A South Carolina man, Jonathan Rembert, has been hit with charges related to a high-priced fake discount ski pass scheme out in Utah. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Rembert, 41, of Fort Mill, has been alleged to have orchestrated a fraud operation selling Ikon and Epic ski and snowboard passes at "discounted" rates using stolen credit card information.
From November 2020 to May 2024, Rembert and his associates placed online ads in Utah and engaged directly with those who showed interest to negotiate these discounted rates. Afterward, these ski and snowboard passes, which come at a premium from resort operators like Vail Resorts, Inc. and Alterra Mountain Company, were actually purchased at full price with the bank card details of others, unbeknownst to the buyers.
After securing these passes using stolen information, the coconspirators would instruct the skiers and snowboarders to remit payment via peer-to-peer apps, funneling the cash into their personal coffers. The fallout was double-edged: Resorts faced significant chargebacks once the original cardholders noticed the fraudulent transactions, and buyers found their passes canceled.
"For generations, Utah’s families have enjoyed the greatest snow on earth at our renowned ski resorts," United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah stated, as per the U.S. Department of Justice. "The alleged fraud targeted local skiers, snowboarders, and resorts and we intend to seek justice for those victims." These sentiments were echoed by Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera, who reaffirmed the local law enforcement's commitment to the safety and integrity of the seasonal ski industry in their community.
