Powell River RCMP are warning you to question offers over the phone or text following two scams this week.
Officers say in one instance, a local woman lost $2,600 in a gift card scam after they got a text from someone claiming to be the school principal.
The scammer requested the woman buy Apple gift cards for the teachers and asked her to scan and send the gift card codes through text message.
In another incident, police say they got a report that a local resident got a call from a scammer who said they were collecting donations for the fire department.
Officers add legitimate businesses will never ask for gift cards as payment and local fire departments do not go from door to door to collect donations or collect over the phone.
They add that if you are purchasing a gift card, you should buy it directly from the retailer and do not send the gift card code without directly confirming with its recipient.
