No one loves going to the doctor, but it’s a necessary part of life — and the older we get, the more doctors we need to see regularly to maintain our health. It can feel overwhelming to track how often you should visit which doctor, so we compiled a list of doctors you should regularly see so you won’t be confused again.

Primary Care Physician — Every Year

You should visit your primary care physician once a year to get a physical and discuss any health concerns. Your doctor will measure your height and weight, listen to your heart, check your blood pressure, and complete a blood panel, among other things. Getting blood drawn is important because it can show underlying health issues such as high cholesterol and vitamin deficiencies. Your primary care physician can also refer you to specialists and other doctors should you need them.

Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OBGYN) — Every Year

Young women should start going to the gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15 and continue to see one annually for a pap smear and pelvic and breast exams. Once you turn 40, you should start getting mammograms to screen for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that women between 40-44 have the option to get an annual mammogram, women between 45 to 54 should get a yearly mammogram, and women 55 and older can switch to bi-annual mammograms as long as they’re in good health.

Optometrist — Varies With Age

Rules on when to visit the optometrist for an eye exam are fuzzy (pun intended). If you don’t have any vision problems, the American Optometric Association recommends going every two years between the ages of 19 and 64 and then annually after that. People who wear glasses or contact lenses or have eye-related health issues, such as cataracts or astigmatism, should visit annually.

Dentist — Every Six Months

It’s been long drilled in our heads to visit the dentist every six months for a cleaning — and that holds. Dental problems aren’t always visible to the naked eye and may not cause pain. It’s important to get checked out for gum disease, cavities, and other dental issues that could cause issues in the long run. Plus, is there a better feeling than freshly cleaned teeth after a dentist visit?

Dermatologist — Every Year

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends visiting the dermatologist once a year for an annual skin check. During this brief, painless exam, the doctor will look for any skin irregularities that may be a sign of skin cancer, such as atypical moles and pigmentation. You may visit more regularly if other issues, such as warts or acne, arise.

Gastroenterologist — Every 10 Years

While prepping for a colonoscopy isn’t the most fun way to spend a day, getting one done is important for the early detection of colorectal cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that people with an average risk of colorectal cancer should start regular colonoscopies at 45, and those in good health should continue to get one every 10 years through age 75. If you have an increased or high risk of colorectal cancer — due to family history or other factors — you may need to start screening earlier and more often per your gastroenterologist’s orders.

Proctologist — Varies With Age

While prostate cancer is slow-growing, precautions should still be taken. The American Cancer Society has several recommendations based on the risk of prostate cancer for when men need to start testing:

• Men at average risk should start at 50.

• Men at high risk — including African Americans and men with a first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer — should start at 45.

• Men at higher risk — those with more than one first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer — should start at 40.

In general, a prostate exam consists of two components: a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam. Your results will determine when you need to get tested next. According to the American Cancer Society, men with a PSA less than 2.5 ng/mL may only need to be retested every two years, and screenings should be done annually for men with a PSA higher than 2.5 ng/mL.

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From brushing our teeth in the morning to winding down in a hot bath in the evening, the bathroom is where most of us start and finish each day. As a result, we collect many items to help us stay fresh — which means it’s easy to overlook just how long some of them have been lurking in your cabinet. Break your cycle of clutter by deep cleaning your medicine cabinet, clearing your vanity, and getting rid of these bathroom items today.

Expired Vitamins and Medications

Both supplements and medication lose their potency over time. Empty your medicine cabinet and throw away vitamins that have become gummy, have developed an unusual smell, or are more than two years old. Unused medications can be disposed of at a hazardous waste collection site or during a local prescription drug take-back day to keep them out of landfills and the water supply.

Old Toothbrushes

The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three months, but brushes with frayed or damaged bristles should get tossed sooner. Toothbrushes become less effective once the bristles wear down, meaning your teeth might not get as clean as they should when brushed with an old toothbrush.

Leftover Shampoo

Many personal care products, such as shampoo and hairspray, can still expire even if they aren’t stamped with a best-by date. Most shampoos are good for 18 months after opening. After that point, old shampoo often becomes discolored, clumpy, and less effective at cleaning your hair and scalp, so toss it for your health and well-being.

Hair Brushes

With proper care and cleaning, high-quality hair brushes and combs can last for years, while cheaper options may last six months to a year. Toss your brush regardless of age or quality if it’s developed buildup that can’t easily be cleaned or if your bristles have become frayed and misshapen — shedding, broken, or melted bristles can snag and rip hair.

