A Cincinnati, Ohio, couple traveled to Miami, Fla., on Saturday thinking they were going to stay in a condominium that they rented from a Lancaster source for $2,300, state police said.

But when Nikki Lee Ruter, 45, and her husband arrived at the location, the condo manager informed them that the unit was not for rent and that they had a fictitious rental agreement.

Miami authorities advised the couple to contact Lancaster state police, which they did.

According to Cpl. Michael Kapp, the Ruters found the condo on a Web site and made arrangements to rent it for one week, starting Dec. 27.

All the correspondence with the alleged renter was done through e-mail. Between Dec. 15 and Dec. 20, the couple sent two cashier's checks, totaling $2,300, to the alleged renter's address, which is in Lancaster County, Kapp said.

The renter has not been identified, but Kapp said police are investigating the incident as a possible theft-by-deception.


Staff writer John M. Hoober III can be reached at jhoober@LNPnews.com or 481-6027.