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Coastal B end

WOMEN

Complimentary Summer 2016

Coastal B end of the Coastal Bend Empowering Women

Summer 2016

Women

Coastal B end

WOMEN Empowering Women of the Coastal Bend

www.CoastalBendWomen.com For Adverting Information Call

361-944-5074

Publisher: ........................ Ginger Rodriguez Editor: ................................ Julie Hammond Contributing Writers: ........... Fallon Jennings ........................................... Amanda Gerber ............................................. Candace Jones ....................................... Kelly Trevino, BBB Photographer: ........................ Cynthia Mack Photography

Coastal Bend Women PO Box 5315 Corpus Christi, TX 78465 (361)944-5074 CoastalBendWomen@gmail.com www.CoastalBendWomen.com www.Facebook.com/CoastalBendWomen

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Fallon Jennings Meeting Fallon Jennings, you would never guess her story is a blanket of highs and lows that most people never know. Fallon spent her childhood being shuffled between her parents’ house and grandparents’ ranch due to deep family problems. Even in all of the chaos, Fallon was determined to succeed. Her first chance at success was when she was a young teenager and was living on a quiet ranch in a sleepy little North Texas town. As with all young girls, she dreamed of having a pony to ride. Her grandfather bought her very first pony and the fever set in. She had horse fever and quickly excelled at riding her little pony. It wasn’t long until she graduated to a full size horse and the determination set in. “I was going to be the best,” She says frankly. “My horse was fast and athletic and determined just like me. It was like we had the same personality. She never wanted to lose. She was sassy and everything I wanted in a horse.” They quickly started dominating in every sport - Team Penning, Barrel Racing, Roping, and Goat Tying. Fallon suddenly had a closet full of shiny belt buckles. Her drive and determination pushed Fallon further. She joined her high school rodeo team and was voted the team’s queen. She also found another sport of being an equestrian, cutting. She paid for her own cutting horse from money that she had earned from training other people’s horses. She had an eye for horses and an even bigger eye for a win. “My home life was so unpredictable and harsh that riding horses was my therapy. They don’t yell or fight with you or judge you. You just get to be one with this wild creature. It was cathartic.” Fallon was still wanting to tackle another discipline when riding horses; she wanted to sail over jumps on the back of a horse. Yet, another horse was added to her stable. “He was stunning. The minute I set eyes on him, I had to have

him. He cleared jumps that were five feet tall like it was nothing. We were an amazing team. He was the only horse that I ever saw that could shift his entire body weight in the air if I was off balance. He had an attitude too, and I loved that about him. We hit the show ring, and he turned on like a light bulb. It was spectacular.” Fallon made this her life throughout high school. Shortly out of high school, Fallon met her future husband and traveled across the country to see him. They married in a whirlwind, and when he left the military, they settled back in North Texas. Fallon went to work for her father’s law firm and trained horses on the side. She settled into married life, and about five years after getting married, they had their first son. Motherhood was something totally new to her and something she never expected that she would take to so naturally. “The minute that I laid eyes on Landon, I was hooked. I never thought that I could love someone the way that I loved him. He saved my soul. Without him, I wouldn’t be right here right now.” Just a couple of years later, they welcomed another son. “I was so terrified when I found out that I was pregnant with Luke. I just knew that there was no way that I could love another human the way that I loved Landon. That all went out the window as soon as we laid eyes on each other. My heart expanded to love each of them with every beat of my heart.” While growing her family, Fallon was working hard at her father’s law firm. She worked her way up from a mail clerk to Senior Paralegal of the Bankruptcy and Real Estate division. She graduated from paralegal school Magna Cum Laude and was fast tracking to be one of the most successful paralegals in Dallas. It was just her fighting nature. Little did she know that her future was about to be completely

