🚨 Refund Calls, COLA “Boosts” and Costume Shops That Vanish: Your Scam Watch for This Week

Or: When a Stranger Offers You Money, a Bigger Check or a Too-Cheap Costume, Check Before You Share a Single Number

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Monday, October 12, 2026

Most scams we’ve covered lately came in scowling — a “deputy” with a warrant, a “funeral home” with a bill. This week’s batch comes in smiling. They offer you something: a utility refund, a bigger Social Security check, a “special” phone transfer to Social Security, or a Halloween costume at 90% off. A gift from a stranger that needs your bank number first isn’t a gift.

Here’s what’s on the line this week: fake utility “refund” calls that East Tennessee’s City of Maryville warned about on Oct. 9, offers to “boost” your Social Security right as the official 2027 cost-of-living raise is expected Wednesday, Oct. 14, phony “call transfers” from a store to Social Security, and look-alike costume and decor shops that Chattanooga’s Better Business Bureau says take your money and ship nothing.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Utility customers: No real utility calls out of the blue to collect your bank or routing number for a “refund.” Hang up and call the number on your bill. Sequachee Valley Electric’s line is 888-421-7832.
• Social Security folks: The COLA raise is automatic. Nobody can “unlock” or “boost” it for a fee. Questions? Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or use ssa.gov/myaccount.
• Anyone who answers the phone: A store, bank or agency cannot transfer your call straight to Social Security. If a call does that, Social Security’s watchdog says it’s a scam, every time.
• Halloween shoppers: “Overstock clearance, 90% off” plus no phone number and no street address? Skip it. Pay with a credit card, not a bank transfer.

💡 “You’ve Been Overcharged — We Just Need Your Bank Number for the Refund”

On Oct. 9, the City of Maryville in Blount County warned its utility customers about callers falsely claiming to represent City of Maryville Utilities. The callers tell people they are owed a refund for bill overcharges, then ask for bank account numbers, routing numbers or other personal financial information “to process the refund.” The city said plainly that its employees will never call and ask for financial or personal information to issue a refund, and told customers to hang up and call its customer service line directly.

That’s a twist on the old shut-off scare. Instead of “pay now or the lights go out,” it’s “here’s money you didn’t know about.” Both end the same way — with a stranger holding your bank details.

Here at home, Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative says on its scam page that it will not call members and threaten immediate disconnection, and it will not demand payment over the phone. If you choose to pay a bill by phone, you start the call to the co-op. SVEC does make automated courtesy reminder calls about unpaid bills — but it says never to give out bank information to someone who calls you claiming to be SVEC. Hang up and call your local office or 888-421-7832. SVEC adds that anyone at your door claiming to be from the co-op should have an ID badge, SVEC-logo clothing and a marked vehicle.

What it means for you: A real refund is like a check in the mailbox — it shows up as a bill credit or a letter you can verify. It doesn’t ring your phone asking for your routing number. Keep your latest bill on the fridge so the real number is always handy, and call that number yourself if anyone says you’re owed money — or owe it.

👉 Read more (City of Maryville: utility refund scam, Oct. 9) · Sequachee Valley Electric: Beware of Scams

👵 The COLA Raise Is Automatic — Nobody Can “Boost” It for a Fee

Social Security’s official 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is expected Wednesday, Oct. 14, after the government releases September’s inflation numbers that morning. The raise would first show up in January 2027 checks. Big news days like this are when scammers like to knock.

The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the agency’s own fraud watchdog, put out a scam alert on Sept. 21 warning about offers to “boost,” “unlock” or “maximize” your Social Security benefits for an upfront fee. These offers arrive as calls, ads, letters, texts or social-media messages. Some point you to official-looking websites or forms. The real goal, the OIG says, is to collect your personal information and bank account details.

The OIG is clear: Social Security does not offer to increase benefits in exchange for money. Benefit amounts are set by law based on your work record — they aren’t negotiated over the phone, and you never pay a “processing” or “administrative” fee. Social Security’s scam page adds that anyone claiming they need personal information or payment to activate a COLA is a scammer.

What it means for you: The COLA works like the sun coming up over Walden Ridge — it happens on its own, and nobody needs to be paid to make it rise. If you want to see your new amount, sign in to your own my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount or call 1-800-772-1213 yourself. Watch for your official notice later in the year.

👉 Read more (SSA OIG: Don’t pay for promises of increased benefits, Sept. 21) · SSA: Protect yourself from scams

☎️ “Let Me Transfer You to Social Security” — That’s the Tell

Social Security’s OIG has also warned about a sneakier phone trick. The call starts with someone claiming to be from a big store or another agency, asking about a purchase you didn’t make. When you say “that wasn’t me,” they offer to transfer you to someone from Social Security or the OIG. That second voice says your Social Security number has been stolen or used in crimes, pressures you to sign documents or move money, and may tell you to keep it secret — even promising you a new Social Security number.

In one case the OIG described, the consumer recognized the warning signs and called Social Security directly before losing any money. That’s exactly the right move.

The OIG’s rule is about as simple as they come: legitimate companies and other agencies cannot transfer your call directly to Social Security or the OIG. If a call hands you off to someone claiming to be Social Security, it is a scam — without exception, every time. Social Security will never ask you to keep a call secret, either.

What it means for you: Think of it like a stranger at the feed store offering to “walk you over” to your banker’s back office. You’d rather drive to the bank yourself. Hang up — don’t press any numbers or wait to be transferred — and call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 from a number you looked up. If you’re worried about strange charges, call your bank using the number on your card.