Old Makeup and Cosmetics

Once opened, exposure to air can cause the ingredients in makeup and skincare products to slowly degrade. Storing them in the bathroom can cause further problems, as exposure to high heat and humidity can encourage mold, yeast, and bacterial growth. Products like mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, and lip balms should be tossed and replaced every six months, especially after an eye infection or cold sore. Most other cosmetics usually last a maximum of 24 months — be sure to check containers for guidelines and expiration dates to determine whether they are still safe to use.

Dull Razors

Shaving with a dull razor can adversely affect your skin and hair. Blunt blades tug on hairs instead of cutting them, which can inflame the hair follicles and cause ingrown hairs. You are also more likely to nick yourself by needing to apply too much pressure against the skin. Avoid this problem by tossing your disposable razors after about five uses or if they develop rust. Or, invest in a reusable safety razor for long-term care.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Rubbing Alcohol

Both hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol are great additions to your first aid kit. Once hydrogen peroxide is opened, however, its shelf-life is limited. Hydrogen peroxide loses its fizzing capabilities after six months — after this point, it is no longer effective and should be tossed. Rubbing alcohol may last a bit longer, with a shelf-life of up to three years, but the isopropanol it contains evaporates over time, making it less effective the longer you have it.

Shower Sponges and Loofahs

Plastic and natural loofahs often live in showers much longer than they should. Natural loofahs often retain moisture after use, making them ideal breeding grounds for bacteria. Help your loofah last longer by shaking it out and hanging it to dry outside of the shower, and replace frequently for best results — every four weeks for natural loofahs, every two months for plastic loofahs, or immediately if they have developed mold or a musty smell.

Old Sunscreen

Sunscreen often lingers in medicine cabinets summer after summer but slowly loses effectiveness over time. While the FDA requires sunscreens to maintain their strength levels for at least three years, the protective chemicals in older bottles can erode and will no longer fully protect your skin from harmful UV rays. If your bottle doesn’t have an expiration date or has passed its best-by date, replace it immediately.

Contact Lens Cases

Properly storing your contacts reduces the chances of an eye infection — which means regularly tossing the cases you keep in. Contact lens cases last one to three months after opening. Dispose of them after this timeframe to prevent bacterial contamination, which can irritate and harm your eyes.

Toilet Seats

While toilets are built to last anywhere from 10 to 20 years before needing replacement, toilet seats often have a much shorter lifespan. Over time, plastic seats can crack or become discolored, wooden seats can lose their protective finish, and both can accumulate bacteria, even with regular cleaning. Home improvement experts recommend swapping out your bathroom’s best seat every five years for best results — a task that can easily be done yourself for a little less than $50.

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• More than 8.5 million abandoned homes in rural Japan are creating a “ghost town” problem.
• A push into the city and population decline are two reasons these homes sit empty.
• Locals see them as a burden, while foreigners view them as an opportunity to own property cheaply.

Japan has millions of abandoned rural houses for sale.

The glut delights foreigners who’ve been able to buy one for as little as $23,000. But underlying the surplus are meaningful shifts in Japan’s culture. Demographic and economic patterns — including a shrinking population and migration from the countryside to cities — are combining to create a “ghost town” problem in Japan.

There are more than 8.5 million akiya, or abandoned homes, in rural Japan, according to the country’s 2018 Housing and Land Survey, its most recent on record. By some counts, there are many more. The Nomura Research Institute, or NRI, pegs the number closer to 11 million. The institute predicts akiya could exceed 30% of homes in Japan by 2033.

For foreigners looking for a change of scenery, akiya are an opportunity to be a homeowner abroad on the cheap. Some foreigners have even turned to akiya to enrich themselves by launching short-term-rental businesses.

Why people are buying them is an easy answer — they’re cheap. But why so many have sat empty for so long is more complicated.

Why are there so many abandoned houses in Japan?

Business Insider’s Singapore bureau reported on Japan’s “ghost town” problem in 2021. At the core of the issue, they found, is that Japan’s population has been steadily migrating into cities for several decades, leaving an increasingly empty countryside behind them.

As Richard Koo, the chief economist at NRI, told them at the time, the Japanese countryside has been hollowing out since the mid-’90s.

