Pahang police chief Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the 66-year-old woman claimed to have been duped by the man, who said he was a geologist at a US oil and gas company. She lost her money between Dec 2, 2021, and May 31 this year.

“Various excuses were given by the man to dupe the victim, including for him to settle an urgent debt, pay for his work permit fee, medical costs as well as settle dues owed to lawyers to settle issues involving his late father’s estate.

“During this period, the victim made 190 deposits to various bank accounts as instructed. Her losses totalled RM4,342,500,” he said in a statement here today.

The victim, after realising that she was cheated, lodged a police report yesterday.

In a separate case, Ramli said a man lost RM1.5 million in an investment scam involving a 30ha X-fruit plantation project allegedly to produce fuel for aircraft.

He said the 38-year-old said he was promised a three-fold return on his investment within the next three years.

“The victim found an investor from Cambodia willing to invest US$500,000, which was deposited into his account. He then transferred the money to another bank account in three transactions, totalling RM1.5 million, in 2015,” he said.

He said the victim realised that he was duped after failing to contact the suspect to get updates from the investment over the past three years.