Police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said the con began July 2 when the victim, a 63-year-old Mukilteo resident, was approached by a woman in the parking lot of the Costco store in Lynnwood.

The woman told the victim that she was from a wealthy family in Africa and wanted to give money to a charity before leaving on a flight that evening.

She went on to say she was looking for two honest people to whom she could give $180,000 and trust that the two would distribute the money to charity. The scammer's elaborate tale also included claims that her own family was being held hostage in Africa and would be killed if she did not return.

According to police, the con woman showed the victim a roll of $100 bills and pretended to call her attorney, who directed them to a McDonald's parking lot to find a "second honest person" to help with the charitably distribution.

When they arrived at the McDonald's restaurant, they encountered a man who played the role of the other honest participant, but was actually part of the scam.

The woman claiming to be from Africa told the victim and her partner that she needed to know they were honest because "poor people would keep the money for themselves," police said.

The man left and returned with what looked like a bag of jewelry and cash, and the con woman gave him what looked like half of the $180,000.

She then convinced the Mukilteo woman to withdraw cash from her own bank to prove herself as reliable.

The victim was driven to her bank where she withdrew $60,000 in cash and gave it to the scammers. The con woman then said she needed to be able to trust both of the participants and asked the victim to drive away and let her and the man hold the money as a show of trust.

The Mukilteo woman drove a short distance and returned to find the man and woman gone, along with her money.

The scam is a variant of the classic "Pigeon Drop" scheme, in which an unwitting victim is convinced to part ways with cash or valuables as a show of good faith in the hopes of soon having access to a larger sum promised by the team of con artists.

The female scammer was black, about 5'1" to 5'3", possibly in her 30's or 40's, was wearing a wig, and spoke with a thick accent. She was wearing a pink blouse and black pants.

The male involved in the con is described as Hispanic, about 5'8", 35 to 45 years old, no accent, and about 225 pounds. He was wearing a multi-colored shirt and a flat hat with a snap button in front.

Security cameras showed the scammers driving a newer, possibly 2008, black and tan Ford Expedition

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Scott Dilworth at 425-670-5619.

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Read more about 'Pigeon Drop' scams:

Beware the 'Pigeon Drop'

How to Spot the Pigeon Drop Scam

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Photos of the vehicle used in the Lynnwood scam: