it" blues. >> my producer says he wants to be retired when he grows up. that's the overnight news for this friday. from the cbs broadcast center in captioning funded by cbs it's friday, august 23rd, 2019. this is the "cbs morning news." romance rip-offs. dozens of scammers accused of preying on the lonely are rounded up in a massive sweep, and there may be more out there. correction guards subpoenaed. correction guards are going to be grilled on how jeffrey epstein died on their watch. >> stay low, breathe through your clothes. >> and flight fright.

a plane heading to hawaii fills with smoke, forces an emergency landing. good morning from the studio 57 newsroom at cbs news headquarters in new york. i'm wendy gillette in for anne-marie green. federal authorities are working to round up more suspects they say are connected to o one of t largest cases of internet fraud in u.s. history. the fbi says these six fugitives are believed to be in the u.s. they're some of the 80 people mainly from nigeria who were indicted as part of a three-year investigation. laura podesta is in new york. laura, who did the suspects allegedly target? >> wendy, prosecutors say they prayed on anyone connected to those looking for romance and businesses. they're accused of stealing millions of dollars from dozens of victims in the u.s. and from around the world.

authorities arrested dozens in southern california yesterday. >> we believe this is one of the largest cases of this kind in history. >> the suspects were among 80 people indicted and charged with being part of a massive online fraud conspiracy. >> law enforcement agencies have received complaints from victims in every one of the 50 states and scores of foreign countries. >> according to the indictments, the schemes used online, romances and fake business emails to steal at least $6 million. they also pursued an additional $40 million from people in the u.s. and elsewhere. according to the justice department, nearly all of the suspects are from nigeria. most internet users are savvy enough to be suspicious of an email from a nigerian prince who needs help, but investigators say the modern scams aren't as easy to spot. >> the fraud schemes have evolved and become much more complicated andsophisticated. they now target individuals and businesses alike.

>> the fbi says they particularly scan the vulnerable populations including the elderly. experts estimate the collective annual take from these crimes to be in the billions. and authorities say they expect these types of scams to continue as long as they succeed even just occasionally, so they are warning you, never send money to someone you don't know who you've only communicated with online. wendy? >> good advice. laura podesta in new york. thanks. federal investigators have subpoenaed corrections officers in the investigation into jeffrey epstein's death. the officers are employees at the jail where epstein was being held before his suicide. up to 20 stache members were reportedly subpoenaed. epstein apparently hanged himself in his jail cell nearly two weeks ago. the financier was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges on underaged girls. a key witness in the harvey weinstein case could have a chance to testify.

the former sopranos actress could take the stand on monday. that's when the former movie mogul will appear before a judge overseeing his trial. weinstein is scheduled to stay on trial next month on charges that include predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape. weinstein has pleaded not guilty and maintains any encounters with his accusers were consensual. major phone companies and top law enforcement officials are declaring war on robocalls. more than 4.5 billion before made in this this country last month alone. anna werner reports on the problem and has this update. >> there are four serious allegations pressed on your name at this moment. >> reporter: calls like these are aimed to steal money from consumers. >> call back alt the earliest possible. >> reporter: state officials want them stopped, so they announced an agreement with 12

major carriers designed to clamp down on illegal robocalls. >> every single american is absolutely sick and tired of illegal robocalls. >> reporter: arkansas attorney general leslie rutledge. >> they're costing too many americans their life savings. >> reporter: the companies have agreed to take certain voluntary steps including free call-blocking to consumers, deploying a system that labels fake calls, and quickly tracing the source of suspicious calls. patrick hallie is with u.s. telecom. >> people are not answering calls anymore. that's not good for us. it's not good for consumers. >> reporter: maureen mahoney with consumer report says there are still hurdles to jump through before the calls stop. >> it's important that the phone companies are required to implement these tools and there are penalties if they fail to

comply. >> reporter: not all companies are part of this, so there's still a ways to go in getting everyone on the same page, and there's no time line for these 12 major phone companies to make good on those propses. anna werner, cbs news, new york. in just the last week, an alarming number of arrests have been made. in tennessee, 20-year-old jacob cooper allegedly posted a threat on ifunny saying he would shoot up the facility. ifunny is a website known for its white supremacist content. in illinois a 19-year-old was also arrested for posting a stlet on the site against planned parenthood. and in ohio 18-year-old justin olson was allegedly arrested for posting a photo with a caption, "me walking in to a planned parenthood." >> this is kind of a 9/11 situation. we're asking the public to police contact us. >> these arrests come amid a wave of shooting attacks. earlier this week a cook at a

southern california marriott was arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot up the hotl. a connecticut man accused of killed a hotel worker in the caribbean has appeared in court. scott hapgood is charged with attacking a man. he claims the man attacked him on the island on anguilla. he made a plea yesterday. >> we all want the same thing, justice. for me that means proving my innocence. to that end, i ask the judge to bring the case swiftly. >> hapgood says he acted in self-def.iaegin next month. the amazon fires are so large, the smoke can be seen from space.

