The Brief Police say at least four applicants fell victim to a sophisticated Milwaukee rental scam through a fake listing on Zillow. Yasmin Hameed allegedly posed as a landlord to rent out a home while being evicted from the same home. The suspect allegedly carried out the fraud while free on bail for armed robbery and check fraud.



Rents are at an all-time high in Milwaukee, leaving many families in a desperate search for somewhere to live. Now police say one woman took advantage of that desperation by renting out a house she did not own.

Rental scam with a twist

What they're saying:

According to the Federal Trade Commission, fake rental listings have cost American consumers more than $65 million since 2020. But this one was especially convincing because the person behind the post didn't just have pictures of the house. She had the key.

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Victims told police a woman posed as a Milwaukee landlord named Tasha Jones. Only, that's not her real name, and she does not own the house. But Cierra Winters believed she did.

In March, Winters was looking for a three-bedroom home for her family. Then came a message about a house near 69th and Capitol with more space, a yard, and a garage.

 Saying,  Hurray you have been chosen,'  Winters said.  I really thought it was like a prayer being answered. 

The man on the listing called himself Quincy Jones. He sent his wife,  Tasha,  to show her the house.

 It was nice. It was everything that we were looking for compared to what we were moving up out of,  Winters said.

But when Winters brought a money order,  Tasha  balked.

 I should've knew right then and there something was off. Because she didn't want the money order. She was like,  I said cash,'  Winters said.

Winters paid anyway, eventually forking over more than $2,000 for rent and deposit. On move-in day, a woman named  Monica,  whom Tasha called her  assistant,  dropped off a key with no grooves in it.

 We stuck the key in. The key did not work,  Winters said.

Winters and her boyfriend eventually found

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