They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but don’t tell that to Lawrence County Domestic Violence Task Force Director Elaine Payne.

Payne is not amused about a call she received last week from someone who said people claiming to be with the local domestic violence shelter had set up a table at Save A Lot grocery store on North Second Street and were collecting donations.

Payne said the police investigated the incident and she said officers were told the people were first from her agency, then from Columbus. The people left the store’s parking lot and have not been seen since. According to the Ironton Police Department log, the incident happened just after 6 p.m. Thursday.

“We do not ever go door to door or go to parking lots (to solicit donations),” Payne said. “We do not ever do that.”

Payne said what really hurts is that her agency operates on a shoe string and welcomes donations but this is not the way she solicits donations. Payne said she wants to make people aware of what is happening in case the imposters return.