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changed. A client brought a friend to the firm one day and introduced him to Fallon. After less than ten minutes sitting in a meeting with her, he offered her a job on the spot. He was Jeff Audis, owner of MPG Sports Management. At Fallon’s dad’s encouragement, she accepted the job. She began work at MPG, and Jeff immediately told Fallon that he wanted her to become a sports agent. He saw talent in her and wanted her to use it. “I remember, I was sitting in his big Christian Grey style office, and he tells me that he wants to train me to be a sports agent, and I asked, ‘Like Jerry MaGuire?’ He laughed and said, ‘Yes, but without the meltdown.” Once Fallon was informed of the stringent travel requirements, she declined the job. Thinking she was going back to her father’s law firm, Jeff offered her a marketing and event coordinating job. Fallon jumped at the chance. She went from it being just her to a ten-person division, because, in true Fallon fashion, she didn’t do anything just a little bit.

to Beverly Hills to be more accessible to the bigger athletes that were coming on board. Fallon was forced to make a decision. Go to California without her husband and be a single mom or stay in Dallas. She decided to keep her family intact and declined to move with the firm. She went back to her father’s law firm. “I was barely making enough money to cover our bills, and my savings was dwindling quickly.” After a few months, Fallon and her family were out of money and were forced to make a life changing decision. “We lost everything, including our home. We had one vehicle with no back window. There was just a piece of plastic. It was awful. Talk about a fall from grace. I fell from grace and hit every branch on the way down.” They packed

She went from a North Texas country girl that always had on a pair of spurs and was usually dirty to a metropolitan power house and rubbing elbows with everyone who was anyone in the sports world. She was on top of the world. She couldn’t see that this glitzy and glamourous life wasn’t going to last. Fallon’s husband was un-employed, and her family of four was relying on her paycheck. “It was a huge strain and stress on me, but I never wanted anyone to see how hard my life was, especially my children.” In the same month that she found out that she was expecting her third child, her boss informed her that he was moving the firm

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up everything that they owned and traveled across Texas to Corpus Christi to live with Fallon’s mother-in-law. “We rolled into town on fumes.” Pregnant, no job, no money, living with family, Fallon had hit an ultimate low and then it got even worse. “My husband was a great friend. We were just toxic to each other. We married very young and grew in different directions, and we knew that we needed to let each other go, but we were all the other knew. We had been married for over ten years. We grew up together and had three gorgeous and amazing children.” Shortly after moving to Corpus Christi, Fallon gave birth to their third child. “Isla completed my life. I always wanted sons, but Isla truly was the greatest addition to our family. Within months of her daughter being born, Fallon filed for divorce. “I felt like a complete and total failure. I gave up my job, lost everything and then had split up my family. I had to do it for my own sanity though.” Fallon never lost her determination in the face of utter devastation. “I wasn’t going to let my life beat me. I was going to be the Phoenix and rise from the ashes and

build greatness.” It didn’t take her long to start to rebuild. She met a man that was going to change her life and was soon remarried. After months of carnal fighting with her ex-husband, he decided to allow Fallon’s new husband to adopt the three children that they had together. Her current husband gleefully adopted Fallon’s three children. She was finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Her husband fiercely defended her and her children and supported Fallon in every endeavor that she embarked on. Starting as a selftaught photographer, she searched to find her place. In the midst of Fallon seeking her place in life, she and her new husband had a child together. “Wyatt was the missing piece to the puzzle of my life. I never knew it, but once he came into our lives, it all made sense. Everything seemed to all make sense, and I found this comforting peace in my life and my soul.” Fallon never stopped trying to find her way in life again. “I have always loved Real Estate. I just thought one day, ‘I want to be a Realtor.’” Fallon told her family one night at dinner that she was going to go to Real Estate school. She toiled away at nights while her kids were in their sweet slumber. Her husband helped with homework and dinners so that Fallon could study. Once she finished school, she immediately got her Real Estate license and hit the pavement. “I was very fortunate to have the support of my family and my husband. I couldn’t have done it without their sacrifice.” Fallon’s determination set in again, and she struck out to dominate in the Real Estate world. Within 18 months of being a Realtor, Fallon had closed almost five million dollars in sales and was a steady top producer. Now, just a little over two years later, Fallon has her own Real Estate group, the Fallon Jennings Real Estate Group, sponsored by her broker Rick Gomez at Gomez Properties. She recently wrapped filming a television show for HGTV that followed her through the remodel of her home. “I think that everything happens for a reason. We walk down certain paths that lead us to even better paths. I like to tell people that have heard my story that this chapter is my climb to grace. Everything that I have been through in my life has taught me something. One of the biggest lessons that I have learned is that you can go from the top to the bottom in an instant. It’s not whether you make it back to the top, it’s about how well you rise from it. I’m so blessed to be living my dream, but it takes work. But, it is possible - for anyone.”

