Danville police say man pretended to collect money for children's nonprofit

Scam may involve multiple people

DANVILLE, Va.UPDATE

Danville police have arrested the man they say went door-to-door trying to trick people into giving him money. 

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Police arrested Tony Lee Gunter, 45, on Tuesday. He is being held in the Danville City Jail without bail.

Gunter is charged with felony attempt to obtain money by false pretense 3rd or subsequent offense. 

Police said he was claiming to be collecting money for the Boys & Girls Club.

ORIGINAL STORY

Danville police want people to be alert for potential scam artists in the area.

Police are investigating reports that either a single person or multiple people are going from door to door soliciting money on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of the Danville Area. 

The organization says it does not conduct door-to-door solicitations.

The man in these surveillance photos does not represent the BGCDA.  

The Danville Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance to identify him.

The Boys and Girls Club of the Danville Area posted this message to its Facebook page Thursday night:

"Thank you to all in the community that are keeping us informed about the person that is soliciting door to door in the neighborhoods on behalf of BGCDA. We have reported this to the Danville Police and the Danville Sheriff. There is NO ONE going door to door on behalf of BGCDA asking for money for any sort of basketball program, etc. Please continue to call us and the Danville Police Department as soon as an individual shows up at your home asking for a donation. We are working with the authorities. These actions on behalf of BGCDA are illegal. Thank you to all the folks that have already reported this! We value greatly our BGCDA brand and all of our donors and supporters. We do not want you to be taken advantage of at all."