A war of words and a heated dispute erupted on social media this week in what appeared to be another suspected pyramid‑scheme controversy that has plunged members of the Tongan community in the United States and the wider diaspora into turmoil and disarray.
A Tongan–US–based businesswoman living in Salt Lake City and identifying herself on Facebook as “Victorine Polygirl,” also known as “Viki,” has been accused by several online users of failing to return investors’ money after allegedly encouraging Tongans to put funds into what she promoted as a high‑return investment scheme.
She operates the Falekoloa Famili Tonga USA Trading store in Tonga, which drew attention from Tongan authorities after allegations surfaced that the business did not hold a licence to import medical items.
According to posts and videos shared widely across Tongan Facebook groups and newsfeeds, Victorine allegedly told potential investors that they would be able to withdraw large profits within a short period of time, prompting many to deposit money with hopes of quick financial gain.
Investors Demand Answers
However, tensions intensified when some investors claimed this week that their attempts to request withdrawals were either ignored or delayed, leading to growing frustrations and calls for accountability.
Many outraged complainants and critics of Victorine lashed out at her on social media, calling her a “liar” (loi) and “hard‑faced” (mata fefeka). They claimed she had failed to deliver the high‑profit returns she initially promised, saying the scheme had now collapsed.
In a Facebook post responding to the growing criticism, Victorine told investors that they “should know” their money had been used to build various businesses in which they would supposedly hold shares and earn profits.
In a separate post, she claimed that while she had been busy “building their businesses,” some of the complaining investors had allegedly been defaming her on Facebook.
Victorine also published several posts on her Facebook page urging investors to be patient, saying she would contact them directly.
In one of the posts, written in Tongan, she told followers: “For those of you who were investors from New Zealand and Australia, I will email you.”
While the full details of the investment scheme—and the amounts contributed by complainants—remain unclear, critics have accused Victorine of using investors’ funds to build a high‑profile house for her family in Vava’u and to make several personal purchases.
These accusations have not been independently verified, but they continue to circulate widely across Tongan social media platforms.
Ongoing Ponzi Prosecutions
The news comes at a time when several Tongan promoters and creators of alleged Ponzi schemes are facing court charges in Tonga, New Zealand, and the United States for their involvement in similar scams.
The Tongitupe Ponzi scheme, invented and operated by Tilila Siolaʻa Walker, allegedly defrauded investors of more than US$10 million before collapsing in 2022, according to FBI court documents.
In New Zealand and Tonga, several individuals linked to comparable schemes have received hefty fines and been ordered to repay affected investors.
As the dispute continued to spread across social media platforms, supporters and critics of Victorine engaged in heated exchanges, with some defending her intentions while others urged authorities to investigate the matter.
