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5 Thrifty Outdoor DIY Projects These cottage-inspired ideas include a reclaimed wood walkway, a paver-and-wood garden bench, and a stone flower planter. |
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21 Budget Kitchen Makeovers Add some spice to a boring kitchen with these DIY projects such as painting the cabinets, using peel-and-stick backsplashes, and more. |
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Featured Articles
INSTAGRAM FOCUS
INSTAGRAM FOCUS
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Polar Bears Battle a Blizzard Watch the mother polar bear and her cubs descend slippery coastal cliffs in Norway during a blizzard. It’s impressive! |
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Get a Kick Out of Irish Dancers We’re in the month of St. Patrick’s Day, so make a virtual Ireland visit and enjoy this Peaky Blinders dance performance. |
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COOKING DEMO
COOKING DEMO
CUSTOMER ALERT
CUSTOMER ALERT
Beware of Gift Card Scams
While gift cards are a welcome present to receive, they’re also a common way for criminals to steal from their victims. Watch out for these varieties of gift card scams.
Stolen Gift Card Number
The scammer removes a gift card from a store display, scans and records the card number with a magstripe reader, puts the gift card back, and leaves the store. After money is loaded onto the card, the scammer quickly uses it to make purchases. It’s best to purchase gift cards from the rear of a display, since they’re less likely to have been fraudulently handled.
Fake Gift Card Activation Website
Usually, a gift card must be activated before it can be used. The activation website address and all necessary information are typically listed on the back of the card or a sticker across the front. Some scammers create fake websites with almost the same web addresses to gain access to the gift card number, expiration date, and card verification code (CVC) that recipients provide. Make sure you’re on the real website and not a fraudulent one before you provide data.
A Dishonest Cashier
Sometimes the cashier at a store is also a scammer. Here’s how that works: You buy a gift card, and the cashier activates it, but instead of returning the activated card to you, the cashier replaces it with one that hasn’t been activated. This allows the cashier to make purchases with the activated card or sell it. Keep a close eye on the cashier whenever you buy a gift card!
Fake Online Auction
You may be tempted to buy gift cards from online auction sites, thinking you’ll get a good deal by paying less than the card’s face value. Don’t do it! Scammers steal gift cards that haven’t been activated and sell them at these sites, meaning that “bargain” gift card may end up being worthless. Others inflate the value of the gift cards they sell, and you’ll discover the $100 gift card you bought is only worth $25.
While gift cards are a welcome present to receive, they’re also a common way for criminals to steal from their victims. Watch out for these varieties of gift card scams.Stolen Gift Card Number
The scammer removes a gift card from a store display, scans and records the card number with a magstripe reader, puts the gift card back, and leaves the store. After money is loaded onto the card, the scammer quickly uses it to make purchases. It’s best to purchase gift cards from the rear of a display, since they’re less likely to have been fraudulently handled.
Fake Gift Card Activation Website
Usually, a gift card must be activated before it can be used. The activation website address and all necessary information are typically listed on the back of the card or a sticker across the front. Some scammers create fake websites with almost the same web addresses to gain access to the gift card number, expiration date, and card verification code (CVC) that recipients provide. Make sure you’re on the real website and not a fraudulent one before you provide data.
A Dishonest Cashier
Sometimes the cashier at a store is also a scammer. Here’s how that works: You buy a gift card, and the cashier activates it, but instead of returning the activated card to you, the cashier replaces it with one that hasn’t been activated. This allows the cashier to make purchases with the activated card or sell it. Keep a close eye on the cashier whenever you buy a gift card!
Fake Online Auction
You may be tempted to buy gift cards from online auction sites, thinking you’ll get a good deal by paying less than the card’s face value. Don’t do it! Scammers steal gift cards that haven’t been activated and sell them at these sites, meaning that “bargain” gift card may end up being worthless. Others inflate the value of the gift cards they sell, and you’ll discover the $100 gift card you bought is only worth $25.
SITES OF THE MONTH
SITES OF THE MONTH
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It’s Red Cross Month Learn how you can make a difference through financial gifts, blood and platelet donations, CPR training, or volunteering. Learn more… |
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Grow Your Knowledge The National Gardening Association’s site can help you develop gardening skills, research plants, and design your garden. Learn more… |
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Bag a Bargain When unclaimed bags are orphaned, airlines can turn over their contents to this site to be resold online. Check it out! Learn more… |
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