As you roam the streets of Chicago, be wary of a prevalent scam that has been making rounds. The modus operandi involves fake charity solicitors and “homeless” people who take over your phone and transfer substantial amounts of money to themselves using your electronic banking apps. It’s a growing concern and one that you should keep in mind to avoid falling prey to this fraudulent scheme.
You may have heard about the scam that has been running rampant in tourist areas such as the Mag Mile and Millennium Park, as well as in popular nightlife districts like Wrigleyville and the Gold Coast. Allegedly, there have been people caught running this scam.
Yesterday morning, a couple was approached by two men near Crown Fountain at Millennium Park, who requested a donation. Despite their reluctance, the victims agreed to let one of the thieves transfer a dollar to himself. However, things took a turn for the worse when the scammer took control of the victim’s phone and transferred $2,400 out of their account before fleeing the scene, according to a CPD report.
A man from the South Side was charged with robbery this week for reportedly carrying out an identical scam at almost the same spot.
On May 10th, in the 100 block of South Michigan, Timothy Harvey, age 31, allegedly took a man’s phone after the victim agreed to give him $10 via Zelle, according to prosecutors. After taking possession of the phone, Harvey is said to have brought it to a nearby group of individuals who demanded $60 from the victim to return the phone.
After handing over $50 to the perpetrators, the victim retrieved his device. However, it was only after this exchange that he discovered a staggering $3,000 had been siphoned from his bank account without his knowledge or consent.
According to a detention petition, Harvey was identified as the owner of the Zelle account that received the money by detectives. Additionally, the victim positively identified Harvey from a photo lineup.
On Sunday morning, Harvey was still in custody as Judge Antara Rivera rejected the state’s detention petition in the robbery case. Nevertheless, she ordered his detainment for violating probation in a gun case.