There’s also the matter of a shrinking population. Japan’s fertility rate declined for a seventh consecutive year in 2022, falling to 1.26 births per woman from 1.30 births per woman in the previous year.

According to Chris McMorran, an associate professor in the department of Japanese studies at the National University of Singapore, the vacancy issue will only get worse “because the core of the problem is there aren’t enough people to go around in Japan.”

Why aren’t more Japanese people buying abandoned countryside homes?

The Japanese prefer new builds to pre-owned homes, Koo said. Part of this is due to the lack of a strong DIY renovation culture in the country, Douglas Southerland, the senior economist responsible for OECD monitoring of the Japanese economy, told BI at the time.

Structural safety is also a major concern: Many akiya were built before a 1981 Building Standard Law amendment that required better earthquake resistance.

Finally, most young people simply don’t want to live in the countryside, McMorran said. Apart from limited opportunities, the akiya themselves are a huge deterrence.

“The fact that there are so many empty houses is a blight on the landscape, and a further deterrent, because people don’t want to live in a terminal village surrounded by ‘ghost houses,'” McMorran said.

Natasha Durie, a PhD student from the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford University, is conducting fieldwork in Gifu, Japan.

While she knows of young Japanese people who have bought and renovated akiya, she says most locals still aren’t quite ready to try it out for themselves.

“There is this drive in Japan to have new things, and a lot of these houses aren’t seen as inhabitable or desirable. I think that a lot of people see it as something that other people do and not something that they do, since renovating a house is a lot of effort,” Durie told BI.

Why can’t the Japanese government demolish these homes?

Japan’s property rights laws make it hard for the government to interfere. Before 2015, the government had no right to get akiya owners to manage their homes properly, McMorran said.

It’s also tricky to locate the owners of houses that have been left vacant for a long time.

“It’s an enormous effort to trace down who the house belongs to, so most of the time, the government just gives up,” Koo said. “So the akiya sits there for years with the government unable even to take it down.”

Some foreigners say renovating an akiya is more affordable than buying a home in their own country

For some buyers, like Eric McAskill, who grew up in Vancouver, Canada, the money saved on renovating an akiya instead of buying property in their home country is too good to pass up.

According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the benchmark price for residential properties in the metro area of Vancouver, Canada was $1,168,700 CAD, or $866,620, in December 2023. McAskill told BI in September 2023 that he purchased a five-bedroom akiya for $23,600 in Nagano Prefecture and has spent $7,400 on renovations with another estimated $7,400 left to spend.

“I’d say that’s on the high end,” he told BI of his renovation. “I could get away with doing it for cheaper because I can do some of the work myself, or I have friends who work in the trades here as well.”

Married couple Jaya Thursfield and his wife, Chihiro, moved from England to Japan and bought a $30,000 akiya in Ibaraki Prefecture in 2019. The two put more money into their renovation than McAskill — about $150,000 — but still view it as a more affordable option than buying a home in London.

Take Kurosawa and Joey Stockermans, who can’t afford homes in their native North America, bought an akiya in a city on Kyushu for $42,000 in June 2023. The friends plan to use it as a vacation residence and a short-term rental.

They also saw a business opportunity and founded Akiyamart, an online listing site to make it easier for foreigners to find one for themselves.

However, the influx of foreign demand has done little to change local perceptions toward akiya, Durie said.

“A lot of the people I speak to are from this area and have grown up here. And I’d say a lot of them don’t even really know about the foreign interest in akiya,” Durie said. “They find that quite surprising.”

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From restaurants to hair salons, tipping is an essential part of American society that is here to stay. Most of us are accustomed to adding a percentage onto our restaurant bills or slipping a few dollars to the valet, but sometimes it’s trickier than you’d imagine. It’s important to know how much to tip so that service employees are paid what they are owed and given financial acknowledgment for a job well done. Here’s a helpful guide for navigating the rules of tipping.

How Much to Tip at a Restaurant

Tipping at U.S. restaurants is not only expected, it’s vital to helping restaurant workers make a living wage. Restaurant workers are generally paid below minimum wage with the assumption that the bulk of their paychecks will come from tips.

If you are sitting down for a meal, you should tip your server between 15% and 20% of the total bill, regardless if the service is bad. The easiest way to figure out a 20% tip is to look at the total, move the decimal point one spot to the left, and multiply the number by 2. For example, if the check is $141.98, the tip is 14 times 2, or $28. If math isn’t your thing, install a tip calculator to make figuring out the exact amount easier.

