Industry News
Police and security officials at Steamboat Springs are trying to track down the scammer targeting skiers and snowboarders who are looking to save a few bucks, as more and more people are falling victim, reports CBS Denver.
Officials say they are currently investigating a Craigslist scam that offers purchasers discounted, up to 50% off, single day lift tickets to Steamboat.
It’s believed the Craigslist seller uses a stolen credit card to initiate the purchase through Steamboat’s online system, although Steamboat only attempts to process the credit card when the victims turn up at the window to pick-up their bogus tickets. When guests show up at the ticket office expecting tickets, they are disappointed when they’re told the tickets they purchased are fraudulent.
When the system catches the fraudulent charge the transaction is denied because the name on the credit card doesn’t match the person making the purchase or the name of the potential ticket holder. Their only course of action is to buy a regular/full price ticket on the spot.
It is against Colorado State law to transfer or sell lift tickets and is stated as such on the reverse of all lift tickets.
As the old adage goes, ‘if it seems to good to be true, it probably is’. To be safe, the only places to guarantee genuine stand-alone tickets are through steamboat.com or at the resort ticket window.
