🚨 Cash Couriers, Festival Card Taps and Storm Chasers: Your Scam Watch for This Week

Or: Real Help Never Shows Up Asking for a Bag of Cash

A good scam works like a fishing lure. It doesn’t look like a hook. It looks like exactly what the fish was hungry for. This week the lures are dressed up as help: a “federal agent” offering to keep your savings safe, a friendly booth at the fall festival, the toy your grandbaby wants most and a fellow with a chainsaw knocking right after a storm.

Here’s what’s on the line this week: a Plateau neighbor who handed cash to a courier after a fake Social Security call, Medicare open enrollment starting next Thursday, “tap-to-pay” tricks at crowded fall events, fake websites selling this year’s hot toys, door-to-door “storm chasers” after Saturday’s rain and wind from Isaias, and some good news from Washington about scam ads online.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Everyone: No government agency or bank will ever send someone to pick up your cash, gold or a package of money “for safekeeping.” That’s always a scam.
• Medicare folks: Open enrollment runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Medicare won’t call you out of the blue. Free, honest help is at 1-877-801-0044.
• Festival-goers: Before you tap your card or phone, look at the business name and the amount on the screen.
• Holiday shoppers: A sold-out toy that’s suddenly “in stock” on a site you’ve never heard of is a red flag.
• Homeowners: After the storm, get written estimates, check the license and never pay the whole job up front.

💵 “We’ll Keep Your Money Safe.” Nobody Real Says That and Sends a Courier

Up on the Plateau, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office shared a case on Oct. 2 that’s worth knowing about. A caller claiming to be a federal agent with the Social Security Administration told a man his Social Security number had been compromised, his computer had been hacked and someone at his bank was helping the hackers. The caller talked him into buying a new laptop, letting the caller control it from afar and withdrawing cash for an “agent” to hold for safekeeping.

The man handed a package with $24,000 to a courier at a Walmart in Cleveland, Tenn., on Sept. 22, and another with $27,000 at a Crossville motel the next day. Once deputies learned about it, they worked with him to set up one more pickup with a decoy package, and arrested the man who came to collect it on Sept. 30. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation helped with the case.

What it means for you: This scam is like a fox offering to guard the henhouse. The “protection” is the trap. The sheriff’s office says to end any call that tells you to withdraw cash, hand money to a courier or let someone into your computer to “protect” your money. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says the same about itself: it will never tell you to move your money to protect it, or to withdraw cash or buy gold and give it to someone. Hang up and call your bank using the number on the back of your card, or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

👉 Read more (Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office release via 102.5 WOW Country) · FTC: Recognize an impersonator

🩺 Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Next Thursday. Let the Phone Ring

Our first Scam Watch on Tuesday warned about look-alike Medicare websites. Here’s the update now that the season is almost here. Medicare open enrollment runs Thursday, Oct. 15, through Monday, Dec. 7. In an Oct. 7 fraud alert, AARP said scammers may pose as Medicare representatives or Medicare Advantage agents to steal Medicare numbers and financial information. Its advice comes down to two things: unsolicited contact about Medicare is highly suspicious, and Medicare will never contact you out of the blue. AARP Alabama added more warning signs on Oct. 6, including free gifts offered in exchange for personal information and callers claiming “Medicare is changing” and you must act now.

The FTC also noted on Sept. 28 that scammers sometimes pay to show up at the top of search results, so look for the small “Ad” or “Sponsored” label and scroll past it to the real .gov site.

What it means for you: Shopping for a Medicare plan is like buying a used truck. Take your time, kick the tires and bring someone who knows engines. Tennessee’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (TN SHIP) offers free, unbiased counseling at 1-877-801-0044, and it isn’t selling anything. Type Medicare.gov yourself or call 1-800-633-4227. If a caller asks for your Medicare number, hang up.

