRA: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, delivered locally through Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency.
• RMD: Required minimum distribution — the amount the IRS generally requires you to withdraw each year from certain retirement accounts once you reach the applicable age.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2027 Social Security raise percentage official yet?

As of early Wednesday, Oct. 14 (before the 7:30 a.m. Central CPI release), ssa.gov/cola still showed only the 2026 increase of 2.8%. The official 2027 figure is expected after that release. Outside forecasts (including figures near 3.5–3.6%) are estimates only until Social Security posts.

How will I see my personal new benefit amount?

First watch for the percentage at ssa.gov/cola. Your own new amount typically appears later in the Message Center of a my Social Security account and by mailed notice — the same pattern Social Security used for 2026 COLA notices. Do not trust a stranger’s text with “your” new number.

Would the real sheriff call and ask for crypto or gift cards for bond?

No. Davidson County Sheriff’s Office says it never asks for payments over the phone by cryptocurrency, gift cards or mobile apps. Rutherford County says “2nd Chance” rehab/bonding pitches are not affiliated with the sheriff, and bond is handled on site — not by a cold call asking for Apple Pay or Bitcoin. Hang up and verify at the numbers above.

Is there any situation where I should pay a fine or bond with a gift card?

No. The FTC says no real business or government agency will tell you to pay with gift cards. Same goes for crypto, wires and payment apps demanded by an unexpected caller.

I keep getting unpaid-toll texts. Should I worry about my tags?

Not because of the text. Tennessee has no toll roads. Don’t click the link. Forward the text to 7726 and delete it. If you think you might have a real ticket, look up your county court clerk yourself.

When does Medicare open enrollment start — and how do I avoid search scams?

Thursday, Oct. 15, through Monday, Dec. 7. Type Medicare.gov yourself, look for “Ad”/”Sponsored” labels, prefer .gov results, and use TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 for free help. For plan-letter and Part D detail, see today’s Health & Senior Services edition.

Who do I call about heating bill help in Sequatchie County?

SETHRA at 423-949-2191 (toll-free 800-852-6155; P.O. Box 909, Dunlap, TN 37327). Heating season help is open through April 30 for eligible households.

I already gave a caller my Social Security or bank number. What now?

Stop contact. For Social Security concerns, use ssa.gov/myaccount and report at oig.ssa.gov/report. Call your bank from the number on your card if you shared account details. Consider a fraud alert with the credit bureaus, visit identitytheft.gov, and report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. AARP’s Fraud Watch Network Helpline is free at 877-908-3360 (weekdays).

🔗 Other Resources

• Social Security COLA page
• SSA: Protect Yourself from Scams
• SSA OIG scam report
• my Social Security
• Medicare.gov · TN SHIP (1-877-801-0044)
• Sequachee Valley Electric: Beware of Scams · SVEC 888-421-7832
• FTC ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• FBI IC3.gov
• BBB Scam Tracker
• Tennessee AG: Scams, Schemes & Swindles · Consumer Affairs 1-800-342-8385
• AARP Fraud Watch Helpline (877-908-3360)
• AAA Tennessee gas prices
• SETHRA Housing & Energy
• Sequatchie County Trustee

🌄 Take a Breath. Real Help Will Wait for You

Every scam on this week’s list has the same tell: it cannot stand to wait. The real Social Security raise will still be posted at ssa.gov after this morning’s numbers. The real sheriff will still answer from a number you look up. The real Medicare site will still load when you type it yourself. SETHRA will still pick up about heating help on a quiet afternoon. Only the crook needs you to move before you have checked with someone you trust.

Share this with a neighbor who is watching for the COLA, sorting a Medicare letter, or wondering about a strange jail or toll call. We will keep watch and bring you what is new each week. Read Dunlap.Today and sign up for our newsletter for plain-English money news and scam alerts in the Sequatchie Valley.