Jim Rickards reminds me of a couple of scams in the islands, I take an interest in the Pacific because I lived there for a few years. Many islanders are very religious and extremely gullible, very easy to take, happens all the time. The churches keep many of the islanders in a perpetual state of poverty.
The King of Tonga visited Korea and saw what was alleged sea water to natural gas plant. The King wanted one, so 60 Koreans visited Tonga, put up by the King, preached, went to Church, it was all very impressive, the plant was assembled in a week and they disappeared. The king opened the 'plant' with great fanfare, but it was all a scam.
Another one in Tonga was a dude who became the King's jester (a tourist gimmick proposed by the King) and financial adviser, an American called Jesse Bogdonoff. Jesse told the King it would be a good idea to transfer US$26,000,000 into some 'speculative' investments in the USA. Only $2,000,000 was recovered.