the rain forest produces about 20% of the planet's oxygen. the environmental disaster is causing an international outcry. meg oliver has more. >> reporter: wildfires are sweeping through the amazon rain forest at an alarming rate. in brazil alone there have been over 75,000 fires this year, an increase since 2018. reportedly more than 9,000 in the last week. ruth defries monitors satellite data of deforestation in the amazon. >> so why are we seeing thousands and thousands of fires in the rain forest now? >> those fires indicate there's more deforestation. there are more people clearing forests. >> deforestation and dry conditions are chiefly blamed for the fires, but they hold brazil's new president responsible for reducing funding for environmental agencies and relaxing restrictions on

logging. >> they're encouraging farmers to set fire to land and clear it. >> reporter: the rain forest is considered the lungs of the world, critical to absorbing heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the earth's atmosphere. these fires are racing along globally. french president emanumanuel man tweeted, our house is burning, calling it an international crisis. meg oliver, cbs news, new york. coming up on the "morning news," for the first time we hear the gunman's account of the "stand your ground" matter in florida. and we hear the latest from taylor swift. this is the "cbs morning news." ear the latest from taylor swift. this is the "cbs morning news." only activia has billions of our live and active probiotics. so, let's make this the summer of loving your gut. activia. love for your gut. you don't see psoriasis. you see clear skin. you see me.

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a dramatic emergency landing at honolulu's airport, the plane landed safely, and emergency exit chutes were activated. passengers were taken to the hospital for smoke-related injuries. honolulu airport the plane landed safely and emergency exit chutes were activated. in a tweet the airlines said a seal failed in the engine's left engine causing oil to leak on hot parts of the plane's engine. the performance of the engine was not affected. the gunman in the "stand your ground" trial has offered his version of the events, and there's been an arrest in the california stabbings. the "los angeles times" reports police say a co-worker was arrested for a fatal stabbing at cal state fullerton. the 51-year-old was taken into custody on wednesday and is being held without bail. he attacked and killed 57-year-old steven chan in his car on monday.

he was a former budget director who returned as a consultant. "the tampa bay times" reports the prosecution rested its case in the "stand your ground" trial in clearwater, florida. yesterday for the first time a florida court heard the gunman's account of a deadly shooting last summer. in a taped interview, michael drejka reports the moment he drew his gun after being shoved to the ground by marquis mclaughlmcglo mcglockton after they arguing over a handicap parking spot. >> the way i was able to do it, i couldn't level it with one hand. i had to brace my left hand arm for support. he made a step toward me. >> prosecutors say surveillance video shows mcglockton who was unarmed stepping back. drejka said he acted in self-defense. initially are the police said the gunman was protected withstand your ground with no requirement to retreat.

and "rolling stone" reports taylor swift is reaching new heights of personal and music liberation on her new album "lover." ♪ you're my my my lover ♪ >> in the review, the magazine says the singer's seventh album is all about big moves and evolutionary freedom. the release comes as she revealed her frustration over the recent acquisition of her former big label by music mogul scooter brahm. swift said in an interview to air this weekend on "cbs sunday morning" she plans to rerecord her past songs. stilahead, endance qantas airways is conducting research on its longest nonstop research on its longest nonstop flight.

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learn more at jardiance.com here's the story of green mountain coffee roasters costa rica paraíso. meet sergio. and his daughter, maria. sergio's coffee tastes spectacular. because costa rica is spectacular. so we support farmers who use natural compost. to help keep the soil healthy. and the coffee delicious. for future generations. all for a smoother tasting cup. green mountain coffee roasters. here's a look at today's forecast in some cities around the country. demonstrators have started to gather ahead of the g7 summit in france. in spain yesterday people painted messages on a wall of cardboard boxes, some calling for no borders. in france, thousands gathered for an alternative summit to denounce capitalism, climate

change, and grags policies. the summit convenes tomorrow. on the "cbs moneywatch" mortgage rates are down and quantum is testing humans on its longest nonstop flights. diane king hall has that and more. >> good morning, wendy, and happy friday. in jackson hole the meeting kicks into high gear. the meeting is the first time investor, economists, and even president trump will hear jerome powell speak since july when he introduced the first cut since the recession. the dow rose 49 points, the s&p 500 shed a point, and the nasdaq dropped 28 points. long-term mortgage rates are at a low all-time level. the average rate on a 30-year which was 3.6% last week is now 3.5%. last week it stood at 4.5%.

