Police say at least three Italian restaurants in Mineola were targeted as part of a fake fundraising scheme.

Stephanie Seitz, 51, allegedly went around to the restaurants collecting money for a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society campaign that started out as a legitimate fundraiser. In the beginning, Seitz raised money for her daughter?s Valley Stream elementary school. However, police say Seitz continued to collect and pocket money after the official fundraiser ended last week.

A waitress at Carlino?s Pizzeria, one of the establishments allegedly targeted, says Seitz specifically requested cash and said the foundation could not accept checks. When the pizzeria owner said he could not help her, she packed up and left.

Tammy Philie, the executive director of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, says she's worried about the damaging effects the alleged scam could have on the organization?s real fundraising efforts.

?When you have people like this and start creating doubt in the community about the good work real charities are doing, it creates a big financial problem for us going forward,? Says Philie.

Police say Seitz hit at least six businesses and got away with a few hundred dollars. They say there may be more victims.