{"id":55616,"date":"2025-11-21T16:16:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T16:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/55616\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T16:16:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T16:16:07","slug":"miami-shores-man-accused-of-running-nationwide-boat-sales-fraud-scheme-as-more-victims-come-forward-police-say-wsvn-7news-miami-news-weather-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/55616\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami Shores man accused of running nationwide boat-sales fraud scheme as more victims come forward, police say – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

MIAMI SHORES, FLA. (WSVN) – A Miami Shores man is facing a growing list of fraud charges after, investigators said, he orchestrated an online boat-sales scheme that took tens of thousands of dollars from customers nationwide and never delivered a single vessel.<\/p>\n

According to multiple arrest reports, 43-year-old Ricardo Ulrich Deuker \u2014 who also used the names Ric Ruthenberg and Ricardo Ulrich Deuker Ruthenberg \u2014 is accused of defrauding at least six victims through his Opa-locka business, UP Boats LLC. <\/p>\n

Police said more victims have come forward in recent weeks, revealing what detectives describe as an ongoing pattern of deception, false promises and financial loss.<\/p>\n

The complaints span from 2024 through late 2025 and detail similar accounts: Customers found UP Boats online, communicated directly with Deuker, paid in full for custom tenders or carbon-fiber dinghies, and then faced months of delays, unanswered emails and blocked calls.<\/p>\n

Investigators said that in each case, the boats were never delivered, no refunds were issued, and the company had no valid business license.<\/p>\n

According to an arrest report, one victim reported wiring $9,572.20 in March 2025 for a boat he never received and said Deuker stopped responding immediately after the payment.<\/p>\n

Authorities said another buyer paid more than $12,000<\/a> for a vessel and shipping in June 2025, only to be met with silence following repeated requests for updates. <\/p>\n

Another victim reported sending $13,750 in 2024 and later discovering that the shipping company link Deuker provided was linked to a website created that same day, police said.<\/p>\n

Investigators said a fourth victim from the Virgin Islands paid $14,694 after seeing UP Boats on YouTube and received only a message about \u201ctechnical and financial hurdles\u201d before Deuker cut off all communication. <\/p>\n

A fifth victim mailed a $12,471.30 check after being promised a September 2025 delivery date, then received no updates despite dozens of calls and emails, investigators said. <\/p>\n

Most recently, investigators said, a buyer who paid $33,638 for a high-end tender claimed he twice flew to Florida to check on the boat, but found the facility closed and no evidence his vessel existed.<\/p>\n

Detectives executed a search warrant at Deuker\u2019s Miami Shores residence, where they said evidence showed he was \u201cmaintaining a lavish lifestyle\u201d and preparing for a family trip to Canc\u00fan while retaining victims\u2019 funds with no apparent intent to produce or ship any boats.<\/p>\n

Deuker has been charged in multiple felony cases, including organized fraud, grand theft and conspiracy.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n

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