Jason Knowles

Chicago

Consumer Investigative Reporter at WLS-TV (Chicago, IL)

Consumer Investigator @abc7chicago I-Team. Warning #Consumers about Rip-offs #Scams and saving them money. INSTA: Jasonknowlesabc7

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Articles

Scammers using new enhanced phishing emails with malicious links to hack victims, security experts tell ABC7 I-Team

15 hours ago | abc7chicago.com | Jason Knowles

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Scammers are upping their game with more sophisticated phishing emails. One tech security group is alerting the ABC7 I-Team about the new problem. The new, more enhanced phishing attempts could look exactly like the login page of an email when the link is clicked. Security experts say they are so convincing that even well-trained users and experts can be vulnerable.
Banks, utility companies work to prevent scammers from stealing customers' faces, creating accounts

6 days ago | abc7chicago.com | Jason Knowles

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Many consumers may use facial recognition to open an account or verify their identities, but now the ABC7 Chicago I-Team is finding that the technology is being targeted by scammers to open accounts in their names. The technology is designed to protect consumers. Now, thieves are using artificial intelligence to fake consumers' faces.
Tariff scam fooling consumers into thinking they owe money tied to President Donald Trump's proposed policies

1 week ago | abc7chicago.com | Jason Knowles

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Here's a quick tariff scam tip. The new scheme is tricking people into thinking they owe money for tariffs, tied to President Donald Trump's proposed policies. The cybersecurity group Aura says fake emails and texts claim to come from federal agencies, and demand urgent payment. They often have links mimicking government websites. Quick Tip: How to make sure passwords are secureIf you're getting messages asking for tariff payments, it's a scam.
ABC7 I-Team helps Midwest Wings Soccer Club get $11K back from abruptly-shuttered Ho-Chunk Southland Center in Lynwood, IL

1 week ago | abc7chicago.com | Jason Knowles

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Coach Bill Dekker is the director of the Midwest Wings Soccer Club. "So, we are now fighting to try to get your money back," Dekker said. With the help of the Pullman Community Center, the kids are kicking the balls again after their former sports center shut down in January. "With no notice or anything, they just close the doors," Dekker said.
Student loan borrowers scramble to find new payment options with SAVE forgiveness plan ending, US Department of Education layoffs

1 week ago | abc7chicago.com | Jason Knowles

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 Chicago I-Team is investigating the uncertainty over student loans and the 8 million SAVE plan borrowers scrambling to find new payment options. All of it is happening as the plan is ending, and government workers are being laid off. Just in the last several weeks, the SAVE student loan forgiveness plan was put on hold by a federal court. And the Department of Education started cutting its workforce by nearly 50 percent.
Quick Tip: How to make sure passwords are secure

1 week ago | abc7chicago.com | Jason Knowles

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Here's a quick password security tip. A study from the tech group "all about cookies" reveals that 84 percent of internet usershave at least one bad password habit that puts their accounts at risk. Here's what's happening:50 percent ofpeople reuse passwordsacross multiple accounts, making them easy targets for hackers. Fifty nine percent admit to sharing passwords, most commonly for streaming services.
Elgin, Illinois US Navy Veteran James Duhr gets $28K in tax refund checks after ABC7 I-Team finds Cook County property taxes error

2 weeks ago | abc7chicago.com | Jason Knowles

UNINCORP. ELGIN, Ill. (WLS) -- One local man is getting almost $30,000 in refund checks for a property tax error. The Elgin man now is getting those refund checks after he reached out to the I-Team about a plot of vacant land near his home. His property tax bill jumped on that land by more than 500%. That increase was costing him about $15,000 extra a year. It turned out to be an error. Jim Duhr says he appealed with the Cook County Assessor's Office but got stuck in limbo. Then, he called the I-Team.
What is Google fingerprinting? How Google Chrome is collecting your IP address, location, browser settings and more

2 weeks ago | abc7chicago.com | Jason Knowles

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chances are, you "Google" something several times a day. "When you have a random question, the first thing you pull up is Google," said Google user Christine Leos. But what are you giving up? "I think that we should still have privacy. I can see where it can be beneficial in some situations," Leos said. For years, "cookies" have been collecting information when you go to websites, but "cookies" can be deleted.
What is Google fingerprinting? How Google Chrome is collecting your IP address, location, browser settings and more

2 weeks ago | abc7.com | Jason Knowles

ByJason KnowlesWednesday, April 9, 2025 5:41PMCHICAGO -- Chances are, you "Google" something several times a day. "When you have a random question, the first thing you pull up is Google," said Google user Christine Leos. But what are you giving up? "I think that we should still have privacy. I can see where it can be beneficial in some situations," Leos said. For years, "cookies" have been collecting information when you go to websites, but "cookies" can be deleted.
Quick Tip: Home equity could help tackle high-interest rate credit card debt, experts say

2 weeks ago | abc7chicago.com | Jason Knowles

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Here's a quick tip about a tool, which could help tackle high-interest rate credit card debt. According to consumer experts, home equity could help. Credit card interest rates average more than 22 percent, but a home equity line of credit could be much less: around 9 percent. Financial experts at "Splitero" say, in 2024, lenders issued more than 671,000 Home Equity Lines of Credit. You could use a loan like this to pay off your credit card debt.

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Jason Knowles @KnowlesABC7

9 Apr 25

QUICK CREDIT DEBT TIP: Are you swimming in credit card debt? With the average interest rate of more than 22% you may want to check out one option to erase credit debt @ABC7Chicago https://t.co/hMlGXeOlHv

Jason Knowles @KnowlesABC7

8 Apr 25

PROPERTY TAX REFUND: The I-Team results. We’re getting refund checks in one man’s hands, after an error @ABC7Chicago https://t.co/rJW1hETmD6

Jason Knowles @KnowlesABC7

8 Apr 25

GOOGLE FINGERPRINTING: The new ways the tech giant can dig into your data. How to protect your privacy @ABC7Chicago @NordVPN https://t.co/yiGmgWL5pZ

Jason Knowles

Articles

Scammers using new enhanced phishing emails with malicious links to hack victims, security experts tell ABC7 I-Team

Banks, utility companies work to prevent scammers from stealing customers' faces, creating accounts

Tariff scam fooling consumers into thinking they owe money tied to President Donald Trump's proposed policies

ABC7 I-Team helps Midwest Wings Soccer Club get $11K back from abruptly-shuttered Ho-Chunk Southland Center in Lynwood, IL

Student loan borrowers scramble to find new payment options with SAVE forgiveness plan ending, US Department of Education layoffs

Quick Tip: How to make sure passwords are secure

Elgin, Illinois US Navy Veteran James Duhr gets $28K in tax refund checks after ABC7 I-Team finds Cook County property taxes error

What is Google fingerprinting? How Google Chrome is collecting your IP address, location, browser settings and more

What is Google fingerprinting? How Google Chrome is collecting your IP address, location, browser settings and more

Quick Tip: Home equity could help tackle high-interest rate credit card debt, experts say

Journalists covering the same region

Julia Rosier

Dave Hinton

Steven Spearie

Colin Feeney

Addi Weakley

Contact details

Emails

Socials & Sites

Coverage map

X (formerly Twitter)