The New York lawyer common’s workplace launched an investigation right into a doable journey rip-off on Lengthy Island after a pair stated they paid a journey company greater than $20,000 for his or her dream trip — however the journey was by no means booked.
For brand new grandparents Pat and Valerie Policastro, an August go to to Europe was set to be the journey of a lifetime. However the journey is now off, as a result of the journey company the Policastros stated they used to ebook it’s gone.
The identical goes for the $23,000 they paid for it, as the cash is totally unaccounted for.
“I’m very hurt and I’m very upset and it’s something that will live with me forever,” stated Pat Policastro. “Val has been going through medical issues and this was to be a celebration of her getting better. And this was something for us.”
Policastro booked the journey in October with the Artful Getaways journey company in Miller Place. The holiday was paid in full.
When he returned to the journey company in February, he discovered the workplace empty.
“It’s just amazing how they got up and disappeared,” he stated.
Policastro stated his calls to the journey company haven’t been answered. The cruise line and one in every of their motels did reply, however confirmed that no reservations had been ever made within the couple’s names.
“It makes you wonder, how is somebody capable, especially in this day and age?” Policastro stated. “It has soured me on people in general and that’s sad. I have lost my trust.”
The couple has since filed complaints with Suffolk County police and the county’s district lawyer. A spokesperson for the county DA’s workplace would neither verify nor deny an investigation was underway.
When NBC New York reached out to the journey company, a brand new identify surfaced, with an workplace about 40 miles away in Bethpage. The workplace there was closed on Monday.
“There should be repercussions of what happened, not only for me but for other people,” stated Policastro. “What they’re doing, I don’t know how you live with yourself, to do something very hurtful.”
A lady who didn’t want to be recognized instructed NBC New York that she and her sister-in-law had been each victimized by the journey company as nicely. She additionally stated she had spoke over social media to different victims as nicely, every of whom paid 1000’s of {dollars} for journeys that had been by no means booked.