If you’re picking up food from a restaurant, tipping is not required but is appreciated. However, if someone brings your meal to your car via curbside pickup, you should tip 10%. The same goes for casual food settings, such as a buffet — you should tip 10%.

For food delivery drivers, you should tip a minimum of $5, and if they are delivering a large order and are going above and beyond, you should tip 15% of the bill.

How Much to Tip at a Coffee Shop and Bars

One to two dollars per drink is considered fair at beverage-based businesses, such as coffee shops or bars. Depending on the drink’s complexity, you can adjust your tip — fancy cocktails and espresso drinks might warrant a little more. If food is part of your check or a server is involved, you should tip as you would at a restaurant.

How Much to Tip Beauty Services 

For personal grooming, such as haircuts, manicures, and tattoos, it’s always good to tip 20% to acknowledge long-term, appearance-changing services. 

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Money isn’t the easiest topic to discuss, leading to uncomfortable conversations, especially with a spouse. However, talking about money and financial values is the key to maintaining a healthy fiscal lifestyle for you and your partner. Here are some core values to remember while discussing finances with your spouse.

Don’t Keep Secrets

Open communication is the most important value for any partnership, especially regarding finances. It can be stressful to discuss both the minutiae and big questions when it comes to money, but promising not to keep secrets will make the process easier and smoother in the long run. What debt is each partner bringing to the relationship? What are your spending strengths and weaknesses? Being open about these and other financial topics will help you work as a cohesive team to build a stronger financial partnership.

Figure out How to Split Expenses

Both partners will rarely make the same amount of money. Should expenses like mortgage, utilities, and other necessities be split 50/50? Should the person who makes more money pay more? There’s no one correct answer to this, but deciding on a system early — with an openness to revising — will make things much easier.

Decide When to Combine and Separate Funds

Many couples combine finances by creating joint checking and savings accounts, where both partners put — and take — funds from the same pot. That way, there is complete financial transparency.

That said, others opt to keep separate accounts. Just because you’re in a partnership does not mean everything has to be shared — there is no right or wrong answer. As long as your partner knows what’s not being shared with them, it’s normal and healthy to have financial boundaries.

Create Goals for the Future

Just as you may be discussing the emotional price of buying a home or having kids, you should also be discussing those goals in financial terms. What are your short-term goals? What are your long-term goals? Figure out your spending priorities in a way that allows for collaboration on big decisions.

Align on the Future

Financial planning isn’t just for what’s currently in your bank account — you must also keep the future in mind. That means not only saving for emergencies but also for your child or other extended family. Even if you want to make the occasional impulsive purchase, that shouldn’t be done at the expense of your estate. Get the necessary insurance and protection in place so that you and your loved one are safe, no matter what.

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Did you know that over 50% of U.S. households own a garbage disposal? These handy under-the-counter devices became a kitchen essential after WWII, revolutionizing kitchen cleanup. However, the misconception that anything can go down them can lead to problems. Here’s a quick guide to what’s disposal-friendly and what’s not.

What Goes In:

Leftovers, fruit peels, non-fibrous vegetable skins, corn cobs, cooked meats, small fish bones.
Ice is encouraged to help loosen food residue.

What to Avoid:

Large bones, clam, and oyster shells: Hard materials that risk clogging or breaking the disposal.
Oils, fats, cooking grease: Despite being liquid initially, they can congeal and cause clogs.
Creamy and sticky foods: Peanut butter, butter, ice cream, sauces, pasta, rice—avoid to prevent issues.
Stringy produce: Artichokes, string beans, banana peels can cause significant clogs.
Eggshells and coffee grounds: Slow to decompose, these can clog the drain.

Tips for Cleaning:

Ice, baking soda, and lemon: Grind 2 cups of ice, 1 tbsp baking soda, and a lemon slice with cold water for a fresh-smelling disposal.
Lemon wedges: Feed lemon wedges into the disposal under cold water for a refreshing scent.
Baking soda and vinegar: Pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, let it sit for 10 minutes, then run hot water to wash away residue.

Maintaining a healthy garbage disposal involves thoughtful disposal choices and regular cleaning. Follow these tips for a trouble-free and fresh-smelling kitchen cleanup experience.

