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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Replacing the I-5 viaduct would come at a steep price ... Since You Asked: City, county enforce woodstove regulations ... Mail Tribune 100, Jan. 29, 1916 ... Replacing the I-5 viaduct would come at a steep price ... Since You Asked: City, county enforce woodstove regulations ... Mail Tribune 100, Jan. 29, 1916 ... CONSUMER PROTECTION Latest area phone scam has a disturbing twist Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 27, 2016 at 2:18 PM Updated Jan 28, 2016 at 3:40 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 27, 2016 at 2:18 PM Updated Jan 28, 2016 at 3:40 PM » Social News A phone scam making the rounds in Medford this week has an eerie new twist: the scammers claim they have kidnapped a relative while someone screams for their life in the background. "It's a weird one. Pretty disturbing," said Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau. "This is a very evil twist to an old problem." Victims receive a call from a male claiming he has a relative and demands money be wired to them in exchange for the relative's safe return. Oftentimes, the scammer is able to name the relative they have kidnapped. "They're able to get some type of information from some type of database, and they're using that to make the call more believable," Budreau said. "The scammers are good, and they are believable." Medford police estimate they have received close to a dozen reports about the scam. The Jackson County Sheriff's Department has also taken at least one report on a similar case, according to department spokeswoman Christine Bronson. Most victims don't fall for it, but some have lost money they have wired to the scam artists as a "ransom." "It's definitely the newest scam," Budreau said. "It's the flavor of the month, so to speak." As with all scams, investigators recommend victims simply hang up the phone. The calls can be reported at the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, www.ic3.gov . Victims who have lost money are asked to contact Medford police. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 27, 2016 at 2:18 PM Updated Jan 28, 2016 at 3:40 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501