🚨 A “Church Leader” Texting for Green Dot Cards, Medicare Callers on Day One, Fake Ballot Texts and Callers Who Know Your Last Order: Your Scam Watch for This Week

Or: When a Familiar Name Asks for Gift Cards, Set the Phone Down and Call Back on the Number You Already Have

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Thursday, October 15, 2026

This week a scam landed right here at home. Dunlap Police say people are getting texts from someone pretending to be local church leadership, asking them to go buy Green Dot cards in a hurry. It’s an old trick wearing a Sunday suit, and the fix is simple: check with the real person before you buy anything.

Here’s what’s on the line: fake church-leader texts asking for Green Dot cards, flagged by the Dunlap Police Department; Medicare “helpers” calling now that Open Enrollment opens today; fake texts about ballots being disqualified as early voting gets going in Tennessee; and callers who already know a detail about your order or account, which the Better Business Bureau says doesn’t make them real.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Text from “church leadership” asking for Green Dot cards: Dunlap Police say it’s not legitimate. Call your pastor or church office on a number you already have.
• Medicare calls starting today: Medicare won’t call out of the blue asking for your Medicare or Social Security number. Use Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), or free state help from TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.
• Text saying ballots are being tossed: Get election news from your county election commission or the Tennessee Secretary of State, not a random text.
• Caller knows your last order or account: That’s not proof. Hang up and use the company’s own app, website or published number.
• Got hit? In Dunlap, call police at (423) 949-3319 or non-emergency dispatch at (423) 949-9912.

⛪ “Can You Pick Up Some Green Dot Cards for Me?” — It Isn’t Your Church

On Oct. 14, the Dunlap Police Department said it had learned of a potential scam involving text messages from people posing as local church leadership. The messages include urgent requests to buy Green Dot cards. Police said the texts may look convincing, but they are not legitimate requests. The warning was shared by SValleyNow, WDEF and Local 3 News.

Last week we told you about a pastor impersonation call reported to Collegedale Police. Now the same kind of trick is showing up in Valley text messages, so it’s worth a quick word at Wednesday-night supper or Sunday school.

What it means for you: A real church leader asking a favor is like a neighbor borrowing a ladder: they’ll ask in person or call, and they’ll gladly wait while you check. A scammer needs the card numbers off the back right now. Once those numbers are sent, the money is about as easy to get back as rain off a tin roof. If you get one of these texts, don’t reply and don’t buy. Call your pastor or church office on a number from the bulletin or your own contacts. If you or someone you love already sent card numbers, call Dunlap Police at (423) 949-3319 or non-emergency dispatch at (423) 949-9912, and call the number on the back of the card right away.

👉 Read more (SValleyNow: Scam warning from Dunlap Police) · WDEF · Local 3 News

🩺 Medicare Shopping Opens Today — and So Does the Phone-Call Season

Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from today, Oct. 15, through Dec. 7. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) says it’s a prime time for fraudsters, who use AI and fake social media ads to pretend they’re from Medicare and trick people into sharing their Medicare or Social Security numbers. NCOA’s red flags include pressure to switch plans and threats to cancel your coverage.

Our own Chattanooga Better Business Bureau laid out what people have reported to BBB Scam Tracker. One person got a text saying their health benefits were about to expire and was told to call and pay. Another got a call from a “Medicare agent” who asked whether a new card had come in the mail, then asked them to read off details from their old card. The BBB says callers often promise a cheaper plan with the same services, as long as you hand over your Medicare ID and Social Security number. Its advice: be wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue, be skeptical of free gifts and “health screenings,” guard your numbers, and go straight to Medicare.gov.

What it means for you: Shopping for a plan is a good idea. NCOA notes plans change every year, so it pays to read your Annual Notice of Change and compare. Just do the shopping the way you’d buy a used truck: you pick the lot and you make the call. For free help that isn’t selling anything, call TN SHIP, the state’s Medicare counseling program, at 1-877-801-0044. If you think you gave your number to a scammer, report it to 1-800-MEDICARE, and you can also call the Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center at 1-877-808-2468.

👉 Read more (Times Free Press: Chattanooga BBB on open enrollment fraud) · NCOA: 3 steps for Open Enrollment

🗳️ A Text Says Ballots Are Being Thrown Out? Check the Source, Not the Screen

Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election started across Tennessee on Wednesday, Oct. 14. That same day, the Montgomery County Election Commission in the Clarksville area warned residents about scam text messages claiming poll workers were writing on ballots and disqualifying them. The commission said the messages are fake and pointed out that it doesn’t even use paper ballots. It asked folks to help spread the word.

That warning came from Middle Tennessee, not the Valley, and we haven’t seen a report of this text in Sequatchie County. But a text can land on any phone, so it’s good to know what one looks like.

What it means for you: A scary text about voting is like a rumor at the feed store: it travels fast and it’s usually missing something. Don’t click links or reply. If you have a question about voting, early voting hours or your ballot, call your county election commission or check the Tennessee Secretary of State’s elections page. Real election offices answer the phone and are glad to help.

