Trenton, Dec 21 (ANI): Authorities in New Jersey have charged three Pakistan natives with running a multi-million-dollar credit card scam.

These Pakistanis made money from perfume stores in Jersey City, Bayonne, North Bergen and outside Hudson County, officials said.

They went on to say that the small group sent part of the money it bilked to Pakistan and the Federal Bureau of Investigation is trying to find out whether the money was sent to fund nefarious activities such as terrorism.

As of now no connection can be drew between the sent money and any terror outfit, said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio, adding that possibilities are there that it was just sent over there to be used for personal purposes, but the FBI is investigating into it.

Earlier this week, investigators arrested Abdul Razzaq Bhatti, 50, and Zahida Anjum Qayyum, 36, and her brother, Mazhar Qayyum, on charges that include identity theft, money laundering, theft by deception and conspiracy, The News quoted DeFazio, as saying.

A number of bank accounts were frozen and as investigators sorted through the information, the scope of the ring continued to grow, DeFazio said.

However, in court, Zahida Qayyum proclaimed her innocence before the judge could caution her that anything she said would be used against her.

“I don’t have anything to do with this case,” she told the judge.

“I wish I could prove that somehow. I’ve not even been here long enough for that. I worked as an AmeriCorps worker for a year and then I started studying paralegal,” she said. (ANI)