👉 Read more (AARP fraud alert) · FTC: Avoid open enrollment scams · TN SHIP

🎪 Headed to a Fall Festival? Peek Before You Tap

October is festival season around the Valley and beyond, from apple festivals in Georgia to pumpkin patches on the mountain. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has warned about tap-to-pay scams, sometimes called “ghost tapping.” Tap-to-pay cards and phone wallets use a short-range wireless signal to pay. The BBB says crooks may set up fake stands at events, flea markets or festivals and ask for a tap, ask for a small donation and charge a much bigger amount, or even bump into someone in a crowd while charging a card with a hidden reader. Some make small charges on purpose so they don’t set off the bank’s fraud alarms.

One report the BBB shared involved a man going door to door “selling chocolate” for students who would only take tap-to-pay, then charged one woman’s card $537 without letting her see the amount.

What it means for you: Paying by tap is like signing a check you can’t see. Fine at the grocery store register, but worth a peek anywhere else. The BBB suggests checking the business name and amount on the screen before you tap, turning on your bank’s text or app alerts for every charge, and swiping or inserting your card when something feels off. Cash is still welcome at most church and school booths. If you spot a charge you don’t recognize, call your bank right away.

👉 Read more (BBB: How to spot and avoid tap-to-pay scams)

🧸 That Sold-Out Toy Is “In Stock”? Check Who’s Selling It

It’s early, but holiday toy hunting has started. On Oct. 6, the BBB updated its hot-toy scam warning with this year’s wish-list favorites, including “KPop Demon Hunters” dolls and toys, Pokémon 30th-anniversary cards, Squishmallows, NeeDoh squishies (with knockoffs flooding the market) and the Nintendo Switch 2, which gets a new bundle on Oct. 22. The BBB says fake websites and social media ads claim to have sold-out toys in stock, sometimes at a “flash sale” price. Buyers either get a cheap counterfeit or nothing at all. One shopper told the BBB they ordered a Switch 2 from what looked like an online furniture store.

What it means for you: If a toy is sold out at every store in Chattanooga, a stranger’s website having a pile of them at half price is like finding ripe tomatoes in January. Possible, but don’t bet the farm. Type the address of a store you trust instead of tapping an ad, be wary of prices that seem too good, and make sure the seller has a working customer service phone number before you hand over your card. Paying with a credit card gives you more protection than a debit card.

👉 Read more (BBB hot-toy scam alert)

🌧️ After Isaias Blows Through, Be Choosy About Who Climbs on Your Roof

The leftovers of Isaias are expected to bring heavy rain and gusty wind to the Valley on Saturday, and downed limbs are likely in spots. Most folks who show up to help after a storm are honest, hardworking neighbors. But the BBB and Tennessee officials have warned before about “storm chasers” who go door to door after bad weather offering quick, cheap repairs, then take a big deposit and disappear or do poor work.

What it means for you: Hiring after a storm is like picking a hunting partner. You want someone you can vouch for, not the first fellow who pulls up. The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office suggests getting written estimates from more than one company, checking reviews and references, and making sure the contractor is licensed (look them up at verify.tn.gov) and insured. The BBB adds: call your insurance company first, be wary of “today only” pressure, and never sign over your insurance check. Avoid paying cash, and don’t pay the full amount before the work is done.

👉 Read more (Tennessee AG: Tips after a natural disaster) · Tennessee AG: Tree trimming and removal scams · BBB storm-chaser tips (Fox 17)

🛡️ Some Good News: Washington Is Looking at Scam Ads Online

On Oct. 1, the FTC formally asked the public whether search engines, social media sites and other online platforms should have to do more to stop ads from scammers who pretend to be government agencies or real businesses. The FTC said people reported losing about $16 billion to fraud in 2025, that impersonation is the top fraud people report, and that nearly 30% of people who lost money to a scam last year said it started on social media. This is an early step, not a final rule. Comments are open through Nov. 30, 2026.

What it means for you: Nothing changes on your phone tomorrow, but it’s a sign the folks who run the big websites may be asked to sweep their own porches. Until then, treat an ad like a roadside sign: it tells you somebody paid to be there, not that they’re who they say they are. Anyone, including small business owners who’ve been impersonated, can share their experience with the FTC.