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Three Awesome Ways to Get Your Kid to Eat More Fruit and Veggies By: Candace Jones Cjssweetlife.wix.com How to get our kids to eat more fruit and veggies is the winning question every parent seems to ask themselves. Before I became a mother to my son, Geoffrey, I knew I wanted to raise a kid that ate cleanly. I had a lot of thoughts and beliefs about how things were going to go. Yet, sometimes our kids have other plans. I’m here to admit to not being perfect and my son is definitely a stubborn eater. However, I know that eating healthy is a choice and with consistent guidance I am confidently building my son up for lifelong success.

1. Be the example I love the quote from Ghandi “be the change you wish to see in the world.” If you would like to raise a child that is kind, patient, loving, and healthy then you need to be. It’s a powerful thought to think that your child is learning and soaking up everything you do (even before they’re born). With that said it’s also incredibly motivating. I know a lot of my choices are made with my son in mind. Of course, feeling and looking amazing is vital to my own happiness. Yet, I also want him to see his mother love and respect her body through exercise, the foods that go in, and what is put on my body. So if you want them to consume more fruits and veggies, then eat them yourself! Have a wide variety out on the counter to readily eat. Make delicious juices,

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smoothies, and salads that they can sample off your plate. With more and more exposure to the “candy from nature” they too will follow in your footsteps.

2. Sneak them A lot of children (even some stubborn husbands) have an aversion to textures that are unfamiliar. One of the best ways to eat more is sneak them into foods they all ready enjoy. Purees are amazing for this. You can make them in advance, freeze in ice cubes, and mix them as you need them. Even pre-made baby food is great on hand. The trick is using colors that mix well with the meal you are making. For example adding orange veggies like sweet potato, carrots, or squash to your mac and cheese is an excellent way to pump up their veggie intake. Beans which are whipped up are great to add to baking items, soups, and dips.

3. Get them involved Find fun tasks in the kitchen that they can help you with. Let them choose new veggies and fruits at the store and Pinterest recipes to try. Take them to the farmers market so they can see where their food comes from and can build a positive connection with it. Help them to learn to love these foods by gaining a sense of respect and gratitude towards our food. We must learn to love the foods that also love you back.

Coastal B end Women

Magical Mermaids By Fallon Jennings Photography By: Cynthia Mack Photography A five-year-old little girl sits in her swimming pool gracefully sweeping her feet back and forth through the water gazing down at her feet, not seeing little feet, but seeing a beautiful flowing mermaid tail glistening in the water. She can feel her long hair cascading down her back and imagines a beautiful shell and jewel encrusted tiara perched on the crown of her head. She dreams of diving deep into the ocean to search for treasures from plundered ships. She can feel the magic

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run through her veins, that have perpetuated through hundreds of years of legend and myth. The mermaid is a special creature. As young girls, we dream of being a mermaid and swimming with freedom and reckless abandon. It is our happy place. This little girl has a piece of costume jewelry that she snuck from her mother. She gently slips this ring on her finger and, suddenly, she has the ability to become invisible in the threat of danger. It can make her swim with great speed. She can even control the tidal pools in which she seeks for rest or quiet. She thinks of her little friends and how they could be her pod. They could lounge on the rocks of the crashing ocean and talk about their daily adventures in the sea and the beautiful sea creatures that they have befriended. To this little girl, this life is real. It exists, and she is a part of it. Mermaids have long since been these gorgeous and alluring beings that allude humans, only seen in brief encounters before delving to the depths of the ocean, never to be seen again. As this little girl turns to a young woman, she begins to understand that her imagination has created a path for her. She comes to know that mermaids are just a myth, however, what she doesnâ€™t know is that there is a little bit of mermaid in all of us. We find our pod and we talk of our

