Pahang police chief Yahaya Othman said the 43-year-old woman stated that she was added to a WhatsApp investment chat group called “C Baird VIP” on July 16 last year, Bernama reported.

He said the victim, who is also a subcontractor, invested RM50,000 in a basic package and later received her capital as well as profit totalling RM49,000.

“Between Jan 16 and March 25, she made another 26 cash deposits into five different bank accounts for a total investment of RM1.29 million.

“However, she suspected something amiss when she was told to make additional payments, supposedly as charges to withdraw her profits, estimated to be about RM3.1 million,” he was quoted as saying in a statement today.

According to Yahaya, aside from using her savings, the victim pawned her jewellery and borrowed money from her friends to fund her investment.

“She lodged a police report at the Pekan district police headquarters yesterday,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.