Family of 6 left without a home after apparent fake apartment scheme
By Emily Pofahl, WISN via CNN NewsourcePublished: Aug. 8, 2025 at 2:25 AM CDT
A Milwaukee woman is sounding the alarm after she says she fell victim to a fake apartment scheme. (WISN, MARY KAPHUKA, "MS. ALLIE", CNN)
MILWAUKEE (WISN) - A family of six is now without a home after they allegedly fell for an apparent apartment scheme in Milwaukee.
The family says they found out the apartment didn’t actually exist after they paid the security deposit.
The alleged schemer is now nowhere to be found.
When Mary Kaphuka moved back home to Milwaukee from Missouri with her fiancé, four kids and a baby on the way, she thought it’d be a fresh start in a dream apartment.
A Milwaukee woman is sounding the alarm after she says she fell victim to a fake apartment scheme.
Kaphuka found the place on Facebook from a woman called “Ms. Allie.”
The individual claimed to run a business helping at-risk mothers find stable rental housing.
Kaphuka paid the $1,200 security deposit, but on move-in day, there was no home.
“So, we went looking for the house and the address, the location, did not match,” Kaphuka said.
There also was no “Ms. Allie.”
“She stopped answering and even responding to my messages,” Kaphuka said. “My hard-earned money I worked for that you took from me and my family and left us with nothing.”
Kaphuka has been couch surfing, and staying with friends, family or a hotel.
Now, she’s out of options.
“I do know that there’s shelters out here, so that’s going to be my next move,” Kaphuka said.
Kaphuka said she has filed a police report and she’s hoping the alleged schemer will be charged.
She said she also plans to take the case to small claims court.
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that's crazy I just saw a listing for an apartment that doesn't exist too
