Mukilteo woman loses $60,000 in charity scam, police say

Published 2:18 pm Tuesday, July 15, 2008

LYNNWOOD — A 63-year-old Mukilteo woman was swindled out of $60,000 by a duo who sold her a story about charity, hostages and a death in the family, police say.

Lynnwood police are searching for a man and woman in connection with the incident. The two were filmed by security cameras near the Mukilteo woman’s bank driving off in a late-model black Ford Expedition. They were there to withdraw cash, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said.

One of the reported scammers is a black woman believed to be in her 30s or 40s, about 5 feet 3 inches. She was wearing a wig, a pink blouse and black pants, and spoke with a heavy accent, Sessions said.

The other reported scammer appears to be a Hispanic man between 35 and 45 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches and weighing an estimated 225 pounds. He was wearing a multi-colored shirt and a flat hat with a snap button in the front, Sessions said.

Anyone with information about this is asked to call Lynnwood police detective Scott Dilworth at 425-670-5619.

Police said the Mukilteo resident was approached by the woman July 2 in the parking lot of Costco in Lynnwood. The woman claimed she was from a wealthy family in Africa, and that she’d come to America because her uncle died and left her up to $180,000.

The woman said she needed to give the money to charity, and that she had to return to Africa immediately because her family was being held hostage, Sessions said.

The woman showed the Mukilteo resident official-looking documents and a roll of cash lined with $100 bills, police said. The woman also made a phone call – claiming to call her attorney – and told the Mukilteo woman they must go to a nearby fast-food restaurant to find a second person to help give the money to charity, Sessions said.

Once at the restaurant, they met the man, who said his name was Frank, Sessions said. The man left the restaurant and soon returned with a bag of jewelry and cash to show he wasn’t poor. The woman said she trusted him and gave him $90,000, Sessions said.

Then, the female thief convinced the Mukilteo woman to drive to her own bank to withdraw $60,000, while she and the man waited across the street. After the money was handed over, the woman asked the Mukilteo resident to leave her and the man alone with the money, Sessions said.

They drove off as soon as the Mukilteo woman left, Sessions said.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.