Families searching for a Milwaukee rental toured a real house, met the woman presented as its manager, and handed over thousands of dollars. Police say the woman did not own the property and was already being evicted from it.
At least four applicants reported combined losses of $7,750 after responding to a Zillow listing for the same three-bedroom home near North 69th Street and West Capitol Drive.
Prosecutors have charged 29-year-old Yasmin Hameed with nine new counts involving theft by fraud, forgery, and bail jumping.
She was taken into custody on July 16, and a court commissioner set cash bail at $15,000.
The Listing Led Families to a Real House
Cierra Winters was searching for a three-bedroom home for her family in March when she received a message about a larger property with a yard and garage, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee.
A man using the name Quincy Jones allegedly communicated through the listing and said his wife, “Tasha,” would show Winters the property. Winters toured the home and believed the opportunity could solve her family’s housing problems.
The in-person showing helped distinguish the alleged operation from rental scams built entirely around stolen photographs and remote conversations. The supposed landlord could open the property and present it as a home she had authority to lease.
More Than $2,000 Bought a Key That Did Not Work
Winters said the woman initially rejected a money order and demanded cash. Winters eventually paid more than $2,000 for rent and a deposit.
On the scheduled move-in day, another woman described as the landlord’s assistant delivered a key with no grooves. It did not unlock the front door, but Winters and her boyfriend found an unlocked side entrance and discovered a working key inside.
For several hours, Winters believed the house belonged to her family. She showed it to relatives over a video call before leaving for a 12-hour nursing assistant shift, but returned to discover that someone had changed the locks.
Four Applicants Reported Losing $7,750
Jataun Morgan said she received the same message about the same property and met the same woman. She brought $2,800 in money orders to cover the first and last months’ rent.
Morgan became suspicious after the person using the name Quincy Jones told her that money orders were not accepted. FOX6 reported that a man named Jeffrey Ford nevertheless cashed them.
Morgan said a man later displayed a gun when she tried to recover the money. Morgan and Winters contacted police and discussed the case publicly on Milwaukee radio station 101.7 The Truth. Two more alleged victims subsequently came forward, bringing the reported collective losses to at least $7,750.
The Tenant Allegedly Presented Herself as the Owner
The victims began researching the people involved after weeks passed without an arrest. Winters said a name found in mail delivered to the property led them to an online booking photograph.
Police identified the woman known to the applicants as “Tasha Jones” as Hameed. Court records cited by FOX6 showed that the property’s owner, VB One, had sent Hameed an eviction notice only days before the house appeared for rent. Hameed was reportedly more than $3,000 behind on rent at the same address.
Prosecutors Filed Nine New Charges
Winters said she also sent copies of Social Security cards, identification documents, and pay stubs while applying for the property. Prosecutors charged Hameed on July 16 with nine new counts of theft by fraud, forgery, and bail jumping.
FOX6 reported that she was already free on bond in separate armed robbery and alleged fraudulent-check cases when the rental charges were filed. Deputies took her into custody following her first appearance on the new charges, and a court commissioner imposed $15,000 cash bail.
The source reported that attorney William Sulton, president of the ACLU of Wisconsin, is representing her.
A Real Showing Does Not Prove Landlord Authority
Before paying rent, deposits, application fees, or move-in money, applicants should confirm that the person collecting payment matches the property owner, management company, or authorized leasing agent.
For Milwaukee rentals, FOX6 noted that applicants can search the address through the city’s My Milwaukee Home property database. The FTC warns that duplicate ads for the same address with different owners or rental companies can be a sign of a scam.
Applicants should be cautious if a supposed landlord refuses money orders or traceable payments, demands cash, changes names, sends an assistant with a bad key, pressures applicants to pay quickly, or cannot provide a written lease matching the true owner or property manager.
Suspected rental scams should be reported to local law enforcement, the listing platform, the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and the payment provider or money order issuer used in the transaction.