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adventures and discoveries. The water calls to us. Whether you reside on dry land or on the water, deep in our souls, the call of the ocean is there. We dream of sitting on the beach, watching the tides and dreaming of what greatness lies beyond the ocean. We sit and get salty air in our hair and suddenly, have mermaid hair. We may not have the tail that can propel us through the seas, but we find our strength where our tail should be. We propel ourselves through life, striving to be as strong and profound as the mermaid. A little bit of mermaid lives in us all. We are all beautiful; we all have a little spark of magic. Where does that magic lie? It’s magical how a crying baby can suddenly be comforted by a mother’s touch, or a boo boo can be gently kissed and suddenly feel healed, or a broken hearted friend can receive a hug from a member of their pod and feel comfort and relief. We may not wear physical tiara’s, but we all have our own. It’s a reminder to always keep your chin up so your tiara doesn’t fall. We may not be able to dive to the dark depths of the ocean, but we can manage a family, a business and ourselves. That is a pretty deep dive for anyone. We are curious creatures and are always looking for the hidden treasures in life – a sweet note from a child, a loving phone call from a friend, a bouquet of flowers from a spouse or significant other. The treasures are always there. We are mermaids. We are real. We do exist. Sit back, put on your tail, find your magic, adjust your tiara and go be a mermaid. Coastal Bend Women would like to Thank Our Photo Shoot Contributors for these AMAZING Mermaid Photos on our Beautiful Corpus Christi Beach Photography: Cynthia Mack Photography Costume: Coastal Wedding Connections BRIDAL & Bling Boutique Mermaids: Rachel Murphy & Brianna Garcia

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Back to School with Essential Oils By Amanda Gerber It’s that time again: Back to School! Did you know you can use essential oils to make this time of getting back to the school routine a little easier? Here are some you should try!

Energize Your Mornings: Wild Orange and Peppermint. These two oils are a powerhouse together. They are a great “pick me up” and help to perk you up and get you going in the morning. You can apply them topically to the back of your neck or diffuse in your home.

Focus and Concentration: Lemon, Patchouli, and Frankincense. A combination of these three oils can help your child focus on their schoolwork and keep their concentration. You can apply these oils behind your ears or the back of the neck, or diffuse while your child is doing homework.

Stress Less: Frankincense, Lavender, and Wild Orange. These essential oils can be used to help calm your child’s nerves

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(or maybe your nerves, if your child is going to school for the first time!). When stress levels are rising, apply these oils topically or diffuse in your home when you need them most!

Immune Support:

mornings or calming down at night; there’s an oil for that! For more information on essential oils feel free to contact Amanda at info@ amandagerber.com or check out her blog at amandagerber.com.

Lemon, Frankincense and Melaleuca. We all know that during this time we could use some extra support for our immune systems. These essential oils are wonderful at supporting our body’s immune system and helping our bodies be on their best defense. Use these oils daily for the best results.

Sleep Support: Lavender, Frankincense, and Vetiver. For all your kids that may be bouncing off the walls when it’s time for bed, try diffusing this blend in their bedroom to help them calm down and get a restful sleep. If you don’t have a diffuser you can apply these oils to their feet or put a drop on their pillow before bed. So, with everything we have going on with back to school, use these essential oils to help make the transition more pleasant. I love that essential oils can help every member of the family. So whether your family needs help getting going in the

Coastal B end Women

I Just Want My Body Back We have all heard it from a pregnant mom, or may have even been that pregnant mom to utter these words, “I just want my body back.” I’ll admit, I said the same thing when I was pregnant with my second son (who was 9 pounds 14 ounces when he was born) … But here’s the truth of it… You’ll never get your body back. Beloved, your body was never yours to get back. Trust me, not getting your body back is so much better.

are truly fearfully and wonderfully made. During labor and delivery your body goes through pain you didn’t even know was possible. What used to be your “10” rating on the pain scale is a “1” compared to childbirth. But, oh the joy that comes when you can hold your child and all that pain starts to disappear. Once your baby is here, you have the blessing to provide your baby nourishment, again through your body. Your body is still not your own (and you’ll be reminded of this at 3:00AM), but when your baby is hungry, you have the privilege to nurse and care for her.

