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0 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 SOU a finalist in national Climate Leadership Competition ... Our View: Water curtailment efforts not just for show ... Officers identified in Dunsmuir shootout ... SOU a finalist in national Climate Leadership Competition ... Our View: Water curtailment efforts not just for show ... Officers identified in Dunsmuir shootout ... CRIME IRS phone scam hits Medford area hard Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:11 PM Updated Mar 13, 2015 at 2:17 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:11 PM Updated Mar 13, 2015 at 2:17 PM » Social News Benjamin Franklin was close, but there are actually three certainties in life: death, taxes and threatening calls from frauds claiming to be IRS agents. At the height of the 2015 tax season, that third certainty is hitting the Medford area hard. Medford police said they received at least 50 reports — perhaps as many as 75 — from area residents being harassed by scam artists Thursday. The crook, often identifying himself as "Steven Martin," demands payment on taxes and often threatens victims with legal action if they don't cough up the cash. Detective Sgt. Rosh Reimer of Medford police says everyone who has reported locally has seen through the bogus agent's claims. "Nobody has gotten to the point of how to pay," he said. "They're all kind of calling BS and hanging up on him." Some residents are receiving multiple calls. Esther Kennedy of Medford said she thinks she received as many as 15 calls from "Steve Martin" Thursday. "I think they called in 15-minute intervals at least," Kennedy said, adding how the caller left a message with a number for her to call back. "There's something about (how) I must appear before a federal magistrate or judge." "I knew it was a scam," said Kennedy, a former aide to ex-U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon. "There's no doubt about it." The calls are a problem that extends beyond Jackson County and Oregon. The Associated Press reported more than 366,000 people have received similar harassing phone calls nationwide. Since 2013, more than 3,000 people have been duped into paying about $15.5 million to the scammers, the AP story says.  The IRS's website lists several signs of a scammer. The agency says it will never call to demand immediate payment, or call at all unless it has first sent a bill. Agents also will not ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone, ask for specific methods of payment such as a prepaid debit card, or threaten arrest by local police, the site says. Medford police recommend people disregard the calls and hang up the phone. Authorities say they are well aware of the ongoing scam, and that there is no need to report it to them. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:11 PM Updated Mar 13, 2015 at 2:17 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 2015 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