it eased 3.03%, down from 3.07% last year. now, if you sign up for one of apple's new credit cards, be prepared to give it some special care. apple says the card should not come into contact with coins, keys, or other yards for fear of possibly scratching the platinum finish. the jeans can leave staining. there's a two-step cleaning process using microfiber cloths and kohl. and australian airline qantas plans to send a group of people on a 19-hour trip endurance. pilots on two nonstop trips in sydney will track brain wave patterns and alertness. employees will have devices to monitor mood, beverage consumption, and movement. researchers say this data could help shape the future of air travel. wendy, i bet i know someone who

could handle this. >> what was your longest ever flight? >> the person i'm talking about is you. you're like a globe trotter. i can't think of the longest. europe. i haven't been further than europe, so i've got some catching up to do. >> i've done l.a./singapore, which was about 16 hours. >> whew. >> yeah. >> there you go. you can handle this. >> i think i can. i think i can. diane king hall at the new york stock exchange. still ahead, unpacking a surprise. why grocery store workers in washington state called the cops after unloading a box of bananas. to eucrisa or its ingredients. allergic reactions may occur at or near the application site. the most common side effect is application site pain. ask your doctor about eucrisa. moms love that land o' frost premium sliced meats have no by-products. [conference phone] baloney! [conference phone] has joined the call.

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help us at taps.org/family. here's a look at today's forecast in some cities around the country.

authorities are investigating how cocaine got into banana crates and was shipped to some safeway stores in washington state. 22 kilos of the drug were found at the bottom of boxes at one safeway market. employees were putting the bananas on display when they found it. the cocaine in the shipments was worth more than a million dollars. the medal of freedom has been awarded to boston celtics legend bob koozie. president trump made the presentation yesterday in the oval office. the president highlighted koozie's contributions to basketball as well as racial inequality in the nba. and the zhao just celebrated a milestone. the panda bei bei turned 4 yesterday. he got a frozen treat. it marks the end of bei bei at the zoo. as part of an agreement with china, all pandas born abroad must be shipped back to take

part in a breeding program there. coming up on "cbs this morning," we talk with two-time grand slam champion naomi osaka. i'm wendy gillette. this is the "cbs morning news." jill has entresto, a heart failure medicine that helps her heart so she can keep on doing what she loves. in the largest heart failure study ever, entresto was proven superior at helping people stay alive and out of the hospital. it helps improve your heart's ability to pump blood to the body. don't take entresto if pregnant; it can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. don't take entresto with an ace inhibitor or aliskiren or if you've had angioedema with an ace or arb. the most serious side effects are angioedema, low blood pressure, kidney problems, or high blood potassium. ask your doctor about entresto, for heart failure.

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our top stories this morning, federal authorities are working to round up more suspects they say are connected to one of the largest cases of internet fraud in u.s. history. the fbi says several fugitives are believed to be in the u.s. there are some 80 people mainly from nigeria who were indicted as part of a three-year investigation. the schemes used online romances and fake business emails to steal at least $6 million. and investigators have subpoenaed corrections officers in the investigation into the death of jeffrey epstein. the officers are employees at the jail where epstein was being held before his suicide. epstein apparently hanged himself in his jail cell nearly two weeks ago. he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. identi

of two green berets killed in a fire fight in afghanistan on wednesday. master sergeant luis deleon-figueroa was 31 years old. master sergeant jose gonzalez was 35 years old. their deaths come as talks resume in qatar. it's not clear when a deal might be reached. >> reporter: it took 18 years of fighting, more than 3,000 coalition lives lost, and tens of thousands of civilian deaths to see the u.s. sit down with the taliban. but the group still refuses to blame al qaeda for 9/11 says this spokesman. >> today in 2019 the taliban agrees al qaeda was behind 9/11, the september 11th attacks in the united states, and that osama bin laden was the

mastermind of these attacks. >> you say, but still i don't know. there is not a transparent investigation. >> reporter: cbs news has learned any agreement with the u.s. requires the taliban to make a public break with al qaeda and includes the verification system that ensures the taliban stops any terror groups from operating from their soil to attack america again. the u.s.-backed afghan government which is absent from these talks has its own worries. the taliban is accusing them of supporting isis in an effort to scuttle negotiations. >> this is a very serious allegation. >> this is not one person, two persons. it is many. it's an open secret. earn -- everyone knew about that. >> reporter: kabul furiously denies its support and says it's the taliban who do. a deeper trust complicated u.s.'s push for peace.

> co up ons thrnin" we'll take hato virginia, where people will mark the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved africans to arrive in english north america and recognize the contributions of african-americans. plus in our "eye on earth" series, a rare look at an island in louisiana that's sinking and disappearing because of climate change. and we talk with two-time grand slam champion naomi osaka as she defends her title at the upcoming u.s. open. that's the "cbs morning news" for this friday. thanks for watching. i'm wendy gillette. have a great day. i'm wendy gillette. have a great day. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

live from the cbs bay area studios this is kpix 5 news. >> now at 4:30 taking