👉 Read more (WSMV: Election commission warns of scam texts) · Tennessee Secretary of State: Elections

📦 “We See a Problem With Your Order” — Even When They Know the Details

On Oct. 13, the Better Business Bureau shared reports of scammers posing as employees of well-known companies, and some of them already had real details about recent orders, medical visits or debts. People using DoorDash, including drivers and merchants, said callers claimed there was a problem with an order, payment or account and asked for email addresses, phone numbers, verification codes or money. One driver was told to send money to “verify” a bank account and later found unauthorized charges. Others got calls from people posing as Freedom Debt Relief, some falsely saying new laws guaranteed debt relief or capped interest rates for seniors. The company told BBB those callers don’t work for it.

“Having some of your information does not prove the person contacting you is legitimate,” a BBB spokesperson said.

What it means for you: A caller who knows your order is like a stranger who knows your dog’s name: maybe they heard it over the fence. BBB’s advice is to not trust caller ID, never share passwords or the one-time codes texted to you, never send money or gift cards to “verify” anything, and hang up and contact the company through its own app, website or published number. Small businesses on Main Street that take delivery orders can share that same rule with whoever answers the phone.

👉 Read more (ABC7: BBB warns of company impostors)

✅ Your Front-Porch Scam Checklist

• ✅ Text from “church leadership” or anyone you know asking for Green Dot or gift cards? Call them on a number you already have before you buy a thing.
• ✅ Shopping Medicare plans? Start at Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044. Don’t give your Medicare number to anyone who called you.
• ✅ Scary text about ballots or voting? Check with your county election commission or the Secretary of State.
• ✅ Caller knows your order or account? Hang up and use the company’s own app or website. Never read out a verification code.
• ✅ “Wrong number” text from a stranger? BBB says don’t strike up a chat, and don’t click links.
• ✅ Already sent money or card numbers? Call your bank or the card company now, then local police, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The practical rule: Nobody you can trust needs you to pay with gift cards. If they ask, stop, and call them back on the number you already know.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Glossary

• Green Dot card: A prepaid card sold at stores and gas stations. Once someone has the numbers on the back, they can spend the money, so scammers love asking for them.
• Impersonation scam: When a scammer pretends to be someone you trust, such as a pastor, a sheriff, Medicare or a company you do business with.
• Medicare Open Enrollment: The yearly window, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, when people with Medicare can review and change plans for next year.
• TN SHIP: The Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program. It gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling and doesn’t sell insurance.
• Verification code: The short number a company texts you to prove it’s really you logging in. Never read it to someone who called you.
• Spoofing: Faking caller ID or a text sender so a message looks like it comes from a real person or office.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

I got a text from someone saying they’re from my church and need gift cards. What should I do?

Don’t reply and don’t buy anything. Dunlap Police say these texts are not legitimate. Call your pastor or church office on a number you already have. If you already sent card numbers, call Dunlap Police at (423) 949-3319 and call the number on the back of the card.

Will Medicare call me to help me pick a plan?

The BBB and NCOA both warn against unexpected callers who say they’re from Medicare and ask for your Medicare or Social Security number. If you want help, you make the call: 1-800-MEDICARE, Medicare.gov, or TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.

What’s the real deadline for Medicare Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2026, for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2027. A caller pushing a deadline sooner than that is a red flag.

Has the fake ballot text shown up in Sequatchie County?

The warning we found came from the Montgomery County Election Commission in Middle Tennessee. We haven’t seen a local report, but if you get a text like it, check with your county election commission instead of clicking.

A caller knew exactly what I ordered last week. Doesn’t that mean they’re real?

No. BBB says having some of your information doesn’t prove someone is legitimate. Hang up and contact the company through its own app, website or published phone number.

What’s wrong with answering a “wrong number” text?

A BBB representative told WGNS Radio in Murfreesboro this week that friendly “wrong number” texts can turn into romance or money scams, often moving to apps like WhatsApp. BBB also says not to click links in those texts. Just let them go.

🔗 Other Resources

• SValleyNow: Scam warning from Dunlap Police · Dunlap Police: (423) 949-3319
• Medicare.gov (official site) · 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227)
• TN SHIP: free Medicare counseling (1-877-801-0044)
• NCOA: 5 warning signs of a Medicare scam
• Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center (1-877-808-2468)
• Tennessee Secretary of State: Elections
• WGNS: BBB on text message and romance scams
• Report a scam: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• BBB Scam Tracker · Chattanooga BBB: 423-266-6144

🌄 A Phone Call Back Beats a Hurry Every Time

Here’s the calm takeaway: every scam this week leans on a familiar name, your church, Medicare, the election office or a company you use, and a rush. You can beat all of them the same way. Set the phone down, find the number you already trust, and call. The real pastor, the real Medicare and the real election office will all be glad you checked.

Share this with your Sunday school class, a neighbor on Medicare, or whoever runs the church office. 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.