👉 Read more (Federal Register notice, with a comment link)

✅ Your Scam Watch Checklist for This Week

• ✅ Anyone asking you to withdraw cash, buy gold or hand money to a courier? Hang up. It’s a scam every time.
• ✅ Never let a caller control your computer or tell you to buy a new one.
• ✅ Write TN SHIP: 1-877-801-0044 on your Medicare folder before Oct. 15.
• ✅ Medicare calling out of the blue? Let it ring. Call 1-800-633-4227 yourself.
• ✅ At festivals, look at the name and amount before you tap, and turn on charge alerts in your bank app.
• ✅ Toy shopping? Type in a store you trust instead of tapping an ad.
• ✅ After the storm, get two or more written estimates, check verify.tn.gov and never sign over your insurance check.
• ✅ Report scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov or Tennessee Consumer Affairs at 1-800-342-8385.

Practical rule: Real help never needs your cash in a bag, your computer in its hands or your money before the work is done.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Scam Glossary

• Impersonation scam: When a crook pretends to be someone you trust, like a government agency, bank, store or relative.
• Cash courier: A person a scammer sends to pick up money in person. Real agencies and banks never do this.
• Remote access: Letting someone control your computer from somewhere else over the internet.
• Open enrollment: The yearly window, Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, when people on Medicare can change their health or drug plans.
• TN SHIP: Tennessee’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, which gives free, unbiased Medicare advice.
• Tap-to-pay (contactless): Paying by holding your card or phone near a card reader instead of swiping or inserting it.
• Ghost tapping: A nickname for tricks where someone charges a tap-to-pay card without the owner seeing the real amount.
• Counterfeit: A fake copy made to look like a real brand-name product.
• Storm chaser: A contractor, often from out of town, who goes door to door after bad weather looking for repair jobs. Some are honest; some aren’t.
• Sponsored result: A paid ad that shows up at the top of a search page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Would Social Security or the government ever ask me to move or withdraw my money?

No. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the FTC both say a request to withdraw cash, hand it to a courier or move money to “protect” it is a scam. Hang up and call the agency or your bank yourself using a number you look up.

I let a caller get into my computer. What should I do?

Turn the computer off or unplug it from the internet. From a different device, change your passwords, starting with email and banking. Call your bank using the number on your card, and have a trusted computer shop check the machine. Then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Where can I get honest help comparing Medicare plans?

Call TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044 for free, unbiased counseling, or use the official Plan Finder at Medicare.gov. You can also call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.

Is tap-to-pay safe to use?

For everyday shopping at stores you know, it’s generally fine. The BBB’s advice is to check the business name and amount before you tap, watch for charge alerts and swipe or insert your card if anything seems off, especially in crowds.

How do I check out a contractor after a storm?

Look up their license at verify.tn.gov, ask for proof of insurance, get written estimates from more than one company and search the business name with words like “complaint” or “review.” Call your insurance company before you sign anything.

I already paid a website that never shipped my order. Now what?

Call your credit or debit card company right away and ask about disputing the charge. Keep your receipts and emails, and report the site to the BBB Scam Tracker and the FTC.

Who can I call to talk it over?

AARP’s Fraud Watch Network Helpline is free at 877-908-3360, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central). You can also call your sheriff’s office on its non-emergency line or Tennessee Consumer Affairs at 1-800-342-8385.

🔗 Other Resources

• TN SHIP: Free Medicare counseling (1-877-801-0044)
• Medicare.gov: Official Plan Finder and open enrollment information
• FTC: Report a scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• FTC: What to do if you were scammed
• BBB Scam Tracker: Look up and report scams
• Tennessee license lookup (verify.tn.gov)
• Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs: File a complaint
• AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360)

🌄 Take a Breath. Real Help Will Wait for You

Every scam on this week’s list has one thing in common: it can’t stand to wait. The honest contractor will still be there tomorrow. The real Medicare counselor will still answer next week. Your bank will be glad you called to check. Only the crook needs you to move fast.

Share this with someone heading to a fall festival, shopping for grandkids or cleaning up limbs after Saturday. We’ll keep watch and bring you what’s new each week. Read Dunlap.Today and sign up for our newsletter for plain-English scam alerts and Valley news.