NJ Students Get Competitive Lesson In Consumerism

Pennsauken, NJ (CBS) -- A competition in New Jersey aims to teach teens how to be informed consumers -- before they head out into the real world. On Monday, Winslow Township High beat out four other schools to win the Camden County Consumer Bowl in Pennsauken.

"Consumerism is... I still don't know," said Alice, a senior.

But don't let her fool you -- she and her teammates studied hard for this.

"It's being aware of being taking advantage of by people who want to get your information, like bank account numbers, PINs," she said.

Colin, a junior, said it helped make him aware of just how many prying eyes are interested in his personal details:

"It's going to be everything we do from age 18 onwards.  We're going to need our social security number, credit card information.  All this stuff -- one slip, and you don't know what's going to happen."

The Winslow students next head to a regional competition in April.

Faith Clement organizes this event for the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs:

"They're teaching their classmates, they're teaching their parents.  They'll be college students and then they'll be out in the workforce, and they'll know their rights. They're learning information that's going to be with them for a lifetime."

Reported by Ian Bush, KYW Newsradio.

(Photo provided)