The B.C. Hockey League is warning of a new email scam that targets its teams.

League officials said in a social media post on Dec. 8 that they have received multiple reports over the past week of scam emails impersonating BCHL team staff.

The scam is said to involve people pretending to be team staff while reaching out to local businesses.

"Unless you are receiving communication from an official team domain or a trusted contact, do not share information, send money or click on links," the league said.

Clubs, including the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, also took to social media to warn people of the scam, noting that the "messages may use realistic language and formats to appear legitimate."

The team said all its emails will come from a @sassilverbacks domain.

"If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from the Silverbacks, please do not reply and forward it to us so we can report," the club added.

Cowichan Valley Capitals business and sales direstor Melanie Molleken said a few food vendors have been duped into making deposits for what they believed were the exclusive rights for Capitals games and team staff hope to warn others to be vigilant.

A similar sophisticated scam involving thieves impersonating BC Lions representatives was reported this summer.

Would-be vendors were emailed by the scammers inviting them to operate at the football team's home opener. At least one vendor told media they'd paid their vendor fees and submitted their credit card information only to find out when they arrived at the stadium to set up that they'd been duped.