3 accused of collecting cash for fake charities

PORT ORANGE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - The crew at Port Orange Tattoo and Art Parlor say they're feeling angry about being the victims of fraud.  

Port Orange Police saying a man claiming to be "Deputy Walker" called the business soliciting funds.

"They called the first time and asked if we could donate money to the 'Shop With A Cop.' We were like yeah sure, we'll donate some money," said Cody Duvall.  

According to a charging affidavit, Port Orange Tattoo put $75 dollars into an envelope.  Ducal says he and his co-workers were all busy working on customers when a woman came to pick up their donation.

"You knew something was up when she came in here. She was just wearing like a tank top and regular clothes. It was a little sketchy," said Duvall.  

He says the woman had a lighter tucked between her bra strap and her tank top.  Duvall says they called their boss after seeing what was inside an envelope left behind by the woman who collected their donation.

"It was like a 2002 pin from Orlando or something.  'Orlando Police,'" said Duvall.

Instead of calling police immediately,  the owner of Port Orange Tattoo wanted to get even.  According to the charging affidavit, Duvall's boss called a phone number that was left behind with that envelope, told the person who answered they had another donation for them, to please come pick it up.

Employees at Port Orange Tattoo told police this time they didn't put money into an envelope, instead they filled it with glitter.  

One employee called 911. Duvall followed the woman outside after she took the envelope and shot video of her on his cellphone, along with video of the car where he says two men were waiting for the woman.

"I don't understand what's going on," the woman is heard saying in the video.

That woman and her sidekicks were gone by the time police arrived.  Investigators later identified the suspect as Samantha Pantore and charged her with Obtaining Property By Fraud.  

"We just didn't want them to get away.  We knew we just said no you guys are fake and hung up  they're going to go somewhere else and do it to someone else. We just wanted to help the community," said Duvall.

Pantore is scheduled to be arraigned on August 29.  Ormond Beach Police say they're investigating her and the two other men identified by Port Orange Police in a very similar incident.