Malaysian-born Alan Chee Yong Tan, 36, pleaded guilty to 30 fraud charges involving 13 victims who were acquaintances and friends he met through church, work and school.

Yong registered a business in 2016 and convinced each victim he would purchase the baby formula for about $19 per tin in New Zealand and sell it in China, where there was an "endless demand", for $25 per tin.

He also induced a retiree to invest in the export of fish oil from Fremantle to China, the West Australian District Court heard.

The victims signed written contracts Yong had prepared and he also forged documents including a shipping manifest, bank statements and Australian Taxation Office forms.

The signature and seal of notaries public were also forged in contracts, the court heard.

In 2016, Yong spent at least 355 hours gambling at Crown Casino, paid $1.7 million as buy-ins and made a net loss of $686,447.

Judge Belinda Lonsdale said Yong's scheme was a complete sham, but she accepted the father of one was devastated at the shame he had brought upon his family and friends.

"Your offending was extremely sophisticated and involved a high degree of planning, research, effort and deception in order to fool your victims into believing you were running a legitimate business," she said.

"None of them should feel embarrassed at being duped by you because you really did go to extraordinary lengths to make your operation seem legitimate, and even intelligent and sophisticated people could easily have been fooled by you."

The court heard after Yong was arrested he breached the terms of his bail and again attempted to lure somebody into his scam.

Judge Lonsdale ordered Yong to pay compensation to his victims, including one who lost almost $250,000.

Yong will be eligible for parole after serving four-and-a-half years behind bars and as a permanent resident of Australia faces the possibility of deportation.

Australian Associated Press