Scam Ringleader Caught

A man authorities say helped mastermind a massive credit card fraud ring has been arrested as he tried to flee the country.

Muhammad Shafiq was arrested Thursday night as he tried to board a flight to Pakistan at New York's Kennedy Airport.

The 38-year-old Shafiq is a Pakistani citizen.

Authorities say he was one of the masterminds of a $200 million scam that operated out of Jersey City.

The group allegedly used fake businesses and at least 7,000 identities to open 25,000 credit card accounts. They allegedly maxed out the cards and didn't pay the bills.

Authorities charged 18 people, including Shafiq, on Tuesday with one count of wire fraud. Three remain at large.

Shafiq appeared before a judge Friday and remained in custody.

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