Example 233: Tutor Needed

Scam Job Offer

Members of the University community have received a fake job offer email aimed at financial fraud.

Message Content

From: Trenton Warner
Date: Sun, Oct 13, 2019 at 2:32 PM
Subject: Tutor needed
To:
Hello,
How are you doing today? This is Trenton Warner. I saw your contact at
[SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT DISCOVERY] under Graduate Student's portal.

I seek for a private high school  introductory biology tutor for my Daughter. I would like to know if
you will be available for the job.

The lessons could hold at the campus/library or your home, if you
stays close to campus.

Looking forward reading from you.

Best regards,
Trenton.

Analysis 

  • The sender appears to be using public University web pages to pick targets, describing their valued expertise in teaching "my Daughter."
  • The intent seems to be "check kiting." The victim will be sent a check that is "accidentally" too much and asked to bank it and return the excess. The original check will bounce, but not before the victim has sent the supposed excess to the sender.
  • For more information see the Tutor Scam page on the Berkeley Parents Network.

What to Do

If you receive such an offer, please forward it to [email protected] so we can block the email address being used.