Viking Ding Dong Lost $50,000 in DSS Susu but Made It Back Through Soca
Soca artiste Viking Ding Dong has revealed that he lost TT$50,000 after investing in the controversial DSS susu scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, but says he has no hard feelings towards the man associated with the operation and eventually made back his money through his musical success.
Speaking during an interview on the Corie Sheppard Podcast, published on October 26, 2026, the entertainer opened up about one of the most financially challenging periods of his life, when the pandemic brought the entertainment industry to a standstill and forced him to find alternative ways of earning money.
Ding Dong explained that he had been building momentum in his musical career when COVID-19 suddenly disrupted everything. Shows were cancelled, borders were closed, and opportunities for artistes to perform virtually disappeared.
As the months passed, his savings began to dwindle.
Determined to survive, he turned to selling roasted fish in Enterprise, preparing meals and earning whatever he could while waiting for the entertainment industry to recover.
It was during this difficult period that the DSS susu scheme caught his attention.
According to Ding Dong, he had TT$50,000 available and was presented with an opportunity to invest TT$10,000 per hand, with the expectation of receiving TT$60,000 in return for each hand.
Rather than starting with a single hand, he decided to purchase five, committing the entire $50,000.
He recalled that people close to him had warned him against the decision, but he was convinced the opportunity could help him improve his financial position.
Unfortunately, things did not turn out as expected.
The anticipated payout never materialised, leaving the entertainer without the money he had invested.
However, what makes Ding Dong's account particularly interesting is his attitude towards the experience.
Rather than remaining bitter, the artiste indicated that he has moved on and holds no grudge against the person associated with the scheme.
He recalled seeing the individual again and greeting him normally, despite the financial loss.
His reflections suggest that he accepts the decision to invest as a risk he personally chose to take, rather than allowing the experience to create lasting resentment.
Ding Dong also recalled an occasion when he was contacted about collecting a susu payout. However, after learning that a pregnant woman had suffered a miscarriage and needed surgery, he chose to assist her financially instead.
Although he never received the payout he had originally expected, he said he regarded helping the woman as a good gesture.
But the story did not end with the lost investment.
While the pandemic continued to affect the entertainment industry, Ding Dong began exploring other opportunities.
Working with his creative team, he developed advertising concepts and approached companies with promotional campaigns, including Digicel. He said the initiative resulted in several advertisements and provided another source of income.
At the same time, he continued preparing music for the eventual return of Carnival and live entertainment.
He explained that his strategy was to keep producing music while others were unable to perform, positioning himself to benefit when the entertainment industry reopened.
That decision eventually paid off.
Following the pandemic, Ding Dong enjoyed major success with his soca hit Drink and Party, which became a popular selection at fêtes and events.
According to the artiste, the song's success allowed him to recover all the money he had lost in DSS.
What began as a disappointing financial gamble during one of the most uncertain periods in recent history ultimately became another chapter in his journey as an entertainer.
Today, Ding Dong appears to view the experience as part of life's lessons rather than something worth holding on to.
His story is also a reminder of the difficult decisions many entertainers and self-employed people faced during the pandemic, when traditional sources of income disappeared almost overnight.
For Ding Dong, the loss of $50,000 was significant, but his determination to continue working, creating and taking chances eventually helped him recover financially.
And in true soca fashion, it was Drink and Party that helped turn his fortunes around.