by: Jusolyn Flower
PROVIDENCE, RI — Megan E. Shine, a 47-year-old woman from Warwick, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly masterminding a mail fraud scheme that defrauded victims of up to $10 million. Shine faces charges of using fraudulent businesses and deceptive advertisements to target elderly and vulnerable individuals.
According to authorities, Shine created fake businesses, including Lucky Dog, LLC (operating as Premium Ops & Incentives) and Destiny Merchandise, LLC (operating as Independent Catalog Services), to run the scam from Rhode Island. Through these businesses, she sent out misleading mailings that promised recipients large sums of money or valuable prizes.
The fraudulent letters often included the recipient’s name, a deadline to respond, and instructions to send payment—typically between $20 and $30—to a P.O. Box in Providence for processing. The mail was designed to look official, featuring codes, phrases like “authorized document,” and other elements meant to lend credibility to the scam.
Victims, believing they had won a prize, were repeatedly contacted and asked to make additional payments. However, despite the numerous payments made, none of the victims ever received the promised rewards. Investigators found that the scheme generated responses from approximately 50,000 people annually across 41 states.
Shine was charged with four counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. She was arraigned in federal court and released on unsecured bond. Authorities say the investigation continues and more charges may follow.
