About this morning. Finally those i rs scammers lighting up your phone are busted. 10news reporter Sarah Hollenbeck is live in the newsroom. Sarah, this was a massive scam impacting thousands of people. Yes, at least 15 thousand victims who coughed up more than 300 million bucks to scammers. Federal investigators are thrilled to finally have made some arrests in a case we know a lot of you in the tampa bay area were directly impacted by. This morning 56 people a posing as irs agents and immigration authorities and teling people they either had a deportation warrant or a tax debt. Federal investigators tracked the calls to at least 5 call centers in india. But they also found people here in the us including florida ripping people off with this scam. Coming up at 5 30. Ill introduce you to a woman who gave scammers nearly 100 thousand dollars. This morning, the ntsb will begin investigating what caused a plane carrying republican Vice President ial nominee mike pence to skid off the runw
Kropff. And im ian reitz. Its hands down one of the most annoying things you can imagine scam calls. This morning many of you are reaching out to us relieved to hear federal investigators are cracking down on some of the worst scam artists in history. 10news reporter Sarah Hollenbeck is live in the nwsroom. Sarah, at one point the Better Business bureau says they were getting 200 calls a week about this irs scam. Yes, and thats just counting the people who actually took the time to report it. This morning investigators are thanking a rip off callers, and helping them make 56 arrests. Investigators only wish they could have caught them sooner. At least 15 thousand people forked over 300 million bucks to scammers claiming to be with the irs or immigration enforcement. They targeted mostly Older Americans and immigrants and threatened them with large fines, lawsuits and jail time if they didnt pay their phony tax it happened to mary van essendelft. A grandmother who was scammed out of 100
New this morning amazing anyone could survive this. A bad crash on kennedy boulevard in tampa. It happened around two this morning , by memorial highway. And the Westshore Plaza mall. A car hit . Three poles before coming to a stop. The driver was pulled out. And taken to the hospital. No word yet on his condition, but it sounds like he wasnt seriously hurt. Police say developing this morning in tampa the search continues for a . Flasher. On the usf campus. And police may now be closer to catching him. Thanks to some new pictures. Fox 13s Shayla Reaves joins us now a father and son are facing charges in pinellas county. After getting into a shootout with deputies. And deputies now say the two men. Were covering up . A gr deputies were trying to serve a warrant on 26yearold Xavier Williams at his home in st. Petersburg. They say he pointed a gun at a detective who was forced to shoot. Investigators say the bullet didnt hit williams, but it did stop him and he was placed in handcuffs. Wi
No closed captioning is jen new this morning incredible footage from a really bad accident in tampa. Frankly, its amazing anyone could survive this. Around two this morning, someone wrapped their car around a pole on kennedy boulevard. Near westshore plaza. Detectives say the driver hit . Three poles, before coming to a stop. Crews pulled the driver out, and took him to the hospital. No word yet on his police say he was most likely . Intoxicated at the time. New this morning. An elderly man was killed while riding his mobility scooter in new port richey. Police say neville gibbings was crossing massachusetts avenue at peggy mac lane last night. When he traveled in front of a car going west on massachusetts. The vw touareg hit the 79yearold. Gibbings was taken to northbay hospital. But later died. Charges in the crash are pending. jen developing in tampa the search continues for a . Flasher, on the usf campus. This morning, police could be closer to catching him. Thanks to some new pict
We feared it would happen eventually. The bay area now has its first . Locally transmitted case virus. And its in pinellas county. Officials across the county are now taking extra precautions. Including area schools. Fox 13s Shayla Reaves joins us live from pinellas county, with more on that. An update on some shocking video from citrus county. Back in june. A man tried to kidnap a 13 Year Old Girl from a dollar drag the girl out of the store while her mother held on for dear life. Weve now learned that man is . Not competent to stand trial. 30yearold Craig Bonello underwent a mental evaluation right after the incident. Hes been ordered to go to a Mental Health facility. walter down in miami power is finally restored for about ten . Thousand homes. The outtage was caused by a massive transformer fire. The fire broke out at the Florida Power and light facility in west miamidade. It sent flames and thick, black smoke into the air. Which could be seen for miles. The smoke forced planes to