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Down Payment Calculator Services in Brown County, TX

Expert Down Payment Assistance

At Ann Jones Real Estate, we understand that the down payment is a crucial aspect of the home-buying process, and we’re here to help you navigate it easily. With our down payment calculator services, you can easily estimate the amount you need to save based on the purchase price, desired down payment percentage, and other relevant factors. Our user-friendly calculator lets you plan your finances effectively and set realistic goals. Take control of your homeownership journey today by utilizing our down payment calculator services in Brown County, TX. Contact Ann Jones Real Estate and discover how we can assist you in achieving your dream of owning a home.

What Is a Down Payment and How Does It Work?

A down payment is made upfront by a homebuyer when purchasing a property. It represents a percentage of the total purchase price, with the average down payment on a house typically ranging from 3% to 20% or more, depending on the lender’s requirements and the buyer’s financial circumstances. The down payment serves as a form of initial equity in the property and reduces the amount of money that needs to be borrowed through a mortgage. It is an essential component of the home-buying process as it demonstrates the buyer’s financial capability and commitment to the purchase.

Why Is a Bigger Down Payment Better?

According to the experienced team at Ann Jones Real Estate, a bigger down payment is advantageous for several reasons. Firstly, it reduces the loan amount needed to purchase a property, resulting in lower monthly mortgage payments. With a smaller loan, borrowers may also qualify for more favorable interest rates, potentially saving thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Additionally, a larger down payment can help borrowers avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirements, which can be a significant expense. Moreover, a substantial down payment increases equity in the property from the outset, providing a greater sense of ownership and financial stability. A bigger down payment empowers homebuyers with greater financial flexibility, lower monthly expenses, and potential long-term savings.

Loan-to-Value Ratio

The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is a financial metric used to assess the relationship between the loan amount and the appraised value of a property. It is calculated by dividing the loan amount by the property’s appraised value and is typically expressed as a percentage. The LTV ratio is important for lenders as it helps determine the level of risk associated with a mortgage loan. A lower LTV ratio indicates a lower loan amount relative to the property value, which is generally considered less risky for lenders. A higher LTV ratio, on the other hand, suggests a higher loan amount relative to the property value, potentially posing more risk. Lenders often set maximum LTV ratios for different types of loans, with lower ratios typically associated with more favorable terms and potentially avoiding the need for private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Why Choose Ann Jones Real Estate

Embarking on your homeownership journey in Brown County, TX comes with its fair share of questions and concerns, especially regarding down payments. At Ann Jones Real Estate, we understand the importance of providing clarity and peace of mind during this pivotal time. That’s why we offer our cutting-edge down payment calculator services. Our innovative tool considers various factors such as the purchase price, desired down payment percentage, and other essential variables to accurately estimate how much the down payment on your house will be. This empowering resource lets you plan your finances effectively and make confident decisions. Ready to take the next step towards homeownership? Contact Ann Jones Real Estate and let us guide you through the process with our down payment calculator services. Your dream home is within reach, and we’re here to help you make it a reality.

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The weather outside might be frightful, but your home doesn’t have to be. There are many ways to make your home toasty and snug besides turning up the heat. Thick blankets and roaring fires can quickly transform any room into the perfect place to wait out the chilly winter days, while playing with lighting and texture might help make your home feel like an even cozier place to spend time.

Throw Blankets

Throw blankets are both decorative and practical for making a room feel warmer. Consider earthy tones like dark brown or muted shades of orange to add a pop of color to your sofa and serve as a sharp contrast to winter’s pale blues and whites. There’s also nothing quite as comforting as grabbing a blanket and wrapping it around your body to create a warm, snug cocoon.

Soft Lighting

Bright lights can feel stressful and sterile. Swap out fluorescent bulbs for softer and warmer tones, often denoted by a Kelvin rating lower than 4,000. If changing your bulbs isn’t possible, consider light-diffusing lamp shades to help spread light around the room and prevent harsh, direct lighting. 

Heavy Drapes

As temperatures drop, change out thinner drapes that let in light during the summertime for thicker drapes. Not only are they decorative, but thick drapes also retain heat and help prevent cold air from coming in through the windows.

Area Rugs

It doesn’t matter if your floor is made of wood, marble, or any other material — it will feel freezing against your bare feet in the winter. Heated floors are luxuriously expensive, so a plush area rug is the next best way to combat a cold floor. Scatter rugs around the house to make those cold mornings more bearable.

