The U.S. Department of Justice has uncovered what federal prosecutors in New Jersey have called one of the most widespread credit card fraud schemes ever, spanning 28 states and eight countries. Those apprehended have been identified as participants in a huge international fraud enterprise involving thousands of false identities, fraudulent identification documents, doctored credit reports and more than $200 million in confirmed losses, according to an FBI Special Agent through court records. According to court documents, the scheme involved three basic steps: The defendants allegedly created thousands of fake identities, pumped up the credit histories of those fictitious people and then racked up charges on fraudulently obtained cards. The scope of the fraud is so large, involving over 25,000 fraudulent credit cards, the calculations of loss is ongoing and expected to be massive. Luxury automobiles, electronics, spa treatments, high-end clothing and millions of dollars in gold, were paid for with the proceeds of the credit cards, with the fraudsters having stockpiled large sums of cash by the finding approximately $70,000 in cash in one defendant’s oven.