Attorney general announces program

Thursday, February 17th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Attorney General Drew Edmondson is pushing a program to help Oklahoma teen-agers become smarter Internet consumers. It is part of the "Tuff Customer" program being sponsored by attorneys general across the country. "Tuff Customer is an Internet-based scavenger hunt in which teens search the World Wide Web to uncover answers to a series of consumer-related questions," Edmondson said. "The questions cover topics of interest to teens, such as mail order of music clubs, Internet purchasing, credit cards and buying used vehicles."

He said the Internet searches will provide students with skills for recognizing and avoiding potential consumer pitfalls. His office plans to distribute material on the project to more than 500 social studies teachers statewide. Edmondson said children and teen-agers spend or influence thes pending of an estimated $500 million a year. "Although some teen-agers are savvy consumers, many are inexperienced and may not have the skills or knowledge necessary to make wise consumer choices," the attorney general said. "Becoming a `Tuff Customer' today can help teens make smart consumer decisions now and in the future."