GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. -- Business owners in Gwinnett and Barrow counties are warning others about a woman they said is collecting money under false pretenses.

They said the woman is using the name of a well-known and respected organization.

“It's more disappointing than it makes me mad ... that she's going around saying she's representing Toys for Tots, helping children and she's not,” said Susan Mattox, owner of Barberito's Restaurant in Winder.

Mattox said the woman came in last Friday, took a $50 cash donation and promoted an event that never happened.

Mattox said the woman also gave her a business card sporting the name Tara Friedman of Stars and Strikes in Dacula. But Channel 2 Action News reporter Manuel Bojorquez caught up with the real Tara Friedman.

“She's very smooth, very convincing and it's very scary this time of year because businesses are hurting,” said Friedman.

Ironically, Friedman said the woman also gave her a business card, but with a different name. Friedman said the woman came into her business, asked for donations and left behind a business card from a cell phone store she claimed to own. The cell phone store said it had never heard of her and Friedman did not give the woman money.

“We are very generous and try to do it ... but we always ask for documentation to back up showing who they're with,” said Friedman.

Mattox said she just wants people to be aware.

“I even told her we really couldn't afford it at this time ... the economy, the way it is ... and I said I'm just going to trust that the Lord is going to bless us back and she looked at me and said 'god bless you honey,'” said Mattox.