Your body carried your baby for nine ten months (You’re pregnant for 40 weeks, which equals 10 months. Why do they say 9 months?!?). It’s truly amazing to think about. The nourishment your baby gets; the way your child develops in your womb. We

Even after your baby nurses, your body is still not your own. Oh please, don’t pray to get your body back. Your body becomes a human chair as your little ones crawl in your lap, and right now I’ve managed to be a chair for all 4 of my kids at the same time. My boys have used my legs as a slide, my back as a racetrack, my arms to throw them in the air and catch them. I am a human playground. My body is a source of comfort as I kiss boo-boos and wipe away tears as another crash between brothers occurred.

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To my children, the sound of my voice singing is the sweetest singing they’ve ever heard. Every night, Jesus Loves Me, is requested and encored. Even on nights with a sore and scratchy throat, you better believe I sing it to them (just once those nights), and they love it just as much. My body is a natural sleep aid to my 3-year-old, who is finding it impossible to nap unless I lay down with him. Right now I’ll gladly take this cuddle time, wrap my arms around him, and some days fall asleep before he does. Now, my 4 kids haven’t even started school yet, so there’s so much more I have yet to experience, but to all the moms out there that never “got their body back,” dear one, you got so much more instead!

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Highlight Reel

By: Morgan Bartel, UNDENIABLY GOD MINISTRIES We’ve all done it. It’s the end of the day and we are finally settling down to rest for a little while. We whip out our phones and log into our favorite social media sites. As we begin scrolling through the happenings of the day for our friends and family it happens. We begin to feel as if our lives are so mundane. While Susie Jones was traveling from Europe to Spain we were working tirelessly in our cubicle filling out spreadsheets. While Maria Smith was spending the day at the spa we were cleaning up dirty diapers and repairing the broken family heirloom that our toddler broke. By comparison it appears that our day to day is nowhere near as wonderful as the person next to us. This comparison trap results in us feeling inadequate, worthless, undeserving, unsuccessful and as though we will never do anything worthwhile. It’s a shame we feel this way. What we have got to realize is that all we are seeing is the “highlight reel” of another person’s life. We don’t see beyond that shiny post showing them sipping cappuccino beneath the Eiffel Tower. When we allow this comparison trap to consume us one thing happens, we lose sight of our own joys. To the woman working her third consecutive shift in the NICU, you are powerful. Although you don’t show it on Facebook or Instagram just know the impact you are making. The family stressing because their newborn is suffering from something unimaginable is finding comfort in your presence. The words you choose and the actions you show bring them peace. To the woman who is half awake after patrolling our streets to make sure we are safe, you are appreciated. You could have chosen to sleep soundly next to your husband and enjoy the morning getting your kids off to school, but you chose to protect and serve. Your sacrifice doesn’t go unnoticed. To the woman sitting in the doctor’s office trying to find out why you can’t conceive, you are worthy. You deserve everything you are dreaming of. It’s okay to break. It’s okay to cry. Don’t ever for a second think you aren’t capable. To the woman who is cleaning up spilled macaroni and peeling stickers off of the television, you are impactful. It may not seem like the tedious tasks of the daily grind are doing anything more than keeping your tiny children alive. Just know you are molding the next generation of mankind.

