SANDPOINT — Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintendent Dick Cvitanich is warning residents to be especially cautious when donating money after a number of local business owners reported fraudulent solicitations for two of the district’s sports groups.

Cvitanich said the owner of a local bookstore called Tuesday to say he had received a recorded message from individuals claiming to represent Sandpoint High School athletics and the Bulldog Bench.

The message asked for monetary donations to the two organizations, both of which support local athletes. The problem, according to Cvitanich, is that nobody connected with either organization knows about or has authorized the solicitation, and neither group has received any money.

The age and gender of those making the solicitations is so far unknown.

After learning of the scam, Cvitanich immediately contacted Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce director Amy Little, who forwarded the information to chamber members. Just hours after the warning was released, at least three local businesses contacted the chamber to report similar solicitations, according to Cvitanich.

Cvitanich said the situation is frustrating, partly because it hurts legitimate fundraising campaigns for similar organizations, which can only survive with healthy community support. To avoid being taken by scams, Cvitanich said merchants should always ask questions and investigate organizations before donating money.

“If I were a business owner I would simply ask, ‘Do you have authorization from the school district to be doing this?’” he said. “If the person says yes, I would ask who I should contact to verify that information.”

Daily Bee publisher David Keyes said the paper has sold advertising and produced sports posters for Sandpoint High School for many years.

“We have had several merchants call  us to ask if these posters, T-shirts, etc. are part of what we do to  support Sandpoint,” Keyes said. “The Bee salespeople will clearly tell you they are from the Bee. You know that sponsorship money will stay in our community.”