Charges have been brought against a Warwick woman in connection with a $10 million direct-mail lottery scam that deceived elderly people and other susceptible groups in Rhode Island and other states.
Megan E. Shine, 47, was charged with conspiracy and fraud after being indicted by a federal grand jury, as stated by United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
According to allegations, Shine conducted a fraud operation by using the U.S. Mail to send letters suggesting that recipients were eligible for cash awards or expensive goods.
Payments, typically ranging from $20 to $30, were tricked into being sent by victims to companies that Shine founded and ran in Rhode Island.
Senders of letters asked for money to be sent to a Providence PO Box by a certain date, and the letters were personalized with the recipient’s name and additional markings to support their seeming validity.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted an investigation, which found that 41 states were among the receivers of these mailings.
An annual total of $50,000 was the cautious estimate for answers and money collected.
