STATEN ISLAND — A local travel agency was ordered to pay $25,000 after they scammed travelers by selling them round trips but only providing one-way tickets, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Saturday.
Travelers looking to visit countries including Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro made upfront payments to Cuka Tours Corp. for round-trip airfare.
However, when they tried to return home, they found Cuka hadn't paid for the return leg, Schneiderman said.
“The actions taken by this company to manipulate and exploit New Yorkers are shameless,” he said.
“These families, who only wanted to return home to visit their loved ones, were left stranded in airports halfway across the world and duped out of thousands of dollars."
Travelers who booked through Cuka had to foot the bill for airfare home and Schneiderman said the agency did not arrange alternative plans or offer refunds.
The agency was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution and civil penalties.
Cuka owners Qerem Cukoviq and Suzana Cukoviq have been banned from operating a travel agency in the state unless they file a $200,000 performance bond with the AG's office, Schneiderman said.
