The National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) issued a public warning about false or misleading investment schemes that claim the central bank is involved in facilitating private international investment fund transfers into Tonga. NRBT said it has received reports of requests to facilitate transfers from overseas entities to local banks, businesses and individuals, and clarified that it does not provide the services being described. The reported claims include assertions that NRBT must access a “SWIFT.com global server” to download transactions into customers’ accounts, or that funds must be transferred to accounts at NRBT. NRBT said it does not process private cross-border transfers or investment fund transfers in this way, and highlighted red flags including fabricated meeting references, impersonation of NRBT and other officials, technical misrepresentations of SWIFT systems, urgency tactics, requests for sensitive banking or financial system information, and poor understanding of legitimate banking processes. Licensed banks, financial institutions and the public were urged to treat any offer involving NRBT in such transactions as suspicious and to verify concerns directly with NRBT or their local bank.
National Reserve Bank of Tonga 2025-06-13
National Reserve Bank of Tonga warns banks and the public about scams falsely claiming NRBT facilitates offshore investment fund transfers
The National Reserve Bank of Tonga warned about fraudulent investment schemes falsely claiming NRBT's involvement in international fund transfers, emphasizing it does not process such transactions and urging vigilance. The schemes involve misrepresentations of SWIFT systems and impersonation of officials, prompting NRBT to advise verifying concerns with the bank or local financial institutions.