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TRENTON
– Homeowners in foreclosure are particularly
vulnerable to being scammed. In one risky
scenario, someone offers to buy the home
and allow the original owner to buy it back
over time. Such offers may sound good –
but if the owner isn’t very careful,
it may be impossible to buy back the home.
When done with the purpose of defrauding
the consumer, what is the name for this
type of scam?
The
NJ High School Consumer Bowl team from Freehold
Township High School had the answer: “The
lease-back scam.”
Shortly
after correctly responding to that question,
the Freehold Township High School team became
the victor today, in the State Division
of Consumer Affairs’ 15th annual High
School Consumer Bowl competition.
“The
students spent countless hours studying
consumer protection issues. They came into
this even better-prepared than they needed
to be,” Freehold Township High School
teacher and Consumer Bowl team advisor Adam
Falk said. “As a business teacher,
I can’t stress just how practical
and valuable this material is for the students’
real life. I constantly try to impress upon
them the fact that there are scammers and
fraud artists out there, seeking ways to
victimize people. What they learned as a
result of the Consumer Bowl really does
empower them to protect themselves.”
Of
the other two finalists, Irvington High
School placed second and Moorestown Friends
School came in third. The final competition
was held today at the Richard J. Hughes
Justice Complex in Trenton.
“I
am extremely proud of the students from
Freehold Township School, as well as those
from Irvington High School and Moorestown
Friends School,” Attorney General
Paula T. Dow said. “New Jersey’s
next generation of leaders, and the next
generation of smart consumers, starts with
these young men and women who are well informed
about their rights, about spotting frauds
and scams, and about using their money most
effectively.”
A
total of 90 schools entered the 2011 Consumer
Bowl, which began with countywide competitions
in January. The teams from Freehold Township
High School, Irvington High School, and
Moorestown Friends School succeeded at the
county level and at the regional competitions,
held in April. Irvington High School also
has the distinction of being last year’s
Consumer Bowl champion.
“The
winning team from Freehold Township School
and the finalists from Irvington High School
and Moorestown Friends School have proven
they are among the best-informed consumers
of any age group in New Jersey,” Thomas
R. Calcagni, Acting Director of the State
Division of Consumer Affairs, said. “Their
mission now is to share what they’ve
learned for the benefit of their families,
friends, and future careers. We are committed
to empowering New Jersey’s consumers,
and with the High School Consumer Bowl we’re
giving these young people a head start that
will serve them well for the rest of their
lives.”
The
High School Consumer Bowl is part of the
NJ Division of Consumer Affairs’ effort
to empower New Jersey’s consumers
with the information needed to protect themselves
against fraud, and make the most of their
hard-earned money.
The
Consumer Bowl uses a game-show format to
test students’ knowledge of consumer
rights and related issues. Topics include
Ponzi schemes and investment fraud, the
purchase and leasing of new and used vehicles,
regulated businesses such as health clubs,
consumers’ rights when making retail
purchases, and general knowledge of the
State’s consumer protection laws and
regulations.
The
members of the Freehold Township High School
team are:
-
Jaqueline Myers, Team Captain
-
Nicole Haas
-
Casey Moore
-
David Domke
-
Sam Fitzgerald
The
members of the Irvington High School team
are:
-
Cassandre Louis, Team Captain
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Brittany Newby
-
Edward RosenHanst
-
Jenny Michel
-
Chiamaka Udoye
The
members of the Moorestown Friends School
team are:
-
Amanda Connell, Team Captain
-
Spencer Bard
-
Trinh Son
-
Wyeth Shabel
-
Kirsten Mullen
Schools
interested in competing in next year’s
Consumer Bowl competition may contact the
State Division of Consumer Affairs at 973-504-6241.
Consumers
who believe they have been cheated or scammed
by a business, or suspect any other form
of consumer abuse, can file a complaint
with the State Division of Consumer Affairs
by visiting its website, www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov,
or by calling 1-800-242-5846
(toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.
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