👉 Read more (SSA OIG: Beware of fake call transfers) · Report to SSA OIG

🎃 The 90%-Off Costume Shop That Never Ships

Halloween is less than three weeks out, and the Better Business Bureau says some of those bargain costume websites aren’t real stores at all. BBB Scam Tracker has received reports of phony sites and fake email coupons promising “overstock clearance,” “90% off” or “reduced prices” on costumes. In one BBB report, an Ohio shopper paid $110 for a costume, was told it would arrive within a week, and then got nothing — no updates, and no answers to calls or emails. Others said they clicked social-media ads for costumes and decorations and handed their card number to sites that never shipped.

Closer to home, Local 3 News in Chattanooga shared the BBB’s warning on Oct. 5. “Make sure you’re not only carefully checking the URL, but you’re also double-checking the company’s name,” said Michelle Mason, CEO of the BBB, adding that shoppers should confirm the page is secure before entering payment information.

BBB’s checklist: search the company name with “scam” or “complaint,” or look it up on BBB.org. Real retailers usually list a physical address and a customer service phone number — be careful if a site only has an email form. Compare prices with stores you know. Pay with a credit card or another secure method that offers fraud protection, and skip direct bank transfers. If your bank flags a purchase, call them right away.

What it means for you: A costume shop with no address and no phone is like a roadside produce stand with no farmer — the tomatoes may look great, but nobody’s there to answer for them. For the grandkids’ costumes, it’s fine to stick with a store you’ve bought from before, or a local shop you can walk into. And when that “90% off” ad pops up, scroll on by.

👉 Read more (Local 3 News: BBB Halloween costume warning, Oct. 5) · BBB Scam Alert: Halloween deals that are all tricks · BBB Scam Tracker

✅ Your Scam Watch Checklist for This Week

• ✅ Caller says you’re owed a utility refund and wants your bank or routing number? Hang up. Call the number on your bill. SVEC: 888-421-7832.
• ✅ Someone at the door says they’re from the electric co-op? Look for an ID badge, logo clothing and a marked truck.
• ✅ Offer to “boost” or “unlock” your Social Security or COLA for a fee? It’s a scam. The COLA is automatic.
• ✅ Want to see your new COLA amount after Oct. 14? Use ssa.gov/myaccount or call 1-800-772-1213 yourself.
• ✅ A call offers to transfer you to Social Security? Hang up. Real companies can’t do that.
• ✅ Asked to keep a “government” call secret? That’s a red flag. Tell a family member.
• ✅ Costume or decor site with huge discounts, no phone and no street address? Skip it. Pay by credit card, never bank transfer.
• ✅ Report scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov, oig.ssa.gov/report, BBB.org/ScamTracker or Tennessee Consumer Affairs at 1-800-342-8385.

Practical rule: If a stranger is offering you money, a bigger check or a deal of a lifetime — and needs your bank number or a payment first — it’s not a gift. Hang up, close the page and check it yourself.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Scam Glossary

• Refund scam: A caller says you’re owed money, then asks for bank details “to send it” — and uses them to take money instead.
• Routing number: The nine-digit number that identifies your bank. Paired with your account number, it can be used to move money.
• COLA (cost-of-living adjustment): The yearly raise in Social Security benefits tied to inflation. It’s applied automatically.
• OIG (Office of the Inspector General): The independent watchdog office that investigates fraud involving an agency like Social Security.
• Call transfer scam: A caller pretends to hand you off to a government agency so the second person seems official.
• Look-alike website: A fake store site built to look real, often with a slightly different web address or name.
• Spoofed caller ID: When a scammer makes your phone show a fake name or number so the call looks local or official.

❓ FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

Would my utility ever call to give me a refund?

The City of Maryville said its employees will never call and ask for financial or personal information to issue a refund. Sequachee Valley Electric says it won’t demand payment over the phone and that members shouldn’t give bank information to anyone who calls claiming to be SVEC. If you’re told you’re owed money, hang up and call the number on your bill.

Does SVEC ever call me at all?

Yes. SVEC says it makes automated courtesy calls to remind members when a payment hasn’t been made. But it won’t threaten immediate disconnection or demand payment on the call. If you want to pay, you start the call to the co-op — your local office or 888-421-7832.

When will I know my 2027 Social Security raise?

The official 2027 COLA is expected Wednesday, Oct. 14, after September’s inflation figures are released. It would first apply to January 2027 benefits. You can check your information through your own my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. The raise is automatic — you never pay anyone to get it.

Can a store or bank really transfer me to Social Security?

No. Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General says legitimate companies and other agencies cannot transfer your call directly to Social Security or the OIG. If a call does that, it’s a scam every time. Hang up and call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 from a number you found yourself.

How can I tell if a costume website is real?

BBB suggests searching the company name with “scam” or “complaint,” checking BBB.org, looking for a physical address and phone number, comparing prices with stores you know, and paying with a credit card. Extreme discounts on trending costumes and email-only contact are red flags.

I already gave someone my bank information. What now?

Call your bank right away using the number on your card or statement, and ask about closing or watching the account. Then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov — or at oig.ssa.gov/report if the caller claimed to be Social Security. AARP’s Fraud Watch Network Helpline is free at 877-908-3360, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central.

🔗 Other Resources

• Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative: Beware of Scams (888-421-7832)
• City of Maryville: Utility billing refund scam warning
• Social Security: Protect yourself from scams
• SSA Office of the Inspector General: Report a scam
• my Social Security account
• BBB Scam Tracker: Look up and report scams
• FTC: Report a scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• Tennessee AG: Scams, Schemes & Swindles
• AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360)

🌄 Good News Doesn’t Need Your Bank Number

Here’s the comforting part of this week’s list: the real good news is coming anyway. Your COLA raise will show up on its own. A real utility credit will show up on your bill. A real store will still have the costume tomorrow, with a phone number you can call. Only the scammer needs your account number today, and only the scammer needs you to keep quiet about it.

Share this with a neighbor who answers every call, or a grandparent shopping for Halloween costumes. 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.