Roaring Flames

Nothing beats the cold like a roaring fireplace, but not everyone has that luxury. For tinier spaces, consider a small tabletop fire pit for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Candles are a great alternative and have the bonus of adding fragrance to your home — including winter favorites like spice and pine.

Wall Tapestries

Bare walls are just blank canvases for adding some warmth to any room, and one of the best ways to do so is by hanging tapestries. Online markets like Etsy offer various tapestries depicting warm images ranging from sunrises to lush forests and can help you visualize those warm summer days ahead.

Baked Goods

Nothing warms up a home quite like fresh-baked goods, from the heat of the oven to the smell of fresh cookies. Whether you’re baking them by yourself or enlisting the help of a local bakery, setting out treats on the counter is a delightful — and delicious — way to warm both the heart and hearth.

_{All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. Better Report may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.}

_{Featured Image Credit: svetikd/ iStock}

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Email scams are on the rise and have increased 111% from 2018 to 2022, with losses totaling over $2.7 billion in 2022, according to the FBI Internet Crimes Report.

Using social engineering, email scammers gain the trust of a targeted person with the goal of getting them to send funds to a different person or entity than originally intended. Here are some things to know about email scams, so you can help protect yourself and your assets.

How they target you

Scammers typically interject themselves into your normal transactions to change the destination of the funds.

Common occurrences include:

1. Real estate closings: Scammers will impersonate the identity of the title/real estate agent, or closing attorney, and send different payment details.
2. Vendor impersonation: They can also pose as representatives of a company or government agency and advise that an invoice must be paid immediately to avoid a negative consequence. They often ask for a wire transfer to a fraudulent bank account or other means of payment, such as a check or ACH transfer.
3. CEO/executive impersonation: Scammers will also impersonate the CEO or executive of a company. They request that an employee within the accounting or finance department transfer funds to an attacker-controlled account

What to know and do

Knowing what to do and what to look for is critical to avoid becoming a victim of an email scam.

Account changes: Always verify and confirm details with the parties involved, especially with messages regarding funds transfers. Some email scammers use hacked email accounts, so it’s important to use a different method to verify that the sender is not a scammer. You can call or text an associated phone number or interact on a trusted mobile app or chat channel.

Email sender validation: Scammers can also use fraudulent email addresses that closely resemble a legitimate email address that you may have been communicating with previously. The addition or removal of a single character in an email address may be difficult to spot at first glance:

• Go‍og‍le‍.‍co‍m vs. Google.corn‍:‍ In this case, the scammer replaced .com with .corn, with the letters “r” and “n” replacing the letter “m”
• JONDOE@BUSINESS vs. JON.D0E ‌@‌ BUSlNESS‍: For this example, the scammer used a zero instead of a capital O, and added a period in between “JON” and “D0E”. They also used a lowercase “L” in place of the capital “i”

Urgent or priority emails: Emails may contain a header in the subject line or phrases in the content of the email, such as “urgent” or “confidential.” If you receive an email marked urgent or confidential, please review it carefully for accuracy and reach out directly to the individual to validate the request.

Bookmark our new site, citi.com/fraudprevention, and visit often for the latest updates on common scams and how to spot them.

Remember: When in doubt, do not act.

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Mount Rushmore is one of the United States’ most recognizable landmarks, but it contains a hidden secret: a 70-foot-long tunnel located behind Abraham Lincoln’s head. The tunnel was created as the entrance to a Hall of Records conceived by sculptor Gutzon Borglum. The idea was to build a chamber inside the monument that housed important documents such as the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, which would be accessible by an 800-foot granite stairway that stretched up the mountain from Borglum’s studio to the chamber. Work began on the Hall of Records in July 1938 as crews constructed the 70-foot tunnel. However, in 1939, Congress halted work on the chamber and instructed Borglum to focus on carving the Presidents’ heads instead. Borglum died two years later in 1941, effectively putting an end to the side project and leaving the Hall of Records unfinished.

Almost 60 years later, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society brought part of Borglum’s vision to life, installing a box at the chamber’s entrance containing 16 porcelain enamel panels. The panels explain the story of the United States and include biographies of the Presidents featured on Mount Rushmore. They were sealed beneath 1,200 pounds of granite capstone as an homage to Borglum’s initial vision.

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