NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Federal officials are announcing charges against 18 people in what they say was one of the largest credit card scams ever broken up by the U.S. Department of Justice.
U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman is scheduled to announce details Tuesday in Newark.
The case is being prosecuted in New Jersey, but a court filing says the fraud was run in at least eight countries and 28 states.
Authorities say the perpetrators created thousands of fake identities to get credit cards, then pumped up the fake cardholders' credit history and used the credit to steal at least $200 million.
Some Jersey City jewelry stores are cited in the alleged conspiracy.