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To the woman who feels lost, you are on the verge of an adventure. Whenever you can’t find your way make one. This scary season of life is actually a gift. It is an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and see what you are capable of. We have got to stop comparing our shortcomings to someone else’s strengths. We were not all gifted with the same talents. As a Bible believing Christian it’s written throughout scripture that we each possess different gifts. The moment we recognize this is when we begin to walk through this life with more confidence and zeal. Instead of feeling jealousy to your jet setting friend celebrate the fact that she is taking time to see the world. Somewhere throughout the years we have been fed the idea that we need what our friends have. Your neighbor got a new car, your sister got a new haircut, your coworker got pregnant, the list could go on and on and on. It’s far too easy for us to look longingly at what someone else has. It’s in this moment that we forget to see what we have. You have as much as you need at this very second. The bills may be mounting, the sickness may be lingering, the relationship may be struggling, however, at this exact second you have plenty of air in your lungs. You have the spare time to read this article. You have a safe place to sit. You have blessings all around you if you would just choose to step back and soak them all in. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy social media like any other human being. I do navigate it differently though. As I scroll down my newsfeed I make sure to keep my perspective positive. Pray for God to keep your heart and mind firmly planted in the worth He has given you. Before you log in to glance at a day in the lives of those in your life name three blessings you have. Anytime you feel the comparison trap begin to creep in do yourself a favor, look in the mirror and name two things you love about yourself. This may seem silly but it works. The power to see the “highlight reel” for what it is lies within us. It’s a mind game. You are too precious to let negative thoughts invade your life. You are too fabulous to ever entertain the thought that you aren’t pretty enough. You are enough. God didn’t create you the way that He did for you to decide that He messed up. Start viewing yourself the way that God sees you, perfectly imperfect. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4

UNDENIABLY GOD MINISTRIES (www.undeniablygodministries.com)

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Looking for a job this summer? Don’t fall for this scam By Kelly Trevino, Regional Director, Corpus Christi Better Business Bureau Looking for a job or internship can be tough and time-consuming. Unfortunately, scammers know this and advertise jobs where legitimate employers do — online, in a newspaper ad or via email. If you are on the hunt for a job, Better Business Bureau serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin advises you to beware of job scams. Job scams come in many forms. It could be a fake ad listed on an online classifieds site, an email claiming you can make money working from home or as a secret shopper. The job sounds very convincing, especially if you’re told the job is guaranteed. According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers will promote outdated or fake job openings, or charge upfront fees for services or training materials. They will claim they can guarantee job placement after you pay; however, the promised job never materializes and the company does not return your calls.If you need to pay first to get the job or have to provide your credit card or bank account number, that’s a red flag.

confirm that the email came from a legitimate source. Legitimate employers will need Social Security numbers for tax purposes and may need a bank account number to deposit paychecks for new employees, but be wary of any requests for such information from companies that you haven’t met within person.

• Be wary of the “perfect offer.” Job seekers should be cautious of any posting advertising extremely high pay for short hours or minimal required experience. Remember, legitimate businesses don’t make promises or guarantees about jobs. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you have been targeted by a job scam, you can file a complaint with the FTC and your local BBB. To find or report a scam, visit BBB Scam Tracker. Kelly Trevino is the regional director for the Corpus Christi/Victoria area of Better Business Bureau serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin. Kelly is available for media interviews and speaking engagements. You can reach her by phone: (361) 945-7352 or email: ktrevino@corpuschristi.bbb.org.

In Texas, more than 100 employment-related scams across the state have been reported on BBB Scam Tracker over the past year. In addition, Texans have reported losing more than $20,000 to job scams. BBB has received more than 1,200 reports of job scams, totaling more than $1.1 million in losses nationwide since June 2015. When looking for a job online, BBB recommends the following tips:

• Research the business first. If a company or organization is mentioned in an ad or interview, contact that company directly to find out if the company is really hiring through the service. When using social networking sites and online employment sites, be sure to check the website of the company posting the advertisement. Many scammers use names that are similar to reputable companies to trick job seekers. • Don’t pay upfront fees. No legitimate job offer will

require out of pocket expenses from a potential employee for background checks, credit reports or administrative fees before an interview. If an employer wants you to pay — even if they say it’s for certification or training materials — don’t do business with them. Additionally, job seekers should never provide bank account information until they have officially been hired.

• Be cautious when responding to unsolicited emails. Even if the company name is well-known, don’t click on any links in the email until you’ve verified the business and can

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