Man charged with making $3,000 Zelle transfer during Millennium Park robbery

Timothy Harvey (Chicago Police Department)

CHICAGO—It’s the hottest scam going, one that everyone would be well-advised to keep in mind as they wander the streets of Chicago: fake charity solicitors and “homeless” people commandeer phones and transfer large sums of money to themselves using the victims’ electronic banking apps.

We’ve told you about the scam and some people who’ve allegedly been caught running it, usually in tourist areas like the Mag Mile and Millennium Park or nightlife districts like Wrigleyville and the Gold Coast.

Just yesterday morning, two men asked a couple for a donation near Crown Fountain at Millennium Park. The victims reluctantly agreed to let one of the thieves transfer a dollar to himself. But, after taking control of the phone, the scammer transferred $2,400 out of the victim’s account and fled, a CPD report said. 

This week, a South Side man was charged with robbery for allegedly running the same scam at nearly the same location.

Prosecutors said Timothy Harvey, 31, took a man’s phone in the 100 block of South Michigan on May 10 after the victim agreed to give him $10 via Zelle. After getting the man’s phone, Harvey allegedly took it to a group of people nearby, and they demanded $60 from the victim to return the phone.

The victim gave them $50 and got his device back. Only then did he realize that someone had transferred $3,000 out of his bank account.

Detectives determined that the Zelle account that received the money belonged to Harvey, according to a detention petition. The victim also picked Harvey out of a photo lineup.

Judge Antara Rivera rejected the state’s detention petition in the robbery case. However, she ordered Harvey to be held in custody for violating probation in a gun case. He remains in jail as of Sunday morning.

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CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets. Our editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com