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Scammers have been targeting MHC faculty, staff, and students with fake tutoring requests that eventually are revealed to be check scams.
Date Sent: Several messages sent to people in the Italian, Spanish, and Math departments in Feburary and March 2025.
From: Christopher Dunn using one of these addresses: christopherdunn23[@]yahoo[.]com, cabot180[@]gmail[.]com
Subject lines: Brief Introduction / Private Tutor / Private Tutor Requested / Private Tutoring Inquiry
Example of one of the initial messages
Hello,
My name is Christopher Dunn. I came across your email on the Mount Holyoke College, Department of Classics and Italian Directory. I'm looking for a private tutor for my daughter. She is 17 years old.
Please, let me know if you are available and I will provide you with more details.
Considering your position, I understand that you may not be available for tutoring. If that's the case, I'd appreciate it if you could put me in contact with students who might be interested in tutoring.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks,
Christopher
Example of escalation after engagement with student
Hi [student],
I'm glad we have an agreement. Christine and my cousin are still away. However, my cousin will get in touch with you to set up the first meeting once they are back in town and ready for the lesson.
I'd like you to handle Christine very well for me because she is all I have left ever since her mother's death five years ago. Being a single parent, It's not easy but I believe God is on my side. I'm sure you will find her interesting because she is a good kid and she is excited to work with you.
With regards to the payment, it will be made upfront as I promised. Like I told you in my previous e-mail, am currently off-shore without any means of payment facilities but I have contacted a financier who has been supporting me ever since I lost my wife and he promised to make the payment on my behalf. I also want to let you know that the payment will be a little more than the cost for the 8 weeks worth of lesson. So, as soon as you receive the check, I will like you to deduct the money that accrues to the cost of the lessons($720) and then assist me to send the balance to my cousin. The remaining balance is meant for Christine and my cousin's flight expenses back to the State, and also to buy the necessary materials needed for the lessons.
I will provide you with my cousin information on where you will send the money when the time comes, meanwhile, I will need you to provide me with the following details in order to instruct the payment to be sent to you:
(1) Full Name
(2) Your Mailing Address
(3) Phone Number
Once you can provide me with the details, it will help in starting the tutorial/lesson as planned.
Thanks,
Christopher
Example of further escalation - Revealing check scam
Hi [student],
How are you doing today? I want to inform you that the anticipated payment check for Christine's lessons has been delivered to your provided address TODAY via USPS courier service.
Kindly go ahead and deposit the check in your bank account today and allow 1 business day for the funds to be available. Meanwhile, I have contacted my cousin and Christine to provide me their current information. I'll send it across to you once I have it.
I look forward to reading from you.
Thanks,
Christopher
