A 32-year-old Pittsburgh-area woman has been accused of fraud in an alleged baby scam, but it isn't clear yet if any existing law even covers this kind of case, officials aid.

The woman was arrested late last year at a domestic violence shelter in Kittanning under a name other than her own. She was charged at the time with theft by deception, possession of drug paraphernalia and theft of services.

Later, two counts of criminal use of a communication facility were added, but then dropped.

She was also charged with a pair of counts of disorderly conduct causing physically offensive conditions to the alleged victims.

She was accused by prosecutors of using her cell phone and a computer at the shelter to contact an Idaho couple and telling them she was pregnant and ready to give up the baby to them for adoption.

However, before a hearing last week on the charges, the assistant district attorney admitted that there's no current "law to protect victims of this type of crime because no money passed hands."

The prosecutor says the Idaho couple flew to Pittsburgh believing that there would soon be a baby waiting for them to adopt.

Apparently, the woman arrested is not pregnant and has no baby to give up for adoption.

Her defense attorney points out that the woman never asked the couple for money and also didn't ask them to fly to Pittsburgh. The lawyer also pointed out that the couple was put in no physical danger by their trip.

He said she's "basically charged here because she lied."

"She lied to them (the Idaho couple), creating a fantasy," he said.

The judge said he needed to do some research on the matter before issuing a ruling.

Source: PittsburghLive.com: "Armstrong baby scam suspect awaits judge's ruling," Brigid Beatty, Jan. 19, 2012