Johor Bahru Utara police chief Rupiah Abd Wahid said her team received a report yesterday from the victim, a local man, aged 67, who is a former employee of a private company.

She said the victim had befriended the woman through the Facebook Messenger application at the end of May. The woman claimed she was a Brazilian doctor working in the UK.

“After more than two weeks, the individual promised to send goods and cash amounting to US$2.8 million (about RM12.6 million) to the victim.

“However, on June 13, 2022, another woman who claimed to be a delivery agent contacted the victim and asked for payment of the delivery service charge and cash that had been promised,” Rupiah said in a media statement today.

She said the victim used his savings and made 11 online money transactions from June to August into a bank account provided by the delivery agent.

She said the victim realised he had been duped when he did not receive the goods as well as the money that was promised. He also could not get in touch with the woman.

“The victim lost RM1,871,540 in the incident. Members of the public who receive messages, emails or calls regarding dubious offers should immediately report to the police so that they can avoid becoming